Is the former EPD officer investigated for failing to investigate sexual abuse of a minor now working for the DA's office?

 

I did this post in December 2023. In that post, I said that one of the EPD officers who was leaving was Tim Marsolan and that he was going over to the DAs office.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/12/epd-hcso-lose-more-experienced-staff-to.html?m=1#more

The January 16, 2024 OIR report presented to the City of Eureka involved several cases including one case about an officer who the OIR report says resigned during the investigation for alleged failure to investigate sexual abuse of a minor. EPD sustained the allegations, according to the OIR report.

Given the cases I cover in court and being the only who regularly reports on arrests and sits through hours of hearings involving defendants accused and convicted of crimes against women and children, I was curious about the identity of this officer. That information is protected but I sent an email to EPD Chief Brian Stephens asking if he confirm or deny whether the officer in Case #23-03 is Marsolan.

If it is, that is shocking to me. Marsolan was recognized by CASA. Marsolan was EPD's School Resource Officer. He has always been professional and polite in my dealings with him. I have seen him testify in court. If it is him, how would District Attorney Stacey Eads feel about him working at the DA's office? I cced her on my email to EPD Chief Brian Stephens but will wait for his response before any follow up with her. 

I did not add Marsolan's photo yesterday but it is now  1/31/24 and more than 24 hours since I emailed Chief Stephens. If it isn't Marsolan, the denial would have been swift. Chief Stephens could not even respond with no comment? Or provide a reason why he cannot respond? The silence in itself is an answer. Chief Stephens did get back to me on 2/1 in the afternoon. "Good Afternoon John, The information presented by the OIR group in the COPP Board meeting is what can be shared with the public.  The names of the involved employees cannot be released as they are protected as a part of their personnel record.  If a case meets the requirements for public release under state law then it will released."

(Former EPD officer Marsolan)

While this OIR report lists certain cases and investigation, how many other cases, situations are under investigation or not being addressed?

"Allowing officers to resign is a common tactic," one source with years of experience in and with law enforcement told me. 

Other sources including that source told me, "There was an officer a few years back who was picking up prostitutes, taking them to his house, doing drugs and he was allowed to resign and is currently employed out of state. Another officer was allowed to resign amid an investigation for excessive force in two separate cases with similar injuries to the suspects and in both cases the suspects committed suicide later. One officer involved in one of these cases is still employed by EPD."

Are we going to hear about those cases or other cases after it is too late? I have always supported EPD and while there are a handful of good officers still left who I know for years and support; I can assure you they will not be around for long. They are actively being sought by other departments and other jurisdictions.

There are several EPD officers who are new and others who have been around for too long and should be the ones to leave. I don't feel the same way I did about EPD because too many people I trusted, liked, have left, retired, taken other positions. Good officers get demoralized and leave or bear the brunt when the bad apples are allowed to stay.

This is what happens when seasoned officers are chased away, retire, leave for other jobs. This is what happens when we go through police chief after police chief and the City of Eureka micromanages EPD without addressing the issues at the top. It has always been the officers who protect the citizens and this post isn't about EPD officers or staff but to inform the public what good officers are going through and retention starts by having leadership and all of Eureka City Hall and all Councilmembers; not just some Councilmembers back the good police officers while holding those who give the uniform a bad name accountable.