Tucson City Manager Michael Ortega has announced that he’s picked Christopher Magnus, police chief of Richmond, Calif., as the city’s new police chief.

The Tucson City Council will have to approve the choice at tomorrow’s meeting.

Over the weekend, Dallas Deputy Chief Malik Aziz withdrew his name for consideration as police chief.
 Aziz was the pick of the Tucson Police Officers Association. Magnus was the top pick of the citizens committee that interviewed candidates for the job, but some TPD officers are unhappy with him, partially because he participated in a Black Lives Matter protest in Richmond.

This article appears in Nov 12-18, 2015.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

8 replies on “City Manager Ortega Picks Christopher Magnus as Tucson’s New Chief of Police”

  2. Rather than being a disqualifier, participation in the Black Lives Matter movement is a huge plus for Magnus. The citizen’s committee made the right choice!

  3. What does it say about those TPD officers who disapprove of a candidate because he participated in a Black Lives Matter event? We have a problem, Tucson.

  4. Ldonyo said:
    “Magnus is openly gay and married to his partner. I can’t wait for the sh*tstorm that is going to come when the Chief and his husband get to town! “

    I hope he and his husband are welcomed with open arms! Sexual orientation has NOTHING to do with one’s ability to do the job. Some of the fiercest warriors on this planet were gay!

  5. Did you’all know that Richmond, CA has a majority Green Party City Council, too…

    That would be a good idea for Tucson as well…

  7. he has been great for our city of richmond. we are sad to see him go. Our progressive city leaders & Magnus as police chief we saw crime drop every year. Tuscon is lucky.

    p.s. Its a win win his husband Terrance is the chief of staff in richmond. he brings with him a powerhouse of skills & knowledge.

  8. The fact that the new chief is gay is not as much an issue as
    the fact that he is a defendant in a wrongful termination and sexual harassment lawsuit in California brought by an officer of 8 years and based on very serious allegations. The suit was brought in April of last year and should have been known to City Manager Ortega prior to nomination to replace Chief Villasenor.

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