Council approves police chief’s retirement

Kevin Jones, police chief for the city of Susanville, will retire May 28. By a 3-1 vote, the Susanville City Council approved Resolution No 21-5884 based upon Jones’ request for an industrial disability retirement due to injures to his lower back and right and left knees at its Wednesday, May 5 meeting. Mayor Mendy Schuster, Mayor pro tem Brian Moore and Councilmember Quincy McCourt voted aye, and Councilmember Kevin Stafford voted no. Councilmember Thomas Herrera was absent.

According to the agenda item prepared by Margaret Long, city attorney, “When an employee files an application for industrial disability retirement with CalPERS, per Government Code sections 21154 and 21156, the city must make determinations regarding the employee’s disability.

Long advised the council that approving Jones’ industrial disability retirement should not come at an additional cost to the city.

According to the resolution approved by the council, the city determined Jones “is incapacitated within the meaning of the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law for performance of his duties in the position of chief of police… that this determination was made on the basis of competent medical opinion … and that such disability is a disease arising our of and in the course of employment.”

According to the resolution, “The duration of the disabling condition is expected to be permanent, which is certified by competent medical opinion.”