Escondido police Chief Jim Maher will step down from the post at the end of the year, after six years in the job, city officials announced today.
Maher, who has been on paid leave since last month for undisclosed reasons, said in a prepared statement that he had "been fortunate to serve the community and the men and women of this department.''
"We have an excellent police department,'' he said. "I have been honored to lead (its personnel) as their police chief. It is hard to leave, but it is clear to me that it is time to move on.''
In announcing that Maher, 57, had been placed on leave Sept. 12, city officials said the action stemmed from an in-house matter that they could not disclose.
"A personnel investigation was initiated, and the chief was interviewed as a witness,'' according to the statement announcing the 32-year department veteran's retirement. "The investigation is ongoing, and further details will not be discussed publicly due to confidentiality rules.''
Assistant Chief Cory Moles has headed the 170-officer agency in the interim.
