High Earnings for Ex-Police Deputy Chief Amid Controversy
Unless you’re a certain former police deputy chief from Redlands who ended up at the peak of California’s public payroll without actually working last year, making a million dollars typically requires a lot of effort.
Recent data from the Secretary of State’s Office reveals that this deputy chief took home nearly $1.2 million in 2025—more than any other city employee in the state. This figure has been linked to former Deputy Chief Travis Martinez.
Before his departure in April, Martinez’s pay included regular wages of $81,804, additional earnings of $890,467, and a lump sum of $231,099. The city also covered $55,864 for retirement and health benefits, bringing his total compensation to about $1.26 million.
This payout surpassed that of other municipal employees in California, including a battalion chief in the Los Angeles Fire Department, who earned over $921,000, as well as a supervisor from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, who made more than $779,000.
The State Audit Office issues annual salary reports for public employees in California, compiling data from numerous government agencies. While individual names aren’t disclosed in the database, Transparent California identified Martinez’s hefty paycheck.
According to reports, Martinez’s significant earnings resulted from a settlement that settled a long-standing dispute with the city.
Martinez had been on paid leave from the police for approximately 18 months before retiring in April 2025. Under the settlement terms, he resigned and dropped legal claims against the city in return for about $872,000 in payments.
In a claim filed in 2023, he alleged retaliation from city officials after reporting internal misconduct.
Specifically, Martinez raised concerns about attempts to destroy evidence related to safety issues connected to a Metrolink train crash that killed a local woman and her 11-year-old daughter. He also claimed retaliation after bringing forward accusations of sexual misconduct related to then-Deputy Director Mike Reese, which he felt had not been adequately addressed internally.
Martinez alleged he faced pressure from city leaders to overlook the wrongdoing and keep quiet.
Officials have stated Martinez will be on paid leave as of October 2023 and will not resume active duty until he retires.
The allegations against Mike Reese have led to several legal settlements for the city, with Reese retiring in March 2023 following accusations of grooming and sexual harassment directed at department employees over the years. Former police chief Chris Catren, who stepped down recently due to a work-related injury, has denied any ties to the controversy.
In total, Redlands has authorized more than $3.3 million in settlements concerning sexual harassment lawsuits involving Reese over the past three years. The most recent settlement of $475,000 was agreed upon in June with a former forensic expert, Geneva Holzer, who consented to resign and withdraw her lawsuit.
In his legal arguments, Martinez highlighted his 29-year tenure with the police department, mentioning that he contributed to developing police practices eventually adopted by agencies nationwide. He also claimed he lost out on promotions for not ignoring misconduct within the department.
