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Solomon out as Paso Robles chief

March 20, 2012

Lisa Solomon

By DANIEL BLACKBURN

Lisa Solomon has stepped down as chief of police of Paso Robles following a tumultuous two months of relentless accusations by her own officers of sexual misconduct.

An agreement between her and the city calls for payment “within five days” of a lump sum to her in the amount of $250,000.

City Attorney Iris Ping Yang read a brief statement following a 40-minute closed session that was held after the city council’s regular meeting, acknowledging the separation. Council members left without comment.

Solomon termed her action “early retirement” and in a letter to the council blasted what she called “recent attacks on my character by unscrupulous media sources and self-serving individuals.”

CalCoastNews reported in late January that Solomon was being accused of sexually touching at least four of her officers in social situations, often in front of other sworn police personnel. Since then, other allegations from current and former officers have surfaced.

Solomon said public comment “has reached a level of indecency so great, I will no longer subject myself, my family, or my colleagues, to such invasions of privacy.”

City Manager Jim App praised Solomon after the meeting, calling her “a great asset” to the city and “a dedicated public servant.” He said he was personally distressed by Solomon’s departure.

“She has been a big part of this city for 24 years,” he said. His comments were the first regarding Solomon since the scandal broke.

Several officers told CalCoastNews Solomon emailed her former staff and said she had elected to take an early retirement. However, the officers said she is not able to collect her retirement for seven years and this is not early retirement.

Solomon’s last official day will be April 2, but she has effectively left her post and will not return. Her city-paid health benefits will cease on that day.

Capt. Robert Burton will act as interim chief until a search for a new chief can be completed.

The agreement with the city reads in part, “(Solomon) desires to leave employment, due to recent events which she believes, through no fault of either party, have caused damage to her reputation and other adverse effects.”

As part of her release, Solomon has agreed not to sue the city for any reason.


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What I want to know is where in the money the City should be getting FROM Lisa Meter Maid for the damage to the City’s reputation she caused.

This is beyond ridiculous that we, the tax payers, should be paying because that sexual predator got busted, and ruined her own reputation.


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I have been wondering about something for some time. CCN/Velie/Blackburn and company are exposing a great deal of wrongdoing that has traditionally been ignored by the Tribune and other local news sources. This no doubt has enraged the wrongdoers, many who are government employees with substantial power who are used to getting their way without being questioned about their behavior.


Do you all ever worry about getting clipped? I really do wonder about that. As it is now do you get harassed by those you investigate or by their supporters? I wish you all Godspeed and I encourage everyone to financially support CCN. The people have been without a voice in SLO County for a very long time. Thank you all for stepping up and filling a terrible void.


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As a guy who knows many Law Enforcement Officers, I can assure you that they have nothing to worry about from the LE sector. In fact, if I were Karen and Dan, that safest place for them to party it up is probably in Paso Robles right now! I wouldn’t be surprised if the cops bought them drinks and then escorted or gave them rides home.


CCN has more than proved themselves over the last how many years. Initially they were thought to be a cop hating site but it has become clear over the last couple of years that they are LE supporters and assists to weed out the dangerous/unscrupulous members. Most LE don’t like working with bad cops, especially the hot heads and egotists, they put everyone at risk and create a great deal of discomfort for the rest of those who have to work with them.


I can’t speak about the city officials, no doubt CCN and some associates have riled up some powerful enemies out there but CCN has nothing to worry about when it comes to the COPS, that much I know except for maybe Ian Parkinson but he’ll get over it because when the day comes that he needs them to tell the truth about something, they will and many of his men know it.


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Crusader, you are an idiot. Yesterday you posted you were mad as hell and wanted people to meet you at the city library prior to the city council meeting. I was there and you were not You are all talk and no action. Any posts from you will be ignored by me.. You are all talk and no action. You sure talk a good game but you need to put your actions where you big mouth is.


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This is the second time he has done this. Back in Feb he did the same exact thing and never showed. You are off the serious/read list. Take your sign, red shirt and yuk, yuk, yuk and go home…


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The city isn’t done with this cover up yet. The latest rumor coming from a reputable source involved with city hall is that the CC, App and Yang plan to squash all further information surrounding the allegations levied at Solomon and App. They have agreed that the best course of action is to pay off the complainants while requiring non disclosure agreements for the settlements.


THIS IS NO JOKE, I am very serious as was the reliable source who leaked this information.


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If it can be proven that App spied on a union and/or ordered the deletion of city e-mails, his concern will be staying out of prison and not with covering things up. There is already too much out there. They can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube, particularly as it continues to flow out. I suspect App will be gone fairly soon and Picanco will be humiliated at the coming election.


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I agree 100%, but who is going to look into it. The Sheriff doesn’t want to get his hands dirty and our DA is a waste of air. An individual needs to bring action, through a lawsuit or I’m reaching here; a Citizen’s arrest for the Crimes.That sounds ridiculous, but….something needs to be done.


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As long as CCN continues to dig and report on the wrongdoing, the Paso Robles City Council will be ultimately be forced to act (as is the case with Solomon) or they will be replaced at the polls and/or a recall. Before CCN, trash like Solomon was virtually invulnerable. Now she is on her way out.


A lot more is bound to come out. The Paso City Council simply won’t be able to contain the information. Then it will be up to the taxpayers of Paso Robles to unite and take action. If things get bad enough the otherwise worthless SLOC DA might actually get off his dead rear and bring charges or there might be a grand jury investigation.


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Lets all hope so! How can ‘the field marshall’ of Paso and any current member of the city council be proud of the damage that has been done and will yet be done to the reputation

of this city. Picanco wants to be relected – YOU MUST BE KIDDING!! How can he state to citizens of this city that he deserves another term with all of the humilating things that have taking place? That goes for any other council member that wants to be re-elected.


We, the citizens of Paso, must take it upon ourselves to correct the farce that is called city

government.


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A person like Picanco can get reelected if there is no one opposing him, if the other candidate is very weak or also tainted or if the vote is split amongst too many candidates. The people of Paso Robles are in the driver’s seat. They can identify a viable candidate and then support them but it is a lot of work. A real commitment.


In Picanco’s case, I suspect he is going to drown in the sewage of his own making between now and the election.


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You are absolutely right. It is the impact of public pressure, thanks to the hard work of Karen Velie and Dan Blackburn’s long hours spent documenting the corruption in Paso Robles, that forced Paso leadership to get rid of solomon.


In addition, those Paso residents and business owners who have been following the stories on CCN, and taking the information back to their community and friends, have turned the tide for Paso.


Of course, Danika’s very public discussion of a longstanding problem with public safety, in a parking lot next to her business, brought a LOT of attention to Paso’s situation. It showed that, while the PRPD (with solomon as its leader) was ignoring Danika’s repeated calls for helping in dealing with what appeared to be drug activity next to her business, the CHP did not. When the CHP cruised through the problem parking lot next to Danika’s business, I think it was a major step in bringing home the reality of the dangerous situations that exist because of solomon’s unwillingness or inability to do her job as police chief.


By going public, Danika brought the situation to the personal level. Others realized that there are real people suffering from the inept Paso Robles leadership.


Paso citizens need to figure out what works well for them, and then use those tactics to bring public pressure on paso city government. Making the situation personal seemed to work well, and I am sure there are others that will work well, too.


If you could use some help with posters, flyers, brochures, ad copy, postcards, or other types of graphics, let me know.


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Mary Malone, I would like to discuss your offer for assistance. If you would be so kind as to call my office, I would be most appreciative. My contact info can be found on our business website. Moderator, I appreciate your allowing this post for the purpose of coming together for the betterment of Paso.


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big talk and no action from the crusader


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The fact that Yang/CC/app are taking that tactic is no surprise….considering the fact that the City of Paso Robles is pulling the same tactic used by the City of Bell, uncovered in the California State’s huge investigation of Bell, and considering the fact that Iris Yang, Paso’s city counsel, was with the legal firm that rubber-stamped its approval on all of Bell’s scams and fraud.


What I can’t figure out is why would the city manager and/or the city council take ANY recommendation from ethics-challenged Iris Yang?


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Because they themselves are of the same ilk.


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I kinda doubt your posts are deleted out of personal dislike of you, out of dislike of its contents, yes. Ive had some of mine nixed as well and probably well deserved, oh well. Either way were all guilty here of talkin smack because we don’t like somebodies opinion. Might be political or whatever,dosent matter but we agree to disagree,thats all. I for one appreciate that we as free people (at least for now) can even express opinions in public and should thank not condemn CCN for being a outlet to be heard.

So thanks Karen, Dan, Dave and the rest of you behind the controls.


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. we invite you to create commentary for our stories. this is not a license to critique the editorial style or reporting .


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Typoqueen, I also saw your post last night. First, you did say that all the big talkers here were pathetic because no one spoke out at the CC meeting. You said that you had just finished watching it all on TV. Within a matter of minutes of your post, other posters also logged on here and made announcements about Solomon being gone, quitting, fired or whatever, they were delivering the news as they interpreted it. No other posts (that I saw) were deleted but yours. Its quite obvious why it was deleted but leave it to you to say that it was because CCN wanted to break the news to everyone themselves. This is typical of you even though the truth is steering you right in the face. In this instance, it would be the other posts that remained (and still remain) long before CCN updated everyone.


In my opinion, you really have a problem with the truth. You won’t even admit that you talked smack at the other posters here yet Mark James and I both saw your post, plus the moderator plus I’m certain others saw it too.

….

[Mod link]


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OH, this latest video is just too good..


See the PR Mayor and App having a conversation about Solomon’s termination payout .

… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShW2zHx7iUo&context=C40f8f19ADvjVQa1PpcFOqna-Ii6wq9Gfc2v42Q0byheHyZuiCXCo=


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Yep!! This hit it right on the head. It is extremely obvious that Picanco and the rest of the council

to taking several doses of testosterone so they can grow some “male only appendages” and do something other than be ‘the field marshal’s” go-fers.


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“little bitch’… how about “BIG BITCH”


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I wear “big bitch” proudly, every day!


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Classy forum.


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YES…..App must go…….so elect Gary Nemeth and he will take care of it!!!


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I am sure that they’re a lot of 60’s alumni here at CCN. Therefore, remember how to make picket signs? Sure you do! What better way to continue this absolute embarrassing situation in a visual way to Paso Robles, than to picket City Hall and the police station ad infinitum?!


One example of a picket sign: “Hey, I want to be hired as Police Chief so I can use the same ruse for a 250K buyout!” You get the picture.


If arrests are made, that’s even better for more attention! Some notables should be first on the picket line because as in the case of George Clooney recently, his notoriety helped his cause immensely!


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I bet the workers compensation claim will be for carpal tunnel syndrome, secondary to Solomon’s frenzied groping of her subordinates genitals.


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When did shooting yourself in both feet on purpose deserve a workers comp claim. WTF! This is “HUSH MONEY!”


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Meter maid money, Lovely Lisa meter maid to be exact.


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Head line should read, “Paso Robles Meter Maid gets 250K to park her ass”.


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