Former California Police Deputy Chief Receives $1.2 Million Retirement Payout Without Working in 2025

Travis Martinez, former deputy police chief of Redlands, California, received nearly $1.2 million in 2025 despite not working a single day that year. This payout, the highest for a public employee in the state, was part of a retirement agreement that ended a prolonged legal dispute with the city. Martinez was on paid administrative leave for about 18 months before retiring in April 2025. His compensation package included $81,804 in regular salary, $890,467 in additional payments, and a one-time $231,099 severance, along with $55,864 for pension and health insurance, totaling approximately $1.26 million.

The settlement resolved a lawsuit Martinez filed in 2023, alleging retaliation by city officials after he reported misconduct within the police department. He claimed to have raised concerns about attempts to conceal evidence related to a fatal train accident and reported allegations against another senior police official to the FBI. This case is part of a series of lawsuits and settlements in Redlands, including those involving former deputy chief Mike Rice. Over the past three years, the city has approved more than $3.3 million in settlements connected to these controversies.