State records show a former Redlands deputy police chief was the highest‑paid public employee in California in 2025, receiving roughly $1.26 million in total compensation, the state controller’s office reported Friday.
What residents should know
The compensation package — compiled from city and state payroll reporting — included $890,467 categorized as “other pay,” $231,099 in accrued sick and vacation payouts and a base salary of $81,804. The city also contributed $55,864 toward retirement and health benefits, bringing the total to about $1.26 million.
By comparison, the combined compensation for the mayors of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego — including retirement and health benefits — is roughly $1.2 million, according to the same data release.
How the data were gathered
The state controller’s office began publishing detailed compensation data for public employees in 2010. The effort followed uncovering unusually large pay packages in other California cities and aims to give taxpayers a clearer view of how public funds are spent. The database covers more than 2 million workers across over 5,000 public agencies, including cities, special districts, state departments and public universities.
The controller’s files list the city and job title for high earners but do not identify employees by name. A nonprofit public‑pay database, Transparent California, identified the Redlands worker as Travis Martinez; that identification was cited in local reporting.
Local and statewide context
Officials and residents often weigh high compensation figures against municipal budgets, public safety needs and pension liabilities. The Redlands Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday; the San Bernardino Sun first reported the figure after reviewing the state data.
Statewide, the next two highest entries in the 2025 data were a Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chief and a transmission and distribution supervisor with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, underscoring how top pay can appear across different public safety and utility positions.
- Source of data: California State Controller’s Office payroll reports for 2025.
- Nonprofit database Transparent California identified the Redlands official by name.
- The disclosure program was launched after salary scandals in other cities prompted calls for transparency.
Residents concerned about municipal spending or curious about public employee compensation can review the controller’s searchable database online to compare agencies, job titles and totals.
| Rank | Job title | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Former deputy police chief | City of Redlands |
| 2 | Battalion chief | Los Angeles Fire Department |
| 3 | Transmission & distribution supervisor | Los Angeles Department of Water & Power |
Public payroll reporting is intended to help taxpayers understand where money goes and to encourage accountability. The disclosures do not provide context for why specific “other pay” or lump‑sum leave payouts were made; municipalities and employing departments retain records and can provide details on individual cases if legally permitted.
For local residents in Redlands and surrounding San Bernardino County, the report may prompt questions at city council meetings and requests for further explanation from city officials about personnel practices and budget impacts.
Sofia Delgado
California correspondent, News Block
