A Wapato police officer who shot and killed a 38-year-old man during a domestic violence call nearly two years ago will oversee the police and fire departments as the city’s new public safety director. Officer Mike Campos will be paid $75,000 a year.
During a regular business meeting Tuesday night, the City Council — by a vote of 5-2 — approved eliminating the city’s police and fire chief jobs, creating a single public safety director position to oversee both departments.
That move also squeezed longtime Fire Chief Santos Valdez out of a job. Valdez said he was surprised when he learned of the change at the meeting. “Out of the blue,” he said. “But, it is what it is.”
Campos’ hiring — announced later at the same meeting — is the latest administrative shake-up the city has seen since Mayor Juan Orozco took office in December.