MESA, AZ — The City of Mesa has announced an interim police chief following the resignation of Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista.
Assistant Ken Cost, who has been with Mesa Police Department for 25 years, will take over the position, according to a Tuesday announcement.
“Appointing Assistant Chief Cost to this position was an easy decision based on his extensive law enforcement experience, knowledge of, and relationships with, the community and tenure with Mesa Police.” City Manager Chris Brady said in a statement. “I am fully confident in his ability to lead this department professionally and with the utmost integrity, transparency, and commitment.”
Cost has served in several areas of the department and in every rank leading up to assistant chief, including Special Investigations-Gang Unit, Community Action Team, Street Crimes, Violent Offender-US Marshal’s Task Force and Criminal Investigations (Homicide, Financial Crimes, and Recovered Property). As a Commander, his assignments included Fiesta Patrol, Human Resources and Training. He was promoted to Assistant Chief in March 2018 heading up the Patrol Operations Bureau.
The city announced Chief Batista's resignation Monday afternoon to pursue "personal interests and other professional opportunities."
Chief Batista was the third Mesa police chief in the past nine years, and he was hired in the aftermath of the high-profile shooting of Daniel Shaver by then-officer Philip Brailsford. As chief, Batista quickly went about making changes aimed at installing a different culture in the department and rebuilding trust with the community.
