John Chiv: "The recent text messages leaked to the Sac Bee come as no shock to any EPD officer. "

May 23, 2021

"The recent text messages leaked to the Sac Bee come as no shock to any EPD officer. "

John,

In response to the recent letter sent to you from an EPD employee regarding misconduct of supervisors and sexual harassment, I too would like to offer a glimpse of what goes on there. I have to write to you with anonymity as well due to the inevitable repercussions that would follow from administrators.

After reading the last letter sent to you, I scoured it for inaccuracies but regarding past misconduct of officers it was fairly spot on. It's widely known Chief Watson was demoted as a supervisor while at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. I have never heard him deny that or offer an excuse or try to sell some pity story. He made an error, was punished, and moved on the same that any other professional would. The narrative that he is somehow homophobic or biased towards members of the LBGQT community is again untrue. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and the recent shift of acceptability of the LGBQT community is new for a lot of people. Chief Watson has put forth the effort to learn about that community and is very accepting and encourages his officers to do the same.

Sgt Sanchez has long been known as a vulgar and violent man. He blatantly steals from citizens in front of his subordinates, treats the public with outright disrespect, and maintains a hostile environment. The recent text messages leaked to the Sac Bee come as no shock to any EPD officer. In terms of cliques, Chief Watson is in the opposing group from Sgt Sanchez. Chief Watson knew of his misconduct and when he assumed the responsibilities of Chief and should have made it a priority to rid the City and Department of him.

The good ol' boy club is very much alive at EPD, run by two outdated Captains who insist on maintaining some nostalgic grip on the Department. They have been at Sanchez's side from the beginning and have shielded him from any repercussions of his misconduct.

Anyone who isn't a part of the Captain's club is in for an uphill battle ie Terry Liles. Liles has a history of being an aggressive and outspoken officer who has ruffled a lot of feathers in the past. Liles certainly got knocked out in a bar fight while intoxicated. A group of gentlemen who are known to engage in criminal activity and frequent contacts with EPD were at the same bar as several off-duty EPD officers. Small town, they recognized each other and words were exchanged. While walking away, Liles was struck and injured. Never did he brandish his concealed weapon. No one ever even saw it. Guess who found it though? Sgt Sanchez. Liles received quite the extensive punishment that most in this profession would take and leave the department and even the career field, but not Liles.

The recent misconduct allegations regarding Liles were orchestrated by a Captain with a long standing and open grudge against Liles. Many of the people interviewed in said investigation are known to be extremely poor performers that are looking to point a finger at someone other than themselves to excuse their lack of abilities. One such employee being a dreadful animal control officer who is speculated to be having an affair with a Captain.

Liles, like Chief Watson, made mistakes. But also like the Chief, learned from said mistakes and grew. Liles recently completed a prestigious intensive leadership course and is applying that knowledge to the department. The officers who are making the big drug busts, recovering all the stolen vehicles, catching the violent fugitives, and saving lives all have one thing in common. At some point recently, they worked for Liles.

The recently promoted to field training officer who stalked his ex-girlfriend and shot off a bunch of rounds in Old Town and the officer who exposed his genitals under a kilt, yeah they're idiots. Absolute idiots. Ask any officer there and they will agree. They're not respected or trusted by their fellow officers and I'm ashamed to wear the same badge as them.

EPD has been like this for years. Word of misconduct and poor working conditions are starting to surface and I think it's important to hear all the facts. EPD's administration needs reconstruction desperately. The old school beat 'em down cops need to leave and make way for the new guys that are there ready to make change and restore hope in the community. Some of the greatest officers I have ever been able to work with are at EPD but they are being overshadowed by the heinous misconduct of a few.

Thank you for taking the time to read this John and have a great day.

The text of the letter is in italics.

The regular font is me. I received this letter from "John Doe" today.

EPD brass and the City of Eureka has been silent about the last two letters. That does not surprise me.

I have given the City of Eureka, EPD Chief Steve Watson and anyone else who wishes an opportunity to respond. They have chosen silence.

Sacramento Bee and the others pretended to care, created and participated in a shitstorm without doing any research or follow up. Then they slink away when valid questions are raised because truth and changing the culture is not their intent. If it was; they would have pursued it beyond a couple of selective screenshots from someone with an obvious agenda.

There needs to be a report from the firm being paid by the City of Eureka immediately. What is the status of this investigation? Scapegoating a couple of officers is not going to change the toxic culture at EPD. Good officers should not be punished for a few bad apples.

I have had my own experiences and many interactions with EPD Chief Watson, both Captains, Sgt. Rodrigo Sanchez, Sgt. Terry Liles and every single EPD officer.

Chief Watson has never been homophobic or transphobic in my interactions with him. I am sure he isn't the only one at EPD or in law enforcement or in Humboldt that has those views privately in the past. Some people evolve; others stay the same.

Many still have these views. Those two faced hypocrites have no idea that I am aware of their true feelings and opinions. I just smile at them.

Two specific names from multiple and different sources about the identity of the officer who texted the pictures of his testicles and the officer with the kilt.

Liles as someone standing up to the culture at EPD is something I find hard to believe; for many reasons. There are alliances and groups at EPD.

Someone asked if Liles wrote that himself. The thought did cross my mind when I first read it. There seems to be more to the animal control officer reference in this letter. Why did the letter writer single out that employee and the Captain? The letter writer must be aware of the male who sent some texts to the animal control officer and may have felt "rejected." Was there a reason to omit that information? One way to verify claims is to access certain records about complaints.

Affairs are morally disgusting as far as I am concerned but if it is consensual, simply my knowledge of it does not make it news. The same standard applied to publishing any allegations of an affair or sexual harassment also applies to EPD.

In Humboldt, there are many dalliances whether people are married or church going Christians and law enforcement is no exception. People here don't even bother to hide their affairs. The only safe sex in Humboldt is abstinence.

It is not just the letters or my personal experience but observations about conduct and information from multiple and different sources over the years. I have a variety of sources with no skin in the game. I listen to all information even if it is different than what I may have experienced. I am out in the community and I observe EPD daily.

There are many people who have had different experiences with Sgt. Sanchez and Officer Mark Meftah, including me.

One captain has said he does not think women should be on the force. Should this man be in any position of authority at EPD?

Many good police officers have left and are leaving the Eureka Police Department. The City of Eureka has allowed this for decades and the Humboldt culture of not addressing the good ole network is responsible for maintaining the status quo and scapegoating who they can without addressing the real problem.

Don't assume what I know or do not know about anyone in Humboldt or who my sources are. This applies to more than just the Eureka Police Department.

All you anti cop and progressive activists weren't out protesting about any of the specific incidents in this letter nor will you after this second letter.

You act on your personal biases and grudges. I have called out your bullshit behavior against good law enforcement in the past and will continue to do so. You are tools for an agenda and attack all law enforcement with complete disregard to the facts. If you cared about racism or sexism, you would be at Eureka City Hall daily demanding answers; not just for a photo op or a TV soundbyte.

Many of you jumped all over some anonymous source with two selective screenshots from the Sacramento Bee but silent when there are specific incidents that can be easily checked by the firm the City of Eureka is paying big bucks for an investigation.

I provided names of three more officers before anyone else. The rest of the local media just passed it off as if they discovered it. The rest of the local media follows up on news I regularly report on first. The rest of the media only reports on issues if I call them out like Steve Madrone's Oriental remark.

No comment about these letters from the current progressive City Council members or Mayor which includes five women. You are hypocrites. You will hide behind the investigation or claim the City attorney has advised you not to say anything.

You do nothing about the sexually violent predators, rapists, child molestors that plague Humboldt except show up for a tv op once and when it is convenient.

Where is the rest of the local media? None of the other local media has followed up after the initial EPD text brouhaha. Doing something after this post does not count.

How much reporting on any relevant information is done by other local media on a daily basis? Their daily output is regurgitation of press releases, news reported by multiple other outlets first and fluff.

The rest of the media takes no risks and their output for the amount of resources is pathetic. The local Facebook gossip pages are nothing but ass kissing, long time locals who have done absolutely nothing to change the good ole Humboldt club. Pages run by certain local business owners and their littles cliques or run by a recovering alcoholic with too much time who sucks up to the good ole boys and allows boorish admins with no life to control a chat page to boost their pathetic little male egos. None of these Facebook warriors take a stance or stand up to the corruption, abuse entrenched systems that permeate and stagnate.

Anyone who supports the status quo in Humboldt is rewarded well. That does not mean you are successful, talented or have integrity. Just because you have money does not mean you have class, breeding or a pedigree.

People working at CalTrans, collecting a hefty paycheck, regurgitating information reported by other people days later in a podcast is not news . It is profiting from other people's work. There are numerous conflicts of interests in this town glossed over, including in "local media."

Of all the law enforcement agencies in Humboldt, despite some issues and some officers, EPD is better than all the others. Yet, it is the one law enforcement agency unfairly and frequently criticized. There are worse and unprofessional agencies in Humboldt County but they don't make headlines like EPD or APD or HCSO, why is that?

Whether it is the left or the right, Humboldt has two groups: few brave men and women fighting the cesspool of drunks, druggies, assholes, corrupt sysyems and institutions who scratch each other's backs and their enablers who are rewarded well for their silence.

Previous post:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/05/this-is-second-tip-i-have-received.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/04/epd-officer-pat-bishop-fired-few-days.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/fifth-officer-in-text-chain-broke-up.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/is-this-petition-about-racism-mental.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/former-sacramento-police-officer.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/ts-and-loco-besides-ripping-off-my-work.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/however-i-can-tell-you-that-given.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/sacramento-bee-screenshots-identify.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/who-profits-if-sgt-rodrigo-sanchez-and.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/while-investigation-into-veracity-of.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/why-is-thesacramento-beecovering-eureka.html?m=1