The city of Mesa announced Thursday that Police Chief Kenneth Cost will be retiring, effective June 30.
A 30-year veteran of the department, Cost was named interim chief in November 2019 following the sudden departure of his predecessor, Ramon Batista. Cost was appointed to the permanent role in March 2020.
“Chief Cost has been instrumental in transforming the Mesa Police Department into a model law enforcement agency,” City Manager Chris Brady said in a written statement.
Mayor Mark Freeman added, “On behalf of the City Council and all Mesa residents, I want to thank Chief Cost for his exceptional service and unwavering commitment to our community. Under his leadership, Mesa has become one of the safest cities in America.”
The announcement of Cost’s retirement comes just two days after the city of Phoenix revealed that it’s restarting its search for a permanent police chief, leaving the Valley’s two most populous cities both in need of a top law enforcement official.
Phoenix had earlier stated that it was planning to name a new leader this month. But after interim Chief Michael Sullivan, one of four finalists for the job, withdrew from contention amid strong union opposition from the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, the city announced that it was restarting the process and would begin accepting applications on Friday.
Mesa officials said under Cost’s tenure, the department hired 300 officers and reduced vacancy rates to historic lows. And the city credited him with implementing a jiu-jitsu program that reduced use-of-force incidents.
“It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve as Mesa’s Police Chief and to work alongside the dedicated men and women of this department,” Cost said in a statement released by the city. “Together, we’ve built a department that prioritizes community engagement, officer wellness, and innovative approaches to public safety. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I know the foundation we’ve laid will continue to serve the Mesa community for years to come.”
In March, the City Council named Scott Butler as the incoming city manager to replace Brady, who is also retiring, effective June 1. The city said Butler will appoint a new chief in June.
