The Calexico Police Department fired two more officers Wednesday in an ongoing investigation of police corruption. The move brings the total number of terminations to five.
Calexico Police Chief Mike Bostic said former police union president Rudy Alarcón and officer Steven Frazier were fired as a result of an internal investigation. Bostic didn’t give any specifics about the reasons for these firings.
Since late last year, the FBI has been investigating the department. In a previous interview with KPBS, Bostic said members of the police union, formally known as the Calexico Police Officers Association, were “acting like the mob.” He said they intimidated good cops and threatened residents who presented complaints about officers. The union elected a new board of directors last month.
Bostic said things have improved over the last six months.
“Literally when some of these people have been terminated it lifted a cloud over the department," Bostic said. "My officers are happy when they come to work. They’re not worried about being threatened. They’re just – it’s a whole different atmosphere.”
He said police officers are more productive as a result of the changed environment, and that the department has been busier.
Bostic became Calexico’s police chief about six months ago, around the time the FBI started its investigation.
No criminal charges have yet been filed, but Bostic says the FBI investigation continues, as does his investigation in coordination with the District Attorney.
Before coming to Calexico, Bostic was assistant chief at the Los Angeles Police Department, leading internal cleanups after police scandals such as the Rodney King beating.
He said when he arrived at the Calexico Police Department, he found that officers were doing very little work, yet had purchased expensive surveillance equipment such as hidden spyglass cameras, as well as tools for breaking and entering. He said they were using the equipment for illegal activity, and that the union leadership was responsible.
At the time, the union was warring with the City Council, defacing banners around the city and posting negative comments about certain members on social media.
Bostic says the cleanup has progressed more positively than he expected. Now, he said, officers are able to do their jobs.
"I can just sense that they're thrilled that they're going to be a professional police department," he said.
