Chief Lisa Solomon resigns 

The Paso Robles city attorney announced March 20 that Lisa Solomon resigned from her position as chief of police. Her decision came amid public accusations of sexual harassment and pending litigation from an officer claiming unfair retaliation after attempting to blow the whistle on an alleged traffic ticket quota.

“We cannot confirm or deny that the city has looked into the allegations,” City Manager Jim App said following a closed-session meeting at the March 20 City Council meeting.

• FILE PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER
• OUT: Embattled Paso Robles Chief of Police Lisa Solomon resigned from the position after a 24-year career with the department, serving the last five years as chief.

An agreement between Solomon and the city includes waivers preventing either side from suing, a clause explaining that the agreement isn’t an admission of liability or misconduct by either party, and severance compensation of $250,000, a portion of which ($19,500) accounts for accrued vacation time and is subject to payroll taxes. The agreement stipulates that the check be made payable to “Lisa Chitty.”

Along with details of the agreement, the city released a letter written by Solomon that explains the reasoning behind her decision.

“[R]ecent attacks on my character by unscrupulous media sources and self-serving individuals have reached a level of indecency so great, I will no longer subject myself, my family, or my colleagues to such invasions of privacy and distraction from the mission of my office: to protect and serve the community of Paso Robles,” Solomon wrote.

The letter continues with a list of her accomplishments as chief, touting a decrease in crime rates during times of concurrent population growth and staff cuts. Solomon worked with the Paso Robles Police Department since 1988 and was appointed chief in 2007. Her last official day on duty will be April 2, though she currently remains on leave.

“It’s a big loss for the community,” App said. “We’ll all miss her a lot.”

Police Capt. Robert Burton will act as chief until an interim is chosen, a process App said should take a month. It will take six to nine months to find a permanent replacement, App said.