New Police Chief Starts March 31

Kung Fu Chief starts soon.

City manager Matt Mogensen said he selected Casey Day, a law enforcement officer with about 25 years of experience who’s spent the last five years as the chief for the City of Fortuna in Humboldt County. Day will start the job March 31 and will be sworn in April 2 in P.G. City Council chambers.

Day will replace former PGPD Chief Cathy Madalone, who said on Sept. 27, 2024, that she was retiring after five years at the department. Madalone’s retirement came after she suffered an undisclosed injury in late 2023 and worked from home for months. Madalone, 56, eventually went on paid leave for about six months before retiring. She declined to disclose the nature of her injury. Brian Anderson has been the acting chief since her departure.

New Police Chief Starts March 31

Next Police Chief? Asking The Citizens

How about a California person who has been on the streets and targets criminals and would shrug off political fuss? Also be golf cart certified.

PGPD Help Wanted

city manager Matt Mogensen told The Pine Cone Monday that the city intends to gather feed-back from citizens about the person who will replace Madalone, whose last day is Oct. 12. “We are looking at putting out a survey to residents and stakeholders for input on what they value in the next police chief,”

Local police chiefs and other law enforcement experts will be interviewed to “best gauge” if a candidate “is well suited to meet the needs, culture and character of the community,” he said.

Next Police Chief? Asking The Citizens

Fired P.G. Cop Speaks Out

Golf Cart safety

Dear Editor,
As a former Pacific Grove police officer, I cannot stay silent on the damage caused by Police Chief Cathy Madalone during her time in office. Chief Madalone created a clear political divide within the community and police department, using her position to push a political agenda that was inappropriate and divisive. Rather than focusing on the needs of the community, she repeatedly allowed personal politics to seep into her leadership role, alienating a significant portion of the town. Her lack of transparency regarding her on-duty injury further deepened the community’s distrust. At a time when the people of Pacific Grove needed leadership, Chief Madalone hid behind a wall of silence instead of offering clarity and openness. Yet she openly and repeatedly spoke about me and my investigation This is not the level of accountability we deserve from someone in her position. Worse still, under her command, the department became a toxic place to work.
After I was unjustly fired, officers who supported me found themselves bullied and retaliated against. Chief Madalone created a culture of fear and division, driving away several good, dedicated officers who refused to tolerate her poor leadership and blatant political agenda. Pacific Grove deserves a police department that prioritizes the safety and unity of its community, not one driven by personal politics and retribution. Chief Madalone’s departure should have come sooner, but the damage she has caused to both the department and the community will take a prayer to repair.
Michael Gonzalez,
former Pacific Grove police officer

Fired P.G. Cop Speaks Out

OJI Police Chief Quits

Too busy with outreach and peer support to do police work?
Golf Cart safety

Pacific Grove Police Chief Cathy Madalone announced on Saturday her retirement, effective Oct. 12. Madalone has been on an extended medical leave for several months.

In Pacific Grove, she succeeded former chief Amy Christey and during her tenure Madalone and the Pacific Grove department completed accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, established a chaplain and peer support program and hosted a variety of community outreach programs like National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop, Surfing with a Cop and Citizens Academies, according to the city.

OJI Police Chief Quits

Police Chief Working At Home

But does not tell why, not the transparency we should have.
Golf Cart safety

Cathy Madalone, 55, told The Pine Cone last October that she was injured on the job, though she did not elaborate, and that the city had given her a special accommodation to work at home “temporarily. ” That was the arrangement until May, when city manager Matt Mogensen announced she was on leave until at least June 7. Three days later, though, Madalone extended her leave to Oct. 1 “We expect to have the next update on her status on or before Oct. 1,” Mogensen told The Pine Cone this week. Members of  the P.G. City Council have been tightlipped on the chief’s arrangement because they’re barred from publicly talking about personnel matters.

Police Chief Working At Home

Chief Cathy Madalone Quits

Timed it right. Diminished capacity until eligible for full retirement. Next time put DEI at the bottom of the list.

PGPD Help Wanted

Pacific Grove Police Chief Cathy Madalone — who has been on paid leave for months following a mysterious injury — announced today that she’s retiring on Oct. 12, after only five years in the role.
Madalone has faced criticism from residents for failing to disclose how she was injured, the nature of her injuries and why she was apparently able to work from home and not in the police department on Pine Street. She did not address her injury in today’s retirement message, either.
While several sources told The Pine Cone that Madalone was hurt in a golf cart mishap during an August 2023 car event in P.G., she never confirmed or denied it.

Golf Cart safety

Chief Cathy Madalone Quits

Police Chief On Leave, Commander Takes Over In Interim

PG PD Pride Flag

PG PD Flagpole

Chief Cathy Madalone, 55, told The Pine Cone last October that she was given a special accommodation, in lieu of a full leave of absence, to work from home based on “physician recommendations and city policy.” Madalone has declined to say how or when she was injured and started working from home but has called the arrangement “temporary.” This week, though, Pacific Grove’s new city manager, Matt Mogensen, told The Pine Cone Madalone is not working.

Police Chief On Leave, Commander Takes Over In Interim

P.G. Police Chief’s WFH Reason REVEALED

It’s been months since chief Madelone has been in the station. Plus is the Forest Hill Safeway store being turned into housing? And raccoons.

Check out the latest “What’s The Plan” podcast, it makes that long commute from Marina to Pacific Grove go by faster.

WTP

P.G. Police Chief’s WFH Reason REVEALED

 

P.G. Police Chief Pulling Duty From Home

At least her Monterey home is closer than the ex-City Manager’s. PG PD Pride Flag

Earlier this month, Madalone again said she was working from home. And this week, in response to questions about the date she began working remotely, the nature of her injury and when she expected to return to work, she said the answers would reveal “confidential medical and personnel information.”

P.G. Police Chief Pulling Duty From Home