Martinez says he was given his walking papers from the nonprofit Park City Community Outreach Center after making comments to The Salt Lake Tribune.

In an Oct. 21 story, Martinez wondered aloud how it could be that all of the "10 Most Wanted" were Latinos when they represent only 20 percent of Park City's population.

But Shelley Weiss, executive director of the center that serves the resort community's immigrant families, says Martinez's contract was not renewed because of poor job performance - and that his release had nothing to do with any comments he may have made to news media.

Park City Police Chief Lloyd Evans sits on the outreach center's board. But Weiss says the chief did not urge Martinez's departure after the "10 Most Wanted" story.

"The chief would never do that," she said.

Evans was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

Martinez says the newspaper report caused a stir among some members of the Latino community, but it wasn't something that angered him.

"I didn't go to the newspaper; they came to me," he said. "My comments were innocuous."

Martinez, along with Laura Grimaldo, who also had talked to The Tribune concerning the "Most Wanted," met with Evans and Weiss on Nov. 4. The newspaper story was among the things discussed, Martinez says.

Grimaldo declined comment.

On Nov. 7, suspecting he was about to be terminated, Martinez resigned.

"I was never told anything - except that I was doing a great job," Martinez said. "I'm surprised with the way this happened. This is an overreaction."

Outreach center board member Riley Risto believes Martinez was performing well.

"From what I saw, I did think he was doing a wonderful job," Risto said.

But he also sensed a conflict of philosophies between Martinez and Weiss.

The "Most Wanted" wasn't where it started, "but that was certainly part of it," he said.

Ten years ago, when Weiss established the immigrant-outreach program for Mountainlands Community Housing Trust, she emphasized cooperation between the immigrant community and the police department.

But Martinez said he felt "uncomfortable" acting as law enforcement's eyes and ears.

"That put me in an untenable position. People need to know there is confidentiality here." he said.

Weiss terms that a "fundamental disconnect."

"I've taken great pride in building a close relationship between law enforcement and the immigrant community," she said. "It's not just philosophy, it's in the organization's bylaws."

Weiss departed from Mountainlands Community Housing Trust, and in January established the independent Park City Community Outreach Center.

Martinez was awarded a six-month contract in June.

Weiss says she had determined prior to the "Most Wanted" dust-up not to renew his contract - a decision based solely on performance. She declined to elaborate for legal reasons.

"I think Lee would like to believe that the ["Most Wanted"] story was an issue," Weiss said. "But he just didn't do a good job."

For Martinez, who has had a distinguished career, including director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs, it's a bitter pill.

"I can't believe I was treated this poorly," he said. "I got hoodwinked by small-town politics."

csmart@sltrib.com