A new Bakersfield Chief of Police has been chosen but not everyone is happy about it. Assistant Chief Lyle Martin assumes Chief position next week, but Josth Stenner of Faith in the Valley says the city charter’s requirement that the new chief be promoted from within prevents the change in culture he feels is needed. He says Martin is likely qualified for the job, but faults the process for ignoring demands for public input. The group had asked city leaders to for a meeting to discuss community desires for what they want in a new chief. Stenner says they were ignored and the selection was made without any public input. City Manager Alan Tandy and the new chief will not be available for comment until Martin is sworn in on December 14th.

Sean Michael Lisle