MESA – On Monday, the Mesa City Council formally named Ken Cost as the new chief at a press conference. Cost has served in multiple areas in the department and in every rank leading up to assistant chief, to which he was promoted in March 2018.
Chief Cost has been with the Mesa Police Department for 25 years and started his career in 1995.
Congratulations to Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost, who was just sworn in by @MayorGiles! pic.twitter.com/3ZTqt1WC2s
— Mesa Police Dept. (@MesaPD) March 3, 2020
The Department was embroiled in conflict under Chief Ramon Batista. The embattled Batista finally submitted his notice of intent to leave citing the desire to pursue personal interests and other professional opportunities in November 2019.
In June 2019, the Mesa Police Association and the Mesa Fraternal Order of Police cast a vote of no confidence against Batista. Officers lost confidence in Batista due to his “decision to abandon his officers when they have come under attack by the public and anti-law enforcement groups.”