Seal Beach police chief resigns
Seal Beach Police Chief Joe Stilinovich, right, speaks at a 2015 news conference. Stilinovich has resigned, city officials announced Friday.
Seal Beach Police Chief Joe Stilinovich, who was placed on paid administrative leave in October, has resigned, city officials announced.
Stilinovich and City Manager Jill Ingram issued a joint statement Friday, saying the resignation was effective immediately.
The statement did not give a reason for the departure, calling it a “confidential personnel matter.”
Stilinovich served in the post for four years.
Police Cmdr. Joe Miller will continue as interim chief until the city decides how to fill the position.
In October, Ingram said in a statement that the city had received a formal complaint about Stilinovich. She did not elaborate.
Since then, City Council meetings have been packed with residents demanding his reinstatement.
Thomas Stretz, president of the Seal Beach Police Foundation, said in a public letter released in October that the chief was being investigated by a third party under the direction of Assistant City Manager Patrick Gallegos.
Findings would be sent to Ingram, who had up to 300 days to determine whether to take action, Stretz said in his letter.
Stilinovich came to Seal Beach in 2012 after 17 years with the neighboring Long Beach Police Department.
Stretz wrote that community leaders and residents characterized Stilinovich as “the best police chief” in more than 30 years.
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