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Residents Outraged Over $19,000/Month Paid Leave For Fullerton Police Chief

FULLERTON (CBS) — Residents in Fullerton are renewing their call for the chief of police to resign after his paid medical leave is extended for another two months.

KNX 1070's John Brooks reports the extension comes as officials hire a doctor to look into Chief Michael Sellers' medical condition.

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Sellers, who was supposed to return to work Tuesday, is reportedly still suffering from stress and high blood pressure and will continue to collect about $19,000 a month in salary.

Under his contract, Sellers could be eligible for up to 12 months of paid leave — a revelation that has left some local taxpayers outraged.

"No, there's no way! No way that someone is going to be able to get that amount of medical leave," said one man.

"Is that crazy or what? I think he should step down and save himself some embarrassment," another resident said.

City Council member Sharon Quirk-Silva told KCAL 9's Stacey Butler the cost to taxpayers is only part of her frustration.

"In essence, it leaves us with one-fourth of our command staff less," said Quirk-Silva, who fears the city will be unable to move forward with interim chief Kevin Hamilton.

The embattled police chief left on paid medical leave at the height of the Kelly Thomas controversy this summer.

Hamilton will continue as acting chief in place of Sellers while the city conducts its own investigation into his medical claims.

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