Port Hueneme’s Police Chief Michael Federico announced his retirement as of Dec. 3, after more than three years in the position.
Federico has served in law enforcement for more than 30 years, first working for the Port Hueneme Police Department for nearly 10 years. He then transferred to the Santa Monica Police Department where he worked for 20 years before ultimately ending his career where he started, according to a city news release.
“Retirement is a difficult decision after a career and a community have meant so much to me,” Federico said in the release. “I’m proud of the progress our department has made, but I’m even more proud of the people who made that progress possible.”
Among his accomplishments, the chief touted the reduction in the city's
homeless population and the addition of a full-time traffic unit and a juvenile diversion program during his tenure among others.
Federico also thanked the residents for putting their trust in the department's officers and for the relationships built.
The chief also faced challenges during his stint such as his legal dispute with Port Hueneme City Council member Laura Hernandez and an accidental shooting inside the station in which an officer was struck by a bullet fragment. Cal OSHA described the incident as "serious" workplace safety violations and fined the agency $24,125.
In the same annoucement about Federico's retirement, the city also named the city's next chief.
Police Cmdr. Robert Albertson was appointed as city's top cop, city officials said. He has worked for the police department for 24 years and previously served as an acting chief, according to the release.
Albertson will oversee a department of 22 sworn officers and another eight full-time support staff, according to the city website. The police department serves about 21,000 people, the release says.
The chief's retirement marks the third retirement of a chief in the area in about a month as Oxnard Police Department Chief Jason Benites and Oxnard Fire Department Chief Alexander Hamilton announced their retirements last month.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Port Hueneme police chief to retire after three-plus years in role
