Community Corner
Retired Police Chief Terry Medina Named Interim Leader Of Watsonville Force
Chief Manny Solano will be out for several months to undergo cancer treatment.
Former Watsonville Police Chief Terry Medina has been named interim chief of his former department while Chief Manny Solano undergoes treatment for cancer, officials announced Wednesday.
Solano was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer earlier this month when a tumor was found during a minor outpatient surgery.
He will take an immediate four to six month leave.
"It's going to be a challenge but I'm ready for the fight," Solano said in a video message to his department. "... I plan on coming back and beating this."
Solano, 49, has been chief since 2010, when Medina retired.
Medina thanked people for the support and confidence shown in him.
"It's overwhelming to be back in the fold," he said.
Solano left his department with this instruction: "stay strong, stay safe and just believe."
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