A former deputy chief of the Redlands Police Department in California was the state's highest-paid public sector employee in 2025, earning over $1.2 million while on paid leave for nearly two years. Records released on June 30 from the State Controller's Office show Travis Martinez received $1,203,370 in wages last year.
Martinez's earnings included $890,467 in "Other Pay" and $231,099 in "Lump-Sum Pay," in addition to his regular salary of $81,804. Health benefits and retirement contributions added another $55,864, bringing his total compensation to approximately $1.26 million. This figure surpassed the second-highest-paid public sector worker, a Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chief who earned over $921,000.
The regular pay range for Martinez's position as deputy chief is typically between $170,486 and $217,588, according to the State Controller's Office.
Martinez had been on paid administrative leave for 18 months prior to his retirement in April 2025. This leave followed a settlement agreement with the Redlands Police Department. Under the terms of the settlement, Martinez agreed to retire within 10 days, drop a claim he filed against the city in June 2023, and receive approximately $872,000 from the city. This settlement payment accounts for a significant portion of the "other pay" he received.
In his claim against the department, Martinez alleged he faced retaliation after reporting misconduct. This alleged misconduct included attempts to conceal evidence of safety hazards related to a train accident that resulted in the deaths of an 11-year-old girl and her mother. Martinez also accused the police department of sexual misconduct involving then-Deputy Chief Mike Reiss. He reportedly filed a complaint with the FBI after believing the allegations were not being adequately addressed internally. Reiss retired on March 4, 2023, amid allegations of preying on, grooming, and sexually harassing several department employees over several years. Martinez was placed on paid leave in October 2023 and did not return to work before his retirement.
In a separate instance, a Montgomery County firefighter in Maryland earned $472,000 in total compensation in 2025. This figure, reported by the Baltimore Banner, was achieved by supplementing a base salary of $157,000 with $315,000 in overtime pay, which reportedly contributed to the department exceeding its overtime budget by $10 million.