Morro Bay police chief is stepping down after 10 years with agency: ‘An absolute honor’
Morro Bay Police Department Chief Joseph “Jody” Cox will be retiring at the end of the year, the city announced Monday in a news release.
Cox has been with the department for 10 years, serving as police chief for the past four years, the city said.
His retirement becomes effective Dec. 31.
“(Cox) took command of the Morro Bay Police Department at a very important time, as law enforcement was experiencing radical change as a profession,” city manager Scott Collins said in the release.
“Despite all the related challenges associated with change, he found a way to strengthen ties and build trust with the community, evolve the department to meet modern policing standards, and mentor the next generation of peace officers to equip them to lead our city into the future. “
According to the release, Cox expanded programs aimed at connecting the department with the community, including launching the Citizen’s Academy, the Police Chief’s Advisory Board and a mobile phone app.
He also bolstered the department’s training regime and aided the Morro Bay community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.
Before moving to Morro Bay, Cox served various law enforcement roles at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and Tulare Police Department.
“After nearly 35 years of public service in the law enforcement profession, it is time to focus of my family and grandkids,” Cox said in the release. “It has been an absolute honor and privilege to lead this department.”
Cox said he could not imagine living in a place better than Morro Bay, adding that leading the city’s police department was the highlight of his career.
The city manager is assessing next steps in the process to select Cox’s successor, according to the release.
The city plans to conduct a survey of Morro Bay community members and Morro Bay Police Department employees to learn what they hope to see in their next police chief, the release said.
This story was originally published October 11, 2022 at 10:01 AM.
