Batista announced his resignation from a department in which he oversaw a drop in crime and increased police hiring.

He hinted at a clash with city leaders in his resignation letter.

Less than four years into his tenure, Santa Monica’s first-ever Latino police chief, Ramón Batista, has announced his resignation from a department in which he oversaw a drop in crime and increased police hiring.

Batista hinted at a potential clash with city leaders in a letter on Friday to the city manager, Oliver Chi.

“My nearly 40 years of experience in public safety and policing, my deeply held sense of justice, and following not only the spirit, but the letter of the law, appear to be at odds from demands set by the new administration,” he wrote .

“In that light, the right path is to transition l

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