Escondido's police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave while undisclosed personnel matters are reviewed.
City officials on Thursday couldn't elaborate about why Police Chief Jim Maher would no longer be on the job or how long he would be on leave. Assistant Chief Cory Moles has been named his replacement.
Maher told U-T San Diego (bit.ly/Uaxqq0) he learned the investigation was not about him and that it was being done to protect him. Maher added he recently took concerns about inappropriate conduct by some of his brass to city officials.
The 57-year-old Maher became the city's police chief in 2006. He's been with the department for more than 30 years.
