Bear Valley police chief dismissed
By THE TEHACHAPI NEWS
Bear Valley Police Chief Joe Pilkington has been let go, officials announced.
Sandy Janzen, assistant general manager of the Bear Valley Community Services District, said the chief was let go during his probationary period.
"It was a unanimous vote of the board of directors due to an incompatibility of management styles," Janzen noted, adding that this was an action allowed by the district's contract with the chief.
The action took place Friday but became public Monday.
Pilkington retired March 10, 2012 from the Kern County Sheriff's Office and was named interim chief of police by the Bear Valley Community Services District Board of Directors during a special meeting on March 13, 2012.
His most recent assignment with the sheriff's department had been as commander of the Mojave substation. He replaced former BVS Chief of Police Terry Freeman, who was terminated by the board.
Janzen said Sgt. Rod Walthers will handle administrative details for the department and the district's new general manager, Jeff Hodge, will oversee operations with the assistance of Stallion Springs Chief of Police Brad Burris as part of a mutual aid agreement.
She added that it is expected that someone from the California Police Chiefs Association wil be assigned to serve as chief on an interim basis until a new chief is hired.
Efforts to reach Pilkington for comment were unsuccessful.
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