Coachella Valley Area Police Chief Put on Administrative Leave

COACHELLA VALLEY -- Cathedral City Police Chief Travis Walker has been placed on administrative leave, making him the second Coachella Valley chief to be suspended in the past week.

The reason for the move was not immediately known. Mayor Mark Carnevale told KESQ it was the result of an internal matter. City Manager Charlie McClendon also told the Desert Sun newspaper that the move was a "personnel matter.''

Walker has been Cat City's police chief in Cathedral City since November 2017. He joined the Department in September 2016 as Deputy Chief.

His suspension came four days after that of Desert Hot Springs police Chief Dale Mondary, who was placed on paid administrative leave Monday. Some media reports have suggested Mondary is being investigated for allegedly inappropriate social media contact with unnamed parties.

DHS city spokeswoman Doria Wilms said the undisclosed allegation leading to the investigation was the first complaint against Mondary in his four-year term as chief. She also said DHS City Manager Chuck Maynard authorized Mondary's leave.

The investigation into the allegations will be handled by a private law firm and could begin as soon as next week, Wilms said.

City News Service contributed to this report.