Kelly Thomas Death: Michael Sellers, Fullerton Police Chief, Placed On Medical Leave

FULLERTON, Calif. — A Southern California police chief who has come under fire since the death of a homeless man who had a violent confrontation with officers was placed on medical leave Wednesday.

Fullerton City Manager Joe Felz said he didn't have details on police Chief Michael Sellers' medical condition. But he said in a statement that the decision came after advice from Sellers' doctor.

The homeless man, Kelly Thomas, was taken off life support on July 10, five days after the bloody encounter with police. The officers were investigating reports of someone burglarizing cars at a transit hub and tried to search Thomas' backpack when they got into a fight with him.

The death sparked outrage in Fullerton, prompting two city council members and dozens of citizens to call on Sellers to step down.

Sellers' physician will contact Felz in 30 days with an assessment of the chief's condition, along with a recommendation on when – or if – Sellers can return to work, Felz told The Orange County Register.

Capt. Kevin Hamilton, commander of the department's detective division, was appointed acting police chief in Sellers' absence. The 53-year-old has been a Fullerton police officer since 1979, and has worked in several department divisions, including patrol, traffic investigation, narcotics, SWAT and the detective bureau. He was promoted to captain in 2010.

The city has "very important issues we have to deal with in light of the Kelly Thomas incident, and we will work with investigators from the District Attorney's Office and the FBI, who are looking into the incident," Hamilton said in a statement.

Comments

[cittidude2]

09:26 PM on 09/07/2011

I said it before and I will say it again, the police who did that should be procecuted under the same federal statues as the police who beat Rodney King.

[dadofoh49]

08:39 PM on 09/07/2011

Did I miss the explination Why he's on Medical leave?

[musterseeds]

09:59 PM on 09/07/2011

got mix up with kelly thomas medicail..

[Phemale]

03:57 AM on 08/12/2011

I wouldn't be sad if he took his own life.

I originally just wanted this co-conspirator to covering up a murder, and the rest of his gang to step down; However, I'm feeling like a big •Nike Cortez wearing-Hale-bop Comet Ceremony• for these gangsters who possess a licence to kill.

[zombywulf]

12:22 AM on 08/12/2011

Chief could have hurt his back carrying all that bribe money

[Spank05]

03:42 PM on 08/11/2011

From the OC Register this morning:

"Sellers, 59, will continue to be paid his annual salary and benefits package of $228,576. He has served as Fullerton's chief since May 2009. He previously served as chief in Laguna Beach and Seal Beach."

That's why he's doing this. If he's forced to "retire" for medical reasons he'll still get his fat pension.

[zombywulf]

12:23 AM on 08/12/2011

It's amazing how all these dirty cops keep getting jobs in other places

[dadofoh49]

08:48 PM on 09/07/2011

Wonder why he moved around from city to city?

[Christopher Hull]

02:16 PM on 08/11/2011

Every "real" mobster I have ever met has said the same thing: "The police are the real gangsters." So now this crook in a uniform is going to get to retire with "disability" pay from the stress of this situation!
This should only be allowed if he is tasered repeatedly and then beaten like the homeless man was.

[merlin57]

01:36 PM on 08/11/2011

These podunk townie cops are something else.... if they are so good and so tough at what they do, what did it take 6 of them and 5 tazer shots to subdue a 165lb man and why is their chief bailing out on them with a medical in a time of trouble? Courage and honor indeed.

[Jacob007]

09:46 AM on 08/11/2011

Let hope that Chief sellers doesn't fled to Mexico.

[clearpepsi]

03:12 AM on 08/11/2011

what a creepy dude, that mustash those side panels -- what a bazaar reaction from his dept.

[sponjhed]

01:30 AM on 08/11/2011

Of course it is too stressful for the Chief. He was a lackey installed into the position to do someone's bidding. He failed to take the correct and proper actions after the homeless homicide, and got exposed.
He is angling for a disability pension, allowing 50% of the monthly pension to be fully tax-free. Better take away his pistol, for under this stress, he may try to take his own life!

[Richcrafter]

12:39 AM on 08/11/2011

Was it too stressful to kill a man?

[Foodgrade]

11:59 PM on 08/10/2011

The Fullerton police chief should be put in prison.

[1frank]

11:44 PM on 08/10/2011

yes but they are all being paid with benefit for nothing else but Murdering an Homeless man son of a law enforcement Officer that was crying Dad , Dad , Dad help , sadly he had diminished mental capacity , I have a hard time after watching the tape to believe these were and still are Police Officers on duty , it speak volume , anyone else would be in jail , are there different standard of law in California ? oh and the City had the guts to send a release to the Family should they accept $800 000 . then no charge whatsoever would be brought against the officers.

[BloodStripe]

04:29 PM on 08/11/2011

... there really did not appear to be any real attempt to subdue and arrest this individual. This was nothing more than a gang assault and vicious beating... with the arrest done to legitimize their action.... strip them of their weapons let them keep their uniform and send them to the people on a dark night such as the one they murder this victim on.

[Nola Anarcha]

11:00 PM on 08/10/2011

The entire Fullerton PD should be disbanded, defunded, and jailed.

[MAUREEN DONOVAN]

03:25 AM on 09/22/2011

Excellent suggestion. Wish we could make that happen. I am disgusted.