Fronteras

Tijuana's controversial ex-police chief, Julian Leyzaola, has been named second in command of public security for the state of Baja California.

He was appointed despite pending torture charges.

For the last two years, Leyzaola commanded his police force with an iron fist.

When he took over, he went on a crusade to root out corruption on the infamously crooked force.

He also hit the streets to show drug gang bosses he wasn't afraid of them and to show his officers they shouldn't be either.

But dozens of his own officers and a handful of civilians say Leyzaola tortured them in his zeal to crackdown.

Leyzaola was let go as police chief last month because Tijuana's new mayor wanted to bring in his own man.

Leyzaola will now help oversee public security in the whole state.

Baja California's governor, Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, has said for the last year that he'd help Leyzaola get a job, if he needed one, despite the torture charges.