Persistent allegations of sexual misconduct on the Redlands Police Division, culminating with a brand new declare alleging three rating supervisors tried to cowl up proof, have triggered an administrative investigation by town and an FBI probe.
In a declare for damages filed towards town on March 16, forensic specialist Geneva Holzer alleges that in December 2019, now retired Deputy Chief Mike Reiss, then a lieutenant, and Sgt. Kyle Alexander tried to destroy bodily proof of sexual misconduct by Reiss.
Holzer discovered what she believed to be a semen stain on an workplace chair of a former worker who sued town final August, alleging she was coerced into participating in sexual acts with Reiss to advance on the division.
In her lawsuit, former property and proof technician Julie Alvarado-Salcido alleged, amongst different issues, that she was coerced into performing oral intercourse on Reiss in her workplace in August 2019.
Holzer was not conscious of Salcido’s particular allegations on the time, however says in her declare that she nonetheless examined the stain. Assessments returned optimistic for semen, nevertheless it was unclear whether or not Reiss was the supply of it.
Holzer, who earlier this yr was acknowledged as Worker of the 12 months for exemplary service to the division, reported her discovery of the semen-stained chair to Alexander. The next day, she alleges in her declare, he advised her to eliminate the chair.
When Holzer hesitated, in response to the declare, Alexander advised her to chop the semen pattern from the material, eliminate the chair, to “not be descriptive” in her report and to ship the report and images of the chair on to him by way of e-mail.
“He advised me to not put something in our proof system photograph smart and don’t put the report into our reporting system,” Holzer stated in her declare. “What Sgt. Alexander advised me to do was completed this manner so nobody would learn about it, and it might by no means be found by anybody else.”
In February, Holzer stated in her declare, she turned conscious of an encounter colleague Ruth Samano had with Reiss and Alexander within the division’s forensic workplace in 2019. Samano advised Holzer the 2 entered the workplace and began “trying round.”
Samano, in response to the declare, requested Reiss and Alexander in the event that they have been on the lookout for the chair. Reiss replied, “ concerning the chair?” to which Samano replied, “Sure, and it’s not right here.” Reiss and Alexander then abruptly left the workplace, in response to the declare.
Discovery of the proof, in response to Holzer, was reported to Cmdr. Stephen Crane, however by no means made it additional up the command chain to Deputy Chief Travis Martinez, whom Crane reported to.
Holzer alleges Crane additionally was complicit within the cover-up.
“By way of the chain of command my discovery of proof of sexual assault was lined up and ordered destroyed by Deputy Chief Reiss then carried out by Sgt. Alexander and Commander Crane,” Holzer alleges in her declare.
Division scuttlebutt
In January, Sgt. Patrick Leivas, appearing on scuttlebutt swirling inside the division, confronted Holzer concerning the proof, which she disclosed to him, in response to division sources and the declare.
“I consider Sgt. Leivas reported it to a number of legislation enforcement authorities and an investigation was began into what occurred,” Holzer stated in her declare.
Sources inside the division, who spoke on situation of anonymity, stated Leivas introduced the proof to Martinez and Redlands Metropolis Councilmember Paul Barich. Martinez subsequently took the proof to the FBI’s public corruption unit, which launched the federal probe.
Martinez declined to remark.
FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller stated she might neither affirm nor deny whether or not the company was investigating the Redlands Police Division. However division sources and attorneys representing present and former workers confirmed as a lot, saying investigators have already got interviewed a number of present and former workers, together with Holzer and Salcido.
Barich declined to touch upon the investigation or his position in it, aside from to say, “All events are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible, nevertheless it all the time has been an ordinary coverage that town of Redlands wouldn't put up with any sexual harassment. So if allegations do come true, then we are going to take acceptable motion.”
Barich stated he has not been interviewed by FBI investigators, who sources stated now have the forensic proof from the chair.
Division retirements
Reiss, in response to Holzer’s declare, was positioned on administrative depart on Jan. 30, then subsequently retired. A spokesperson for the California Public Workers’ Retirement System stated Reiss retired on March 4 and is receiving a gross month-to-month pension fee of $15,728.
Reiss couldn't be reached for remark.
Reiss’ retirement occurred about the identical time as that of Police Chief Chris Catren, who unexpectedly introduced on March 2 that he would step down as a consequence of a work-related again damage.
Catren was president of the California Police Chiefs Affiliation when he retired, and his departure got here at a time of main adjustments within the division, together with transferring ahead on a brand new police headquarters on the former Kmart constructing at Redlands Boulevard and Alabama Avenue.
Reached by phone Friday, Catren stated his retirement was under no circumstances related to the sexual misconduct and evidence-tampering allegations. It was solely medical associated and on the advice of his physician, he stated.
“The 2 don't have anything to do with one another. No one requested me to go away,” Catren stated. “The timing is an unlucky coincidence, however they don't have anything to do with one another.”
Administrative investigation
Across the time Reiss was positioned on depart, town commissioned Laguna Niguel-based JL Group to conduct a “restricted scope authorized providers office investigation,” in response to a Feb. 3 letter from JL Group lawyer/principal Jeffrey Like to Metropolis Lawyer Yvette Garcia, obtained by way of a Public Information Act request.
Metropolis spokesperson Carl Baker stated in an e-mail that JL Group is conducting a “full and complete investigation into every of the allegations of misconduct raised not too long ago to find out the details on this matter.” He stated the investigation remains to be in its preliminary phases and will take three to 4 months.
“The Metropolis of Redlands takes all allegations of misconduct very critically. Whereas the current allegations are important, the Metropolis is dedicated to a radical course of that may decide the details and is truthful to all events concerned,” Baker stated, declining additional remark.
Historical past of sexual harassment
Holzer alleges that on account of her allegations that the semen proof was suppressed, she turned a goal of continued sexual harassment by Reiss for greater than two years. Two lawsuits filed towards town previously two years by present and former workers allege an analogous sample of sexual misconduct by Reiss.
In April 2021, former police Officer Laurel Falconieri and Leslie Martinez, a 23-year veteran of the division and crimes towards youngsters detective, sued town alleging a hostile work atmosphere for ladies within the division on account of “pervasive sexual favoritism.”
Falconieri alleged Reiss usually advised her how good she seemed, invited her out for drinks and to his rental in Carlsbad, and despatched her an image of himself shirtless, however she instantly deleted the image and didn't reply to him out of concern, in response to the lawsuit.
Like Falconieri earlier than her and Holzer after her, Salcido alleges in her swimsuit that Reiss focused her for intercourse after she was employed as a fingerprint technician in August 2015. However in contrast to Falconieri and Holzer, Salcido was compliant with Reiss’ alleged calls for for intercourse, feeling scared and pressured as a result of he was her rapid supervisor, her lawsuit alleges.
Salcido alleges Reiss adopted an analogous grooming sample of predatory conduct, repeatedly inviting her out for drinks and to his rental in Carlsbad. He additionally requested she ship him nude images of herself.
The sexual misconduct was so prevalent, not solely with Reiss however department-wide, that the alleged victims say it fostered its personal lexicon of feminine subordinates having rating superiors “of their pocket,” that means they engaged in sexual exercise with them in alternate for favorable working circumstances and different perks.
Within the interview with Catren, the previous chief stated the allegations superior by Falconieri, Martinez and Salcido have been all investigated and findings have been made, however he couldn't disclose what these findings have been.