John Welter, Controversial Anaheim Police Chief, Retires

Another non-April Fool's announcement that begged a rubbing of the eyes: Anaheim Police Chief John Welter announced his retirement today. His 42-year career in law enforcement will come to an end effective May 16, 2013. Before taking over for Chief Roger Baker in Anaheim nine years ago, Welter spent a majority of his time with the San Diego Police Department.

Chief Welter's dedication to the City of Anaheim is to
be commended, and on behalf of the entire City Council, our thanks for
his service to Anaheim's residents, businesses and guests over these
past nine years,Anaheim Mayor
Tom Tait
says in a city press release.

Those nine years, though, were marked with many controversial officer-involved shootings that culminated in riots last summer.

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No mention of the tumultuous times is made in an announcement released today by Anaheim bureaucrats. In its sendoff, the city instead hails what they call his innovative practices
such as the forming of a Chief's Advisory Board, the establishment of the Anaheim Family Justice Center,
and an emphasis on community orientated policing.

In the end, none of those approaches were able to stem the tide of mistrust between law enforcement and the city's barrios and poorer areas that boiled over out into the streets on July 24, 2012. In a press conference, Welter claimed at the time that the social unrest was fueled by an overwhelming presence of “outsiders” and “anarchists.” A heavily militarized response to protests on July 29, 2012 followed harnessing further criticism of the department.

The politically savvy chief was able to largely avoid organized calls for his removal though and, as such, calls it a career on his own terms.

Welter's departure, which follows Deputy Chief Craig Hunter's own retirement late last year,  comes in the wake of the Orange County District Attorney's office finding that Anaheim police officer Nick Bennallack was justified in the fatal July 21, 2012 shooting of Manuel Diaz. The news also arrives at a time when demands for a civilian review board for police oversight in Anaheim get louder and louder.

No word has been given as to who will succeed him as Chief, though Deputy Chief Raul Quezada has been seen by Welter's side ever since being promoted last Fall like a loyal apprentice. What direction the Anaheim Police Department takes after Welter remains to be seen.

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