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Police chief under fire for retaliating against her men

February 2, 2012

Chief Lisa Solomon

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN

(UPDATE: Officer Jon Tatro filed a lawsuit Friday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court.)

A Paso Robles police officer, who says his numerous attempts to force the chief to run the department in a legal and productive manner were rebuffed, filed a claim against the city in December and plans to follow up with a lawsuit.

Officer Jon Tatro, an officer and union steward, had complained to Chief Lisa Solomon and city management that command staff had mandated that each officer write at least 10 tickets a month, and preferably 14 or more, in order to avoid disciplinary action, according to the lawsuit and interviews with several officers.

“A ticket a day will keep the sergeant away,” several officers said was a common phrase used in the department.

In addition to the quota system, officers were told the tickets they wrote had to be for hazardous moving violations, such as speeding, running a red light, or stop sign or right of way issues — offenses that could result in high ticket revenues.

In March, after city officials took no action on Tatro’s complaints, he went to the Paso Robles branch of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court in full uniform with his gun. He informed court personnel about the illegal ticket quotas and asked to talk to a judge.

Paso Robles court personnel forwarded his request to Susan Matherly, the court executive officer.

“I called him back and did not believe he was a police office,” Matherly said. “I thought he was someone impersonating an officer.”

Matherly then called Captain Robert Burtin to inform the police department about the imposter, she said.

Shortly afterwards, department command staff allegedly retaliated against Tatro by initiating an internal affairs investigation into his attempt to talk to a judge, the claim says.

The suit also criticizes command staff for retaliating against the officer by removing him from job responsibilities that would further his career and giving the officer unwarranted reprimanding.

CalCoastNews interviewed more than a half dozen current and former officers and department employees, many of whom have asked to remain unnamed to protect them from retaliation or because of pending lawsuits. All of the officers told similar stories of alleged illegal quotas, dangerous police policies and command staff retaliation.

The officers contend Solomon has enacted new department policies that promote writing traffic tickets while serving the public in “safe mode.”

Her policies include only allowing one officer to respond to an incident in code three, speeding with sirens and lights. At the same time, if an officer responds to an incident such as a rape or an assault they are not permitted, according to policy, to engage the suspect until backup arrives, officers said.

In one instance last year, an officer responded to a call that a man had been bitten by his pit bull and was trying to break down his sister’s bedroom door so that the dog could attack her also, former officer Dave Hernandez said.

The officer permitted to use code three arrived first, heard screams from the house and stepped out of his car. The dog bolted from the house and attempted to attack the officer, who responded by shooting and killing the dog.

Department command staff questioned the officer for approaching the house before backup arrived, Hernandez said. The incident resulted in new polices being put into action prohibiting single officer responses, Hernandez said.

“So if I go to a house and see someone being attacked, I do not go in until backup arrives,” Hernandez said. “We signed up to put our lives on the line for others and now we have to wait, even if we hear shots and screaming.”

Hernandez said he asked supervisors if they were sued for failing to respond, would the department protect them, and was told yes.

In a strange twist, the department has also awarded officers for not risking injury by allowing fleeing suspects to get away.

For example, an officer recently received an accommodation for not chasing a suspect.

“I just read and approved this case,” the commendation written by Sgt. Dave Bouffard says. “It is the case where you stopped a suspicious subject riding a bike at night without a light.

“During your contact with him the subject pulled a meth pipe out of his pocket by accident. Once he realized this, he took off running. You weighed all of the factors, severity of the crime, time of night, available cover units, and quickly decided not to chase the subject.

“This was an excellent decision on your part and I want to commend you for that decision not to chase the subject. Any pursuit has inherit (sic) dangers to the officers who are involved in them. During foot chases, especially at night, there is the risk of an injury incurred while involved in a foot chase in the dark for relatively low level crimes.

On the bottom of the commendation, Solomon wrote in pen, “Good judgment and decision making in a rapidly evolving situation, thanks.”

City council members and the mayor did not respond or refused to answer questions about the claim.

City Attorney Iris Lang said that Paso Robles staff does not inform city council members of claims against the city. City officials in San Luis Obispo County’s other six cities said they inform the city council of major credible lawsuits that could be substantial.

Retaliation lawsuit:

TatroClaimC


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Most of the negative attention being focused on the Paso Robles Police Department was brought out by the allegations of sexual misconduct by the Chief, Lisa Solomon, for allegedly inappropriate touching of the male police officers sexual organs; in looking at the new directives concerning the use of code three responses and the restrictions of having to wait for backup to arrive before even getting out of their vehicles it seems like the Chief is still holding on to a certain pair of their, um, organs? It seems like this just keeps going on and on ….


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You got it Mr. Congalton! We’ll be wearing RED this Tuesday night beginning at 6:00 at the Paso Library because we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take this anymore!


Bring some friends!


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Thanks for spreading the word Mr. Congalton! Please join us next Tuesday night. Be sure to wear RED and to bring a friend or two!


We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take this anymore!


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Fascists United ! WOOHOO !


Dave C is a local jerkwad . PATHETIC !


Wear RED and be a RECOGNIZED IDIOT !


We all did not need the color coding to know .


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Don’t talk them out of the red thing, I hope CCN takes pictures and posts them. I can’t wait to see these guys with their pitch forks and rope all dressed in red. I hope they wear red body suits, like Dr. Seuss characters. This will be worth a few giggles.


Although I am surprised that he’s jumping on the kill with the rest of the hyenas I like Dave.


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At least these “hyenas” are being proactive. All indications show you are hiding behind your keyboard, name calling. Why not put on your grown-up panties and show up in support of Lisa Solomon’s innocence? Then you can giggle at them in person.


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I have never once said that I thought that she innocent, she might be guilty, why would I go to support her? Why does it have to be all or nothing, either you’re for her or against her? I’m neither, I’m neutral. Unlike the hyenas I would rather wait until the facts of the case come out to make a personal judgement,,,silly me I like those darn facts. IMO that is wearing grown-up panties.


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Name-calling is never wearing grown-up panties.


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You are sooo right so why don’t you people put on your big boy pants and stop calling Solomom names?


The term ‘hyenas’ is used for a few reasons. It’s much easier to call the city council ‘the city council’ as opposed to listing them each individually. I’m not going to go down the list and name each poster in this lynch mob by name, there’s too many people and it would take too long. So you need a fitting name for your gang and for some reason the hyenas just seems to fit the bill. I’m sure you’ve seen National Geo pictures of them on a kill.


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“You people” again. “Big boy pants?” Please show me where I called Solomon names. If you’re going to point fingers, at least point them in the right direction. My problem with you is your hypocrisy. If you don’t like others saying bad things about people, you shouldn’t either. Again I reference an AG businessperson who you slandered all over the Tribune pages.


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If you’re neutral, why do you bother to attack and ridicule those who want to protest? Somehow, every issue is all about you and what you think, even when you aren’t involved in the subject.


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or is she?…. sorry I gotta go make a kill and take it back to the den..


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When I worked for a local government agency, I sat through A LOT of board meetings. I spoke before the board many times when presenting requests for funding, proposed projects, updates on projects, etc.


I’ve had the opportunity to listen to the board members’ comments, after the meeting, about the speakers comments. I’ve closely watched the interaction between the speakers and the board members. I’ve also closely watched the interaction between the legal counsel, the board members, and the ways in which legal counsel will attempt to control the protesters and what they say.


Wearing or carrying something similar, such as a color, helps in protests in many ways. If this is something the PR protesters feel is valuable, it is their decision. They live in PR, they’ve suffered from Solomon’s pathetic and inept “leadership” of the PRPD, they know their community the best, so it is their call.


Criticizing their approach is not supportive at all. I don’t understand why anyone would want to take the wind out of their sails by criticizing something as simple as what they wear.


And to do it in such dismissive and derogatory tones…what can possibly be gained by that?


In a city where people have suffered so long, and are now organizing to address the problem, I simply don’t see the value in trying to submarine their momentum.


No one has to wear red. I don’t live in PR, but will be attending the pre-council-meeting gathering and the council meeting, anyway. I won’t be wearing red, but I will be there, to support the officers, to support the PR residents, and because I’ve experienced similar long-term harassment at work which culminated in retaliatory termination. The harassment was vicious and nearly killed me.


What people wear (IMO) is much less important than the fact that they show up and let their voices be heard. This will apply the kind of pressure to the board that will both help get rid of Solomon, and support the officers who are now filing legal complaints.


I am very much looking forward to seeing those making comments. We have some very good posters here, and I believe they will make very good arguments for getting their police department, and their city, back on track, by getting rid of Lisa Solomon.


In addition, I think the meeting before hand is smart. Those who have been to the PR City Council meetings before can prep the others on how it goes and what to expect from PR’s council members and attorneys.


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” I don’t understand why anyone would want to take the wind out of their sails”


Because I believe in due process over lynch mobs. I see nothing wrong with questioning the allegations, I just don’t believe in judging someone guilty over gossip. I feel that all of you are looking pretty silly at this point and the red only highlights that silliness.


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Some PR citizens believe they have enough reason to go before the city council and protest the council’s It is their right and, in many people’s opinion, it is long overdue.


Not all people are doormats. Some actually realize that the sooner you act to fix a problem, the more chance you have to decrease the damage that will occur from it.


I take offense at your comparison of a group of citizens appearing before their local government as “lynch mobs. I also take offense at your denigration of this group of citizens’ proposed approach, and at the slur against what has been published by CCN.


Really, how DARE you.


What a good little german you are, as you continue to set the bar ridiculously high for citizens to stand up to their government and say, “No, this is wrong and it must stop.”


“Where’s the proof!” you declare as police officers are treated shamefully, harmed by their employer and the pathetic faded beauty queen their employer insists on being their leader….as good officers are fired because they refuse to act illegally on the orders of their pathetic, insecure and incompetent leader….or because they dare to file complaints over the harassment from their chief.


“Where’s the proof!” you declare, as the PR community is degraded by Chief Lisa Solomon’s “leadership,” as the streets become less safe, as the gang violence increases, as the drug trade spreads from corner to corner, street to street, into neighborhoods.


Do you really expect people to wait until a judge or jury gives their decision before you will stop insulting the activities of citizens who see before their very eyes what is happening and are trying to save their city?


I wish you could just be called “silly,” but I see it as something darker: a need to place an unreasonable burden on citizens who believe they’ve been harmed by their government, and wish to take the most logical first recourse open to them–appearing before the council in protest and voicing their concerns–as the next step in trying to get the harming by their government to stop.


It’s not your opinion that is the issue. It is that appears you believe only you can be the arbiter of when it is right for citizens to take action. If citizens act for their own good to try to address a government wrong, you call them “lynch mobs” and cruelly mock their methods.


You actually believe YOU have the right to take the wind out of the sails of civic activism, just because your own bizarre burden of proof before you will get up off your couch and get involved is so high, and has not been yet met?


In addition, you cruelly deride those who are spending their time and resources, to become active in their local government–which is what we are all urged to do.


Finally, to call the investigative work of CCN “gossip” is an insult to the efforts of Karen and Dan, and shows how dishonest you will be to support your stance.


I see you now embarking down yet another road that ends up with you having to eat crow after castigating others not to form a lynch mob, and criticizing them for commenting on something that occurred that had credible reporting behind it. Does Mr. Covarrubias sound familiar?


A citizen has the right–some say the duty–to take the steps they can if THEY believe those they elected to office have done wrong and are doing wrong.


I don’t care if you agree with them or not, but I think you are dead wrong to continually attempt to submarine their efforts.


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“Where’s the proof!” you declare as police officers are treated shamefully, harmed by their employer and the pathetic faded beauty queen their employer insists on being their leader….as good officers are fired because they refuse to act illegally on the orders of their pathetic, insecure and incompetent leader….or because they dare to file complaints over the harassment from their chief.”


So where’s your proof of guilt? How do you know that good officers are getting fired because they refuse to act illegally etc., tell me how you’ve come to that conclusion? Well, lets see, we’ve heard one side of a story and that’s all the proof you need, right? If there’s more proof then please tell me what it is. BTW, how many complaints were filed?


Talk about me calling names. Who’s the sarcasm re. beauty queen directed towards? That’s not name calling is it?


“Do you really expect people to wait until a judge or jury gives their decision before you will stop insulting the activities of citizens who see before their very eyes what is happening and are trying to save their city?”


Yes, but you won’t wait for a judge or an outside investigation,why wait when all the facts you need are right here.


“You actually believe YOU have the right to take the wind out of the sails of civic activism, just because your own bizarre burden of proof before you will get up off your couch and get involved is so high, and has not been yet met?”


Do you really think that I’m taking the wind out of ANYONES sails, come on now get real.

I’m already involved in my community, I don’t have any business going up to Paso to get involved with their community. But I wouldn’t call this ‘civil activism’, it’s far from civil. I have a ‘bizarre’ burden of proof because I want facts or some type of unbiased investigation. When did wanting the truth through facts become bazaar?


“In addition, you cruelly deride those who are spending their time and resources, to become active in their local government–which is what we are all urged to do”.


I don’t ‘cruelly deride’ those that get involved with their local govt. or that are active in their community, I do that myself. I deride those that in hundreds of posts call Solomon names and convict her over pure speculation and gossip without proof of wrong doing. I wouldn’t exactly call what I’ve been saying cruel, to the contrary what many here are doing in these threads is cruel by pronouncing her guilt, calling her names, making rude dirty jokes and ruining her reputation over simple hearsay and gossip.


“Finally, to call the investigative work of CCN “gossip” is an insult to the efforts of Karen and Dan, and shows how dishonest you will be to support your stance.”


Gosh that sounds an awful lot like you’re sucking up to Karen and Dan. But anyway, how am I dishonest? Please list factual evidence in one of these articles. Please show me a paragraph that is factual and doesn’t just contain allegations. On the other hand I see nothing wrong investigative reporting. I see nothing wrong with the premise of these articles. I feel it’s great that Karen and Dan have been trying to get the bottom of this. That’s what an investigative story should do. What I do have a problem with is the opening paragraph of one of these articles that automatically portrays Solomon as a wild out of control vindictive wh@re and then later goes on to explain the reason for the investigation. The wording was in poor taste but their wanting to bring this to the forefront is commendable.


“I don’t care if you agree with them or not, but I think you are dead wrong to continually attempt to submarine their efforts.”


Well, yeah, you do care. I’m adding constructive criticism in hopes that they will stop this tabloidish style of writing. I feel that they offer a well needed venue in this area that provided investigative reporting. It just seems like they deliberately write in a salacious manner to get the readers fired up and sometimes at the risk of coming off unprofessional and tabloidish.


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BTW Mary, what’s with the ‘oh what a good little german you are’ remark? Really, what did that mean?


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It refers to the social phenomenon that occurs when people keep persuading themselves there isn’t enough proof to take action and, therefore, end up allowing wrong to continue to happen, all the while trying to convince themselves they are right in not believing what is going on.


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One of my favorite jokes is about two generals preparing for battle; and the German general wears a red jacket, while the Italian general puts on brown pants


…but some here would consider that in poor taste.


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Do Slow and Typo live in Paso? Do they know the background, the politics of the city govt.? If not, why so vocal? Do they think making fun of others that care about their city earns them respect? Surely they have something better to do with their time than trying to censor others’ opinions. Or maybe something more worthwhile to add to the discussion. Fear that this opinion blog will decide guilt or innocence of Chief Solomon boggles the mind.


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“Do Slow and Typo live in Paso?”


Not me.


“Do they know the background, the politics of the city govt.?”


Only what is reported in the media. Are you insinuating that CCN’s reporting is inaccurate?


“If not, why so vocal?”


Because right is right and wrong is wrong and you people are wrong to convict someone over allegations and gossip.


“Do they think making fun of others that care about their city earns them respect?”


You might very well care for your city but the way you are going about it is all wrong. I don’t feel that slandering someone without facts should deserves any respect.


“Surely they have something better to do with their time than trying to censor others’ opinions.”


Are you kidding! When have I every asked the Mod. to take off any of this nonesense? I have never said that you don’t have right to post your opinions.


“Or maybe something more worthwhile to add to the discussion”


Like the slanderous and sexual jokes and wild accusations based on gossip? Show me one ‘worthwhile’ post from a hyena on this topic?


“Fear that this opinion blog will decide guilt or innocence of Chief Solomon boggles the mind”.


Fear? Who’s afraid? Are saying that I’m afraid. I’m not really sure what you mean by that but don’t let your mind get to boggled down, you have a red outfit to pick out and a rope to buy so free your mind.


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“Only what is reported in the media. Are you insinuating that CCN’s reporting is inaccurate?”

Yet you criticize others for reacting to what they see “reported in the media.” Hypocrite.

No one CAN convict in the news. Though you’ve tried. I believe you were banned from the Trib for your witch hunt. Hypocrite.

I don’t live in Paso.

You don’t have to ask that opinions be removed. Your repeated name-calling and criticism suggest that the people of Paso just go away.

“Fear that this opinion blog will decide guilt or innocence of Chief Solomon boggles the mind”.

I repeat, your fear that guilt or innocence will be proven on a blog is laughable. The peoples’ fear that it could get swept under the rug if they’re not proactive is real.


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“Only what is reported in the media. Are you insinuating that CCN’s reporting is inaccurate?”


Oh God, heaven forbid, of course not! You asked if I live there or have first hand experience. I said in all honesty that no, I don’t that I can only go by what is reported. You are the one suggesting that I have the wrong info.


“Yet you criticize others for reacting to what they see “reported in the media.” Hypocrite.”


I am criticizing others for not waiting to hear all the facts. Tell me why we even bother to have investigations or trials. Why not just have everyone read CCN and let Karen or Dan tell us if someone is guilty and then we can save the tax payers a lot of money.


“No one CAN convict in the news. Though you’ve tried. I believe you were banned from the Trib for your witch hunt. Hypocrite.”


I don’t get this statement at all. ‘Convict the news’,,what? I was told by the people that booted me that I could back I chose not to. I know what I know. What I said about that person was true and his wife went on and backed me on those things but I made the mistake of criticising a sponsor. I criticized him on an article that was about him, he was the topic and the story was wrong. I have criticized some of Karen and Dan’s advertisers and I have criticized some of their articles and to their credit they haven’t chosen to the boot me or censor me for that matter.


No one here has said that they were at the bar when Solomon was dancing on it or that they were the victim of her sexual exploitations. I believe in waiting to convict people after hearing sworn testimony and you don’t. It’s that simple. You want to convict someone by what a news site tells you. I wouldn’t convict Solomon even if the LA Times said she did these things. The correct thing to do is to wait to hear the actual facts, not hearsay. That is one of this countries most important rights that even the evil Solomon is entitled to.


“You don’t have to ask that opinions be removed. Your repeated name-calling and criticism suggest that the people of Paso just go away”.


OMG this conversation is rediculous. Again, why is it okay for everyone to call Solomon names, why haven’t you stepped and said something about that? I have never suggested that you people ‘go away’. I have even said that if I lived there that I would be making inquiries. AGAIN what I said is that morally you should WAIT until the FACTS come out before lynching her. If I keep repeating this it won’t change what I’m saying. FACTS FACTS FACTS, why is that word so offencive to you?


“I repeat, your fear that guilt or innocence will be proven on a blog is laughable. The peoples’ fear that it could get swept under the rug if they’re not proactive is real.”


Well, I’m glad that you’re also getting a good chuckle out of this nonesense. If you believe that Solomon did these things then by all means you should be on this, you should keep up with it and insist that there be an investigation. I wouldn’t want this to get swept under the rug. I want these people to file charges, lets get it over with, why after all these years they haven’t filed a grievance is beyond me. I’d like to see everything out in the open. If she did these things then she needs to be appropriately dealt with, if she didn’t then the people that accused her of these things need to be appropriately dealt with. I do not want this to get swept under the rug, I just want a fair and balanced investigation.


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TYPOQUEEN: “I am criticizing others for not waiting to hear all the facts. ”


That is an unreasonable burden to place on citizen before they stand up to their government who they believe is doing wrong.


“All the facts” will NEVER be known.


So it isn’t really until “all the facts” are known. It is until Typoqueen gives permission to do something about it.


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“So it isn’t really until “all the facts” are known. It is until Typoqueen gives permission to do something about it.”


Sounds good to me :)


Facts, you don’t need no stinkin facts, to h’%ll with facts! All you need is CCN.


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I have to agree with MaryMalone here. “All the facts” are NEVER known about ANYTHING, and it’s complete folly to expect that!”


If the bar of the burden of proof were set that high for everything NOTHING WOULD EVER GET DONE!


“Absolute knowledge” is not possible in this world.


That’s precisely the kind of thinking which the Nazis used to justify mass murder.


(See the great mini-series hosted by Jacob Bronowski, “The Ascent of Man,” Part 1, for more).


I don’t see any “lynch mobs” here. The only “lynch mob” is the one materializing in the ghostly convolutions of your own brain.


This blog is not a court room. It is a forum for ideas. Some are good, some not. Some resonate with folks, some don’t. As long as we observe the rules, we are free to express our opinions, and that is what we are doing.


You are assuming that you will get “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” from the accused, and all “the facts” from the trial as a whole. Isn’t that just a bit naive? Some trials leave much to be desired.


But that does not mean that the PRPD is in good shape or that the City Council is the wise group that it purports to be.


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I have no problem with an investigation, nor do the others. But everyone has a right to an opinion. And these opinions will not result in a guilty or innocent verdict. This movement is one by citizens that care about their community and are courageous enough to speak up here and, more importantly, at a meeting. Since you were harassed as a young woman, you should understand. Or did you not report your harrasser, leaving him to continue his unacceptable and damaging behavior on another?


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post from a hyena knock off equating users here with animals please. just dial it back a bit Please and if you must reply then please use Email


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Typo. There are people here from Paso that can give you a list of problems with the Police Chief, regardless of the sexual assault allegations. The main problem is a chief that had little prior experience outside this one department and no experience as a chief. Besides the bankruptcy (usually a chief would resign ) and the loaded gun not reported stolen, we saw the mess in town with two homicides, drug deal people shot, drive by shootings, outside gang members coming to town, and an area of town becoming a vagrant hang-out. It took Sheriff Parkinson to come in and clean up. So, we have a problem with an incompetent police chief who is now the highest paid employee in the city. We also have a city council and city manager who will not listen or acknowledge the problem. Regardless of the outcome of the present allegations, some of us feel we need a new chief.


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Why should a chief step down because of a bankruptcy?


Presently these stories are about sexual harassment, retaliation and ticket quotas, not those other issues.


I haven’t commented on the city council because I don’t know anything about them. I have had business with your mayor and so I feel that I can make a judgement for myself on that guy. But even that is just my opinion, I feel he’s a bonehead.


You haven’t been as nasty as some of the others here, you weren’t even as nasty as the opening paragraph in the first story. I just hope that you go into this with an open mind. I hope that you can keep in mind that in reality this could be just a few disgruntled employees (regarding the current issues of these articles) that are out to get her. When dealing with peoples careers and reputation I feel it’s better to give them the benefit of the doubt until proven other wise. That’s all I can say, I’m getting pretty bored and pretty sick of all this.


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@ Mary and the others that are saying that they can’t wait for the facts. That we will somehow end up like the Germans in Nazi Germany if we wait for a trial or an investigation. Well, how can I argue with that. As I’ve been saying, if you want to be ‘radishes’ (thank you slowerfaster) then fine. But I guarantee that if you wait for the facts to come out before rushing to judgement that we won’t end up like the Germans, honest, I promise. We have trials everyday. We have review boards and investigations that dig into these things. They even do such strange things such as hearing both sides of an issue,,can you imagine. The do this everyday in this country and it works, we don’t turn into Nazi Germany. But if you can’t wait then I heard that Ace Hardware has a sale on rope, better get over there before the meeting.


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Who said anything about not being able to wait?


It’s the Chief who is stonewalling by not coming out and calming the public with a statement. That makes her look pretty guilty, doesn’t it?


And why has the Chief not been placed on Administrative Leave? That would be the minimum that the public would expect at this point; yet this has not been done.


It is the lack of cooperation and candor of public officials which is fueling the speculations of this forum, not some “mob mentality” that you imagine.


What other choice do people have? The business of the city must go on in spite of these allegations. They want to know what is going on, and they have every right to a speedy resolution to this problem.


Ultimately, it is the people who are the government of Paso. Sometimes city officials forget that and need to be reminded by a wave of public opinion flooding through their chambers. Sometimes these floods turn up dirty laundry. So be it.


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I just answered this in another post. People are always advised by their bosses and by their attorneys to not make public statements about on going investigations.


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Is there an investigation going on? Or is it a coverup? How about stonewalling? Who’s doing the investigating? How do you know that what they tell you is factual? Explain it to me!


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Was it proper for the court clerk to share news of the complaint with the police department? Sounds to me like she may also have some explaining to do….


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If any of this proves to be true, Soloman is a poor example of a woman in a powerful position.


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She’s a poor example of ANY person of ANY gender in a powerful position.


The chief who ran the disgusting City of Bell PD was a man. He was a better leader than Solomon–he actually had experience. The problem was he was so thoroughly corrupt.


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Another poster with a keen eye for the obvious.


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In the cool of the evening when ev’rything is gettin’ kind of groovy,

She’ll call you up and ask you if you want to go and meet and see a movie,

First you say no, you’ve got some plans for the night,

And then you stop, and say, “All right.”

Life is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like her.


She always keep you guessin’, You always seem to know what she is thinkin’.

And if if the Chief looks at you, it’s for her little eye will be a-winkin’.

You get confused, ’cause you don’t know where you stand,

And then you smile, and she holds your @#$%.

Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like her


Iff she decides someday to stop this little game that she is playin’,

She’s gonna tell you all what her hearts been a-dyin’ to be sayin’.

Just like a ghost, you’ve been a-hauntin’ her dreams,

So she’ll %&$# you.. on Halloween.

Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like her.


Spooky,

Spooky,

Spooky,

Oh-whoa, all right,

I said Spooky!


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Wow… with every stories, the picture gets worse.


… and by that I mean the pictures of Lisa that accompany each story. The Lisa in this story looks like she ate the Lisa in her official picture.


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Karen and I will discuss this wild week tonight on Dave Congalton’s 920 KVEC Home Town Radio show starting at 6:05 p.m.


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Good luck with that . I’ll listen in and see how many times the lazy host brings up phony false equivalencies, non sequiturs, and red herrings in the pursuit of ‘fairness’ and ‘moderation’.


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For the citizens of Paso who are concerned that action on this matter may be delayed, and would prefer some initial more immediate action while the rest of the process takes its course: California cities generally operate on a July 1-June 30 fiscal year. Often, at the half-way point through the fiscal year the city council conducts what’s called a “mid-year budget review.” We are at that point right now. The mid-year budget review allows the council to make any necessary adjustments in the budget that it feels may be appropriate for the remainder of the fiscal year.

If the City of Paso operates in that fashion, the Feb. 7 Paso council meeting may have “Mid-year Budget Review” already on the agenda. If it doesn’t, you may want to demand that the council add it to the agenda, but you need to do that immediately, otherwise the city manager or his staff or the city attorney may find multiple excuses not to do it. You may need to find a sympathetic council member to demand that it be added.

If that item is on the Feb. 7 agenda, the council that night will then be authorized to review and act on possible proposed budget adjustments for the remainder of the 2011-12 fiscal year. In this case, such a proposal could be to eliminate, or at least dramatically reduce, the budget allocations for the positions of city manager, police chief, and, perhaps, city attorney. How long do you think those people would hang around if their pay for the rest of the fiscal year was zero or, perhaps, only something like $100 per month for example? As this would not constitute an outright termination, it’s quite possible that nothing in the contracts that the city undoubtedly has with each of those three would prevent such immediate action. They would still have their jobs, albeit at minimal compensation, and knowing that other actual termination proceedings may also be in the works.

If the staff finds a way to block this item from the Feb. 7 agenda, then demand that either: 1) a special meeting be scheduled with a separate agenda that does include this matter, or 2) demand that the matter be placed on the agenda of the next regularly-scheduled meeting. If such a mid-year budget review has already been conducted, then demand another one.

Another key feature of this approach is that it would place the council in the position of conducting a de facto “no confidence” vote on any or all of those three officials. That may be best done by a separate vote on the budget allocation for each of those three officials. That would force each council member to immediately take a position on the matter, so the citizens would know where each of them stands as you seek to hold them accountable for the miserable state of affairs in your city.

And, if at least three council members vote to eliminate or severely reduce the funding for those positions, it should serve as the proverbial “handwriting on the wall” to each of those employees. Yes, it’s possible that a majority of three would not vote for such actions- but then, you as a community would know who is on your side and who isn’t.

This will also give you several days to pressure the council into taking a position on a very specific citizen-initiated proposal, and remove any excuse for not doing something at the Feb. 7 meeting. Also, do your homework in advance, and make sure that you have a council member committed to making every such necessary motion at the meeting, and make sure you have another council member lined up to second each such motion. Caution: they are not going to like this- council members don’t like the citizens telling them how to do their jobs.

Good luck.


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“California cities generally operate on a July 1-June 30 fiscal year. Often, at the half-way point through the fiscal year the city council conducts what’s called a “mid-year budget review.” We are at that point right now. ”


In my experience working for a local government agency, those who prepare budgets for their departments are already working on their budgets for next year.


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Some citations are warranted for the trash on the road

Now you can believe that some minor imperfections in driving are flagrant

You can say that citation quota is not only job security but also justification for more funding.

Useless to ask for a supervisor who imposed the quota who will say nothing more than you have the right to contest it in court, the officer will be paid overtime if he or she has to appear, you will have to take a couple of days off work and face a judge who is not gonna believe you, or pay the fine and the fee for TVS so you have no problems with your employer. Either way, you will be short in paying your bills, feeding your family, wife will have to buy discount groceries and your auto insurance premiums may go up. The citation will remain on your DMV record for three years!

Your exempt from the citations if you are one of the hookers that serve the good old boys.


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