Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer has appointed Lyle Martin to be her Chief Investigator. Martin has been the Chief of Bakersfield Police since 2016, and has worked for the department for more than 30 years.
Martin announced his retirement as police chief on the department’s Facebook page in a video posted this morning. Assistant Police Chief Greg Terry will serve as interim police chief when Martin’s retirement takes effect December 28.
Under normal circumstances, Bakersfield City Manager Alan Tandy would be charged with appointing a new chief. However, Tandy is retiring in January. The city council has to appoint a new manager, and that person will appoint the new chief.
Accroding to Bakersfield's charter, the police chief has to be promoted from within the department.
Lyle Martin will officially become the Chief D.A. Investigator on December 30.
