Fullerton Police Department

Last updated

Fullerton Police Department
Patch of the Fullerton Police Department.jpg
Patch of the Fullerton Police Department
AbbreviationFPD
Agency overview
Formed1904;118 years ago (1904)
Annual budget$35 million
Jurisdictional structure
General nature
Operational structure
Sworn members153
Unsworn members78
Divisions
  • Uniform Division
  • Service Division
  • Detective Division

The Fullerton Police Department of Fullerton, California, was established in 1904 when the city incorporated. The Fullerton Police Department currently employs 153 sworn officers and 78 civilian employees. It has a budget of about $35 million. [1] The current chief is David Hendricks. [2] The department has a Uniform Division, a Service Division and a Detective Division all commanded by officers in the rank of captain. [3]

Contents

History

In April 2003, press reports indicated that two unnamed Fullerton police officers were suspended without pay for 60 hours while two more senior supervisors were suspended for 12.5 hours. The officers had been called to an address because of a possible suicide of a woman. One officer squatted next to the unconscious victim, passed wind and remarked, "This ought to wake her up." The second officer climbed into bed with the woman and pretended to lick her. [4]

On the night of March 17, 2010, a number of Fullerton police personnel arrested an unnamed college student. The student filed a complaint that the police threatened him, broke his fingers and tortured him before stealing his iPod and $140. An internal investigation by the department confirmed that Officer Cary Tong had in fact violated department policy and broke the man's finger. [5]

On June 1, 2010, Fullerton police conducted a lineup of assault suspects on a local street. The victim sat in a police car about 25 feet from the three men and identified the one she thought had attacked her. The police then arrested Emmanuel Martinez instead of the man she indicated. Martinez was held in jail for five months until the matter was sorted out. [6]

In the same month, Officer Kenton Hampton objected to Edward Quinonez observing him conduct a traffic stop. He arrested Quinonez claiming he was intoxicated. In the course of the arrest, Quinonez was injured in the head. hospital reports and taped evidence showed he was not intoxicated. In July 2013, the city agreed to pay the man $25,000 to settle the matter. Officer Hampton was present at the death of Kelly Thomas in July, but was not charged. [7]

On the night of October 20, 2010, Fullerton police officers burst into the house of Robyn Nordell without warning. They had entered the wrong house while looking for someone. The four officers did not report the mistake to the police department for five days. The matter was settled out of court. [8] [9] In October of the next year, the police chief publicly apologized. [10]

In June 2011, press reports indicated that a Fullerton police officer, Kelly Janeth Mejia had been arrested at Miami International Airport after stealing an iPad at a security checkpoint. The officer was placed on paid leave by the department. [11] She was fired in October, although the department would not make a public statement as to why she was discharged. She admitted her guilt in court in February 2012 and was sentenced to pay $100 in court costs, a $250 charitable donation and a requirement to attend a "theft class." [12] In July 2011, Fullerton police officer Todd Alan Major pleaded guilty to two charges involving embezzlement and theft to fuel his drug habit. He was sentenced to six months in jail. [13]

In August 2011, Officer Alber Rincon was the subject of a federal lawsuit by two women claiming the officer sexually attacked them in the back seat of his police car. On July 9, the department informed the officer they intended to fire him. At this point, he was no longer to allowed to wear his badge. [10] The city later moved settle the case. [14] [15] U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford wrote that "Requiring Rincon to attend 'pat-down' training is weak sauce that does nothing to hide the unpleasant taste of complicity...At the end of the day, the City put Rincon back onto the streets to continue arresting women despite a pattern of sexual harassment allegations." [16]

In January 2012, press reports indicated the Fullerton Police Department was the subject of a lawsuit concerning tow trucks in the city. The suit claimed that officers systematically harassed and intimidated tow truck drivers from companies not preferred by the department. [17]

In March 2012, press reports indicated a Fullerton police corporal was charged with destroying his digital audio recorder after the apparent jailhouse suicide of a person he had arrested. Corporal Vincent Thomas Mater detained Dean Francis Gochenour for driving under the influence and took him to the Fullerton jail. Two hours later Gochenour was found hanging dead in his holding cell. When it was found Mater's recording device had been damaged, he was placed on paid leave and later fired. [18] In November 2012, Mater pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of destruction of property and vandalism and was sentenced to probation. [19]

Kelly Thomas

On the night of July 5, 2011, Fullerton police responded to reports of a man trying to break into cars. They encountered Kelly Thomas, 37, [20] a local mentally ill transient. Thomas was an unarmed local homeless man who was beaten severely by six officers and stunned six times with a taser. Thomas was taken to a hospital, and put on life support. Later, the life support was removed; Thomas died five days later. After video of the incident and photos of Thomas in the hospital were released, five of the officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave. One other officer was already on administrative leave. The Fullerton Police Department refused to release their names at the time. The F.B.I. began an investigation. [21] In early August, the city offered the Thomas family $900,000 to settle the matter. The family refused. [22]

In mid-August, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said he saw nothing in the video that pointed to an attempt by the officers to kill Thomas. At about the same time, the Thomas family launched a lawsuit that could potentially cost Fullerton millions of dollars. [23] Local activists began a campaign to recall the mayor and city council. On August 9, [24] the police chief stepped down, citing health concerns. [25] Taking over from the suddenly ill police chief, acting chief Kevin Hamilton told the press that the surveillance tape from the scene (which had yet to be released by the authorities) showed "there was certainly a significant amount of struggle between Mr. Thomas and the officers." [24] The Orange County Register reported that Thomas was ordered to sit on a curb and did so, but he failed to keep his hands on his knees as ordered. [26] The police then reached for their batons. The Los Angeles Times reported Officer Ramos began the confrontation, putting on latex gloves and screaming, "See my fists? They are getting ready to f--- you up." [27]

On September 6, in order to pressure the district attorney to bring charges, the family's lawyer went on local newscasts with graphic images showing the damage done Thomas by the beating. [28]

On September 22, 2011, press reports indicated District Attorney Rackauckas changed his mind and charged Officer Manuel Ramos and Corporal Jay Cicinelli with the killing. Ramos, 37 years old, who has served with the department for ten years, was jailed in lieu of a million dollar bond. Cicinelli, aged 39 and with a dozen years of service was released on $25,000 bail. [27] [29] Cicinelli was placed on unpaid administrative leave by the Fullerton Police Department, but continued to receive his disability payments from the Los Angeles Police Department for a 1996 shooting that cost him his left eye. [30]

The other four officers at the scene, Officer Joseph Wolfe, Officer Kenton Hampton, Sergeant Kevin Craig and Corporal James Blatney were not charged due to lack of evidence according to a statement by the District Attorney's office. [27] Wolfe was later indicted by a grand jury in late September 2012. [31]

In mid-January 2014, Corporal Jay Cicinelli and Officer Manuel Ramos were acquitted of all charges. [32]

Chiefs

DateChief of Department
1904 JulyMarshal Charles E. Ruddock
1910 AprilMarshal Roderick D. Stone
1912 NovemberMarshal William French
1918 AugustChief Vernon Myers
1921 AugustChief Arthur L. Eeles
1925 AprilChief O. W. Wilson
1925 DecemberChief Thomas K. Winter
1927 DecemberChief James M. Pearson
1940 AprilChief John C. Gregory
1951 FebruaryChief Ernest E. Garner
1957 NovemberChief Wayne H. Bornhoft
1977 SeptemberChief Martin Hairabedian
1987 MarchChief Philip Goehring
1993 MarchChief Patrick McKinley
2009 AprilChief Michael Sellers*
2012 JanuaryActing Chief Dan Hughes
2013 JanuaryChief Dan Hughes
2017 AugustChief David Hendricks
2020Chief Robert Dunn

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Fullerton Police Department, two officers have died in the line of duty. [34]

OfficerDate of DeathDetails
Officer Jerry Scott HatchMonday, June 30, 1975Vehicular assault
Officer Tommy De La RosaThursday, June 21, 1990Gunfire

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fullerton, California</span> City in California, United States

Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 143,617.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State University, Fullerton</span> Public university in Fullerton, California

California State University, Fullerton is a public university in Fullerton, California. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system, and its graduate student body of more than 5,000 is one of the largest in the CSU and in all of California. As of fall 2016, the school had 2,083 faculty, of which 782 were on the tenure track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department</span>

The BART Police (BARTPD), officially the Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department, is the transit police agency of the BART rail system in the U.S. state of California. The department has approximately three hundred police personnel, including over two hundred sworn peace officers. The chief, Ed Alvarez commands the agency's law enforcement, parking, and community relations services. BART Police participates in a mutual aid agreement with other Bay Area law enforcement agencies. In 2011 and 2012 the department came under national scrutiny due to several officers involved in fatalities of the rail system's patrons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy High School (California)</span> School in Fullerton, California, United States

Troy High School is a public high school in Fullerton, California, U.S., acclaimed for its many programs including Troy Tech and International Baccalaureate. The school is part of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District. As of the 2019–20 school year, 2,604 students attend the school. Troy High School has the distinction of winning the most national titles in the Science Olympiad. It is one of the seven high schools in California and one of 59 in the country to be awarded a New American High Schools status by the United States Department of Education. The school is located next to the continuing La Vista High School and California State University, Fullerton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny Hills High School</span> High school in Fullerton, California, United States

Sunny Hills High School (SHHS) is a public high school located in Fullerton, California, United States. Established in 1959, it is part of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Police Department</span> Law enforcement agency in Denver, Colorado

The Denver Police Department (DPD) is the full service police department jointly for the City and County of Denver, Colorado, which provides police services to the entire county, including Denver International Airport, and may provide contractual security police service to special districts within the county. The police department is within the Denver Department of Public Safety, which also includes the Denver Sheriff Department and Denver Fire Department. The DPD was established in 1859.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Beach Police Department (California)</span> Law enforcement agency in Long Beach, California

The Long Beach Police Department provides law enforcement for the city of Long Beach, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Police Department</span> Municipal police department in Tennessee, U.S.

The Memphis Police Department is the law enforcement agency of the city of Memphis, Tennessee, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Police Department</span> Dallas, Texas law enforcement agency

The Dallas Police Department, established in 1881, is the principal law enforcement agency serving the city of Dallas, Texas.

The San Francisco Police Department began operations on August 13, 1849 during the Gold Rush under the command of Captain Malachi Fallon. At the time, Chief Fallon had a force of one deputy captain, three sergeants, and thirty officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince George's County Police Department</span> Primary law enforcement agency in Prince Georges County, Maryland, U.S.

The Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD) is the primary law enforcement agency in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States, servicing a population of over 900,000 residents and visitors within 498 square miles (1,290 km2) of jurisdiction.

The shooting of Michael Sungman Cho occurred on December 31, 2007, in the Orange County city of La Habra, California. Cho, a 25-year-old Korean-American artist, was brandishing a tire iron outside a store and was shot by two police officers. The shooting was ruled justified by the Orange County district attorney. Cho's family received a $100,000 settlement from a lawsuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Police Department corruption and misconduct</span> Overview of misconduct and corruption in the NYPD

Throughout the history of the New York City Police Department, numerous instances of corruption and misconduct, and allegations of such, have occurred. Over 12,000 cases have resulted in lawsuit settlements totaling over $400 million during a five-year period ending in 2014. In 2019, taxpayers funded $68,688,423 as the cost of misconduct lawsuits, a 76 percent increase over the previous year, including about $10 million paid out to two exonerated individuals who had been falsely convicted and imprisoned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing of Kelly Thomas</span> Killed by police

Kelly Thomas was a homeless man diagnosed with schizophrenia who lived on the streets of Fullerton, California. He died five days after being severely beaten by six members of the Fullerton Police Department whom he encountered on July 5, 2011, in what was later described as "one of the worst police beatings in [US] history."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanford Police Department</span> Law enforcement agency in Florida, U.S.

The Sanford Police Department is a police agency in Sanford, the county seat of Seminole County, Florida. It employs 140 sworn police officers alongside 24 other employees, and Police Chief Smith. Prior to Chief Smith, Richard Myers was the Interim Police Chief. Myers is the former Chief of Police in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Appleton, Wisconsin. In March 2012, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee took a temporary leave of absence during the department's investigation of the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin, and Captain Darren Scott was named acting chief of police. Myers took over from Scott in May 2012. In April 2013, Former Elgin, Illinois Deputy Police Chief Cecil Smith took over as the department's chief.

The Anaheim police shootings and protests of July 2012 involve two fatal shootings by police officers in Anaheim, California, and subsequent public protests. On July 21, Manuel Diaz was shot and killed by Anaheim Police officer Nick Bennallack after he ran from the officers. Protests ensued after the shooting. On July 22, Joel Acevedo was shot and killed by Anaheim police in an alleged exchange of gunfire, making the seventh fatal shooting by an officer in Anaheim in twelve months. Both shootings were ruled justified by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, but a federal jury later found Officer Bennallack guilty of excessive force.

Occupy Orange County is a Southern California chapter of the Occupy movement, which began with a rally of over 1,000 people at Irvine City Hall on October 15, 2011. Occupy OC has helped victims of what they called "fraudclosure" to delay their evictions. Members regularly protest political fundraisers, for example as the satirical "Billionaires for Romney."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in California</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

In 2020, a series of protests took place in California related to the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while in police custody. On May 31, 2020, the California Department of Human Resources advised "all state departments with offices in downtown city areas" to close on June 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Senate Bill 1421 (2018)</span> Police records release law

SB 1421, Senate Bill 1421, or Peace Officers: Release of Records, is a California state law that makes police records relating to officer use-of-force incidents, sexual assault, and acts of dishonesty accessible under the California Public Records Act. The bill was signed into law by then-governor Jerry Brown on September 30, 2018, and took effect on January 1, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itzcoatl Ocampo</span> Suspected Mexican-American serial killer

Itzcoatl Misael Ocampo was a Mexican-American suspected serial killer and veteran assumed to be responsible for a minimum of six murders in the Orange County, California area from October 2011 to January 2012. Following his arrest, Ocampo was detained at the Orange County Jail, but on November 27, 2013, he ingested a large dose of Ajax, poisoning himself and losing consciousness. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died of acute intoxication the following day before he could be put on trial.

References

  1. "Could your city police department cost less?", May 8, 2012, by Teri Sforza, Orange County Register
  2. "Fullerton PD - Meet the Team". Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  3. "City of Fullerton - Administration". Ci.fullerton.ca.us. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  4. "Fullerton suspends four police officers for farting in victim's face. They humiliated woman thought to be unconscious, memo says", April 19, 2003 by John McDonald, Orange Country Register
  5. "City of Fullerton - Police Department" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  6. "Fulerton Man Set Free Mid-Trial after 5 Months in Jail", by Rachanee SriSavasdi, November 11, 2010, Orange County Register
  7. "Fullerton Settles Dirty Cop Lawsuit Before Federal Jury Trial", by R. Scott Moxley Fri., July 5, 2013, OC Weekly
  8. "Mistaken Fullerton Police Raid". Robyn Nordell.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  9. "Apology letter" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. 1 2 "Fullerton Police Raid Wrong House, Acting Police Chief Apologizes to Family a Year Later" by Marisa Gerber, October 5, 2011, OC Weekly
  11. "Fullerton Police Officer Charged with Stealing iPad", by Lou Ponsi, June 28, 2011, Orange County Register
  12. "Former Fullerton officer guilty of iPad theft", by Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, February 9, 2012
  13. "Drugs, Theft, cost Fullerton officer his Badge" by Kimberly Edds, Orange County Register, July 5, 2011
  14. "Fullerton Chief Issues Intent to Fire Cop Accused of Groping Women". KTLA News. October 4, 2011. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  15. "Court Document" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  16. "Federal Judge Calls Fullerton Police Department's Handling Of Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct By An Officer 'Shocking'", by Marisa Gerber Fri., September 30, 2011, OC Weekly.com
  17. "Are Fullerton Cops Running a Towing Scam?" by Brandon Furgeson, January 31, 2012, OC Weekly
  18. "Former Fullerton Officer Charged with Destroying Evidence" by Deniesse Salazar and Lou Ponsi, March 13, 2012, Orange County Register
  19. "Ex-Fullerton officer sentenced for destroying audio recorder", LA Times Blog, November 1, 2012
  20. [ dead link ]
  21. Lovett, Ian (August 3, 2011). "Death of Homeless Man After Beating by Police Stirs Outrage". The New York Times . Los Angeles . Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  22. "FBI Reviews Beating Death in Fullerton - FOX 11 News". YouTube. August 2, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  23. [ dead link ]
  24. 1 2 Ponsi, Lou. "Kelly Thomas' parents file claim against Fullerton". Articles.ocregister.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  25. "Kelly Thomas Protest Continues in Fullerton". YouTube. August 13, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  26. Irving, Doug (September 22, 2011). "Kelly Thomas death: 1 cop in jail, 1 on bail - death, thom - News". Ocregister.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  27. 1 2 3 "DA Charges Fullerton Police Officers In Homeless Death". Neon Tommy. September 21, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  28. "Kelly Thomas Beating – Friends For Fullerton's Future". Fullertonsfuture.org. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  29. "Fullerton police officers charged in beating death of mentally ill man". GantDaily.com. September 22, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  30. Sewell, Abby (November 18, 2011). "Fullerton officer charged in Kelly Thomas' death will keep LAPD pension". Los Angeles Times.
  31. "3rd California Officer charged in beating death of homeless man", by Erica Henry, Cnn.com, September 28, 2012
  32. "Former California Police Officers Found Not Guilty Of Killing Homeless Man", by Gillain Flaccus, January 13, 2014, The Huffington Post
  33. "Fullerton Police website". Ci.fullerton.ca.us. May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  34. "The Officer Down Memorial Page". Odmp.org. Retrieved July 12, 2012.

Coordinates: 33°52′14″N117°55′41″W / 33.870654156320875°N 117.92817363937931°W / 33.870654156320875; -117.92817363937931