At first glance it looks like an awkward moment - it's actually a 2-second clip from the video uploaded three days ago by CBS5 News.
As you can see if/when you see the actual video inserted below, Whittaker was making a quick remark to District 6 Mesa City Council member Kevin Thompson
. . . you will have to ask them what they talked about.
IMHO the press conference was an attempt to 'circle the wagons'
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With that being said, any reasonable person is entitled to ask why did city officials make the choice to promote an insider and why at this time - 4 months after the former Mesa PD Chief resigned abruptly and Ken Cost was named as "the interim" ?? LOYALTY could the answer > there's an election where the mayor's job is at stake, and the Police and Fire/Medical employees are a BIG BLOC OF VOTES.
As you can see if/when you see the actual video inserted below, Whittaker was making a quick remark to District 6 Mesa City Council member Kevin Thompson
. . . you will have to ask them what they talked about.
IMHO the press conference was an attempt to 'circle the wagons'
_______________________________________________________________
With that being said, any reasonable person is entitled to ask why did city officials make the choice to promote an insider and why at this time - 4 months after the former Mesa PD Chief resigned abruptly and Ken Cost was named as "the interim" ?? LOYALTY could the answer > there's an election where the mayor's job is at stake, and the Police and Fire/Medical employees are a BIG BLOC OF VOTES.
Looks like councilmembers councilmembers Frank Heretic and Mark Freeman got a call to show up on short notice (at far left) for what looks like a rushed announcement to change the narrative.
Ken Cost named new Mesa police chief, served 25 years
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MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) – Arizona's Family has confirmed the new chief of the Mesa Police Department is the man who has been serving as interim chief since ...3 days ago
Cost has been with the Mesa Police Department for 25 years and started his career in 1995. He has served in multiple areas in the department and in every rank leading up to assistant chief, to which he was promoted in March 2018.
“The enthusiasm about hiring Ken Cost as our police Chief, I can assure you, is very genuine and very sincere," said Mayor John Giles. City manager Chris Brady says there was never a national search to fill the position, and that Cost stood out above the crowd long ago.
“Ken Cost was our man from the beginning," he said.
"We just wanted to give him an opportunity to demonstrate his skills and he did an excellent, excellent job.”
The hiring of Cost signals the City hopes a longtime insider will develop a better relationship with the rank-and-file officers than his predecessor
WHEN TROUBLE STARTED FOR BATISTA
> Batista's trouble in the Mesa Police Department started when a surveillance video showing officers repeatedly punching suspects surfaced in June 2018 and quickly made national headlines
> In August 2018, the Mesa Police Association and City leaders received an anonymous complaint accusing Batista of putting one of his officers at risk while on patrol
Vicki Hixson, who left after 21 years at MPD, says she’s relieved Batista quit but says more needs to be done to clean up the toxic leadership.
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“I’m not focused on past chiefs or what’s happened in the past. I’m just focused on moving forward," Chief Cost said after Monday's promotion.
