New Maricopa Police Chief Installed

MARICOPA, Calif. -- Police Chief Paul Stotesbury has come to the small Maricopa Police Department in the midst of an alleged sex abuse scandal with one of its few officers.

No charges have been brought up on Officer Garry Ferguson in Kern County though he was arrested last week on a warrant issued by the King’s County District Attorney's Office for accounts of misconduct with teenage girls.

The department is in the middle of a PR crisis. Stotesbury comes to the department with 30 years experience in law enforcement and one of his main goals is to restore the community’s faith in the department. He realizes that many in the community need to be reassured.

Stotesbury was police chief in Shafter for two years. He said keeping officers from moving on to larger departments by advancement training will be key.

City Manager Robert Wilburn worked with Stotesbury some years ago in Desert Hot Springs.

He said he has confidence that the new chief will bring the changes that the department needs.

Stotesbury said he will help bring the agency together. He will be meeting with the city manager this week to discuss weather Ferguson will be terminated.

The investigation is ongoing into Ferguson’s alleged activates in Kern County. He is still on paid administrative leave.