Amid Low Morale And High Turnover, Casa Grande Police Chief Resigns

By Alexandra Olgin
Published: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 8:07pm
Updated: Friday, November 21, 2014 - 11:06am
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Casa Grande Police Chief Johnny Cervantes resigned this week after just a year and a half in the position.

Cervantes sent a letter of resignation to the city Tuesday. He was hired as chief of the Casa Grande Police Department in April 2013.

A report presented by Cervantes to the city council shows that since 2011, the department has been losing a lot of officers. So far this year, 16 employees left the department.

“I don’t know if that’s the reason he decided to resign," said city spokesman Agustin Avalos. "I think just like any other community and stuff, attrition is a problem where people see other opportunities. They will certainly jump on other opportunities, and I don’t think it’s unique for Casa Grande of Pinal County in general."

In the past three years 37 employees left the force, which is nearly 50 percent of the officers. On an employee survey from 2010, 78 percent of respondents said morale in the department was low. 

Cervantes' last day as chief will be Dec. 18.