SoCal police chief faces ouster over holiday party striptease

A Southern California police chief has come under fire over a striptease incident at a holiday work party.

Chula Vista’s top cop Roxana Kennedy is accused of putting two $1 bills in an officer’s pocket when he took his shirt off at the event on December 13.

She then bowed and returned to her seat while the crowd laughed and cheered at the Chippendale-style dance, according to her attorney Cory Briggs.

Kennedy disappeared on medical leave at the end of January, leading to rampant speculation her job was on the line.

But Briggs shot down the claims, arguing she has been the victim of a months-long conspiracy to pressure her to quit the force.

The drama stems from the police union’s holiday party, in which two off-duty officers competed in a dance-off during a raffle at the party, before Kennedy slipped the topless one the $2.

Briggs told the San Diego Tribune: “Something that was jovial and jocular and innocent among adults is now being twisted into something that wasn’t.”

He sent a letter on Friday to the city asking it to preserve all evidence regarding “allegations of improper discipline, retaliation, discrimination and/or a hostile work environment,” and alleged “adverse actions” used against the chief.

The city hit back saying it was “deeply concerned by these accusations,” and “categorically rejects all allegations” in his letter asking it to preserve evidence, including emails.

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It also said any kind of conspiracy to replace the chief “is entirely false.”

Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, who recently returned from deployment as a Navy reservist, defended Kennedy.

He said: “She has been an exceptional leader. I want to make sure that we can get back to having the city run in a good, positive way, because she has done an incredibly great job as the police chief.”

Kennedy has been with the department for more than 30 years and has been the head of the department since 2016.

Chula Vista police Sgt and police union president, David Martinez, said she also has the support from the union, whose entire 10-member board voted unanimously to back her amid the turmoil.

Kennedy has been out on medical leave since January 23 and hit back recently at a social media report claiming she was out on administrative leave and not coming back, calling it “inaccurate.”

She wrote: “To be clear, I am currently on medical leave, not administrative leave. I have also made no plans for retirement.”

The city added it is “prohibited from commenting on specific actions related to the 2025 holiday party or any individual personnel matter,” citing “legal constraints.”