Dalal Museitef
Journalist
In January 2024, Andrew Espinoza was appointed Interim City Manager while still serving as Police Chief—a rare dual role and a high-stakes position. Espinoza, with over 26 years in the police department, said his motivation was rooted in service, not politics.
When speaking with Espinoza, there was no hesitation, no stuttering, no evasion. He was grounded, clear, and direct—anchored in awareness and guided by principle.
After two months of research and interviews with both former and current City of Barstow employees, a consistent picture began to emerge: Barbara Rose appeared to harbor escalating personal vendettas against city staff.
One city employee recalled a telling moment: “I remember walking into City Hall and seeing a group of employees gathered in one office. And they said, ‘It’s the day she comes in. We don’t want to be here.’” Staff would reportedly open their blinds to watch for Rose’s car, then quietly exit the building as soon as she arrived. “They didn’t want to interact with her,” the employee explained. “They were afraid she’d try to boss them around or give them orders.”
In September 2024, former Assistant City Manager Kody Tompkins’s leaked exit interview revealed how unbearable it had become working under Council Member (now Mayor Pro Tem) Barbara Rose. He described her behavior toward city staff as “consistently toxic, rude, and disrespectful,” creating a hostile work environment that undermined professionalism and caused unnecessary stress.
“Her behavior toward City staff — including myself, the City Manager, and others presenting items — has been consistently toxic… damaging morale and risking the loss of valuable employees who can no longer tolerate this mistreatment.”
Tompkins also raised a serious concern about potential retaliation, noting that Rose’s HR background could be weaponized against whistleblowers:
“This creates an environment of fear that discourages staff from speaking up, further perpetuating a cycle of toxicity.”
By November 2024, Espinoza informed city officials he no longer wanted the Interim City Manager role and preferred to return to his position as Police Chief. When asked why, he pointed to a pattern of office conflicts and growing dysfunction.
There appears to be a double standard: when leadership fails within the council, blame is scattered, avoided, or ignored entirely. This lack of accountability directly contradicts Barstow’s own municipal code. Section 2.08.070 outlines the council-manager form of governance, clearly stating: “Councilmembers may only engage with city operations through the city manager and cannot direct staff or give instructions outside of official meetings.” Yet, by multiple accounts, certain council members repeatedly violated this rule, bypassing the city manager and overstepping their legal boundaries. Their intent wasn’t to promote good governance—it was to exert control.
Unnamed sources in the Sentinel accused Espinoza of misconduct, but insiders dismissed the claims as baseless. With no evidence, investigation, or formal complaint, the accusations read more like character assassination than credible reporting. Specific council members allegedly fueled the tension, threatening Espinoza’s position and warning him not to get too comfortable as Interim City Manager. Despite occasional verbal apologies, the hostile tone persisted.
In December 2024, Council Member Rose took a subtle jab at Espinoza while questioning his contract and salary. She claimed she was unaware of any pay increase related to him holding both titles. Former Mayor Paul Courtney defended Espinoza’s qualifications, but Rose remained skeptical, saying, “There’s just too many things here that we have not been given to make an informed decision.”
City Attorney Matthew Summers stepped in, attempting to clarify. “None of this came from me alone. I want to make that very clear to the council… I’m not disclosing the outcome—only that the direction was for this contract to come forward to the council.”
Rose fired back, visibly frustrated: “I don’t want to discuss any closed sessions—as you just disclosed. We cannot do that, Matthew. You’re our attorney. You need to protect us. Please.”
The exchange left many in the room confused, as her argument seemed to contradict itself and deflect from the main issue.
Complicating matters further is the lack of clear documentation—some records exist, but many interactions go unrecorded or are withheld from public view for legal reasons. Meanwhile, online narratives remain heavily one-sided. Calls for fairness and accountability are often drowned out by political agendas and power plays.
For a time, that unchecked authority may have gone unnoticed—especially in the absence of a permanent City Manager. But when Espinoza stepped in and began asking questions, resistance was swift and severe. Council members weren’t used to being challenged—and it showed.
There’s a pattern of performative politics in Barstow: council members appearing at local events and ribbon-cuttings while their past behavior is quietly overlooked. Residents are expected to smile and play along. But behind the scenes, people are asking: What’s really going on?
If everything is above board, why hasn’t the City of Barstow released a public statement or press release to clarify? Why do the same few voices dominate every meeting, recycling the same narrative?
Through a combination of interviews, document reviews, and tips from anonymous sources, a disturbing picture of Barstow’s leadership has begun to emerge: personal vendettas overriding public interest, city staff carrying out unofficial agendas, and a lack of accountability from those in power.
Espinoza’s words were measured—rooted in reason and directed toward solutions. The goal wasn’t justice. It was intimidation. Plain and simple.
I report local news and I am here to assist in facial, informative and investigative news pieces. Dispatchdeebarstow@gmail.com
