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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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Solomon can always fall back on her “singing” ability:


,, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtspT4C_G3g


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Or she can move to Atascadero and join the Board of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce


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NooOOOOOOOOoooooo!


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I agree with Dave–the way the Trib handled CCN’s outing of this major story is impossible to understand. They went out of their way to coverup for Solomon, et al. The Trib has made themselves look like petty, unprofessional hacks. In the process, they’ve wrecked their own credibility.


The Trib is getting trashed by posters, on their own board.


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Is the City of Paso and lisa solomon going by the City of Bell playbook?


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I’m listening to the KVEC show. What an interview!


On KVEC, they discussed the medical disability the city council and city manager are allowing solomon to file.


O-M-G!! This is shockingly like the scam pulled in the City of Bell scandal!


City of Bell mayor Rizzo fixed it so the police chief he hired (Randy Adams) could file for residuals from disability from the City of Glendale for back, knee and neck injuries BEFORE he left Glendale’s employment, and then be hired by the City of Bell as police chief.


[This chief, Randy Adams, would go on to enact several illegal polices, such as ticket quotas and towing Bell residents’ vehicles–for no infraction whatsoever–so they could get the huge fines Bell had for towing. (Of course, one of Rizzo’s cronies had the towing franchise for the City of Bell, and Rizzo was shown to be receiving kickbacks].


QUOTING LATimes article, 9/23/2010, by Paul Pringle:


—————————


http://tinyurl.com/7oxzaa5


FORMER BELL POLICE CHIEF HAD A LUCRATIVE TAX ANGLE FOR RETIREMENT.

Randy Adams had himself declared disabled even as he was hired for the job, a move that could make him millions in tax-free pension income when he retires, according to records and interviews.


Former Bell Police Chief Randy Adams had himself declared disabled even as he was hired for the post, a move that could make him millions of dollars in tax-free pension income when he retires, according to records and interviews.

An agreement that Adams struck with former Bell City Administrator Robert Rizzo, who was arrested on corruption charges Tuesday, says that the incoming chief suffered the lingering effects of back, knee and neck injuries sustained years earlier and that the municipality would support his planned application for a disability pension.

He filed for a less lucrative non-disability retirement as he prepared to leave his job as Glendale police chief. That application was approved, but he rescinded it the same month his service officially ended in Glendale and he went to work for Bell in July 2009, Glendale and state pension officials say.

Pension experts and Adams’ former employers questioned the legality of the Bell agreement, in part because it meant the city determined him unfit for the position’s full-time duties and employed him anyway….

….Adams was paid $457,000 a year in Bell, more than double his salary in Glendale, whose police force is many times larger. The jump in pay normally would grant Adams retirement benefits calculated at $411,000, although CalPERS has said it will not approve payments to him, Rizzo and other former Bell officials until authorities have determined that no laws were broken.

With the disability pension, Adams would not have to pay state or federal taxes on an estimated $205,500 per year, according to CalPERS.

In a civil lawsuit filed last week, the state attorney general accused Rizzo, Adams and others of being part of a broad scheme to loot Bell’s treasury. The suit said Rizzo hired Adams despite believing he “was not able to fully perform” his duties.

Disability pensions are designed for employees who must give up a job because of a work-related injury. Those who qualify do not have to pay taxes on 50% of their retirement benefits, which is intended to compensate them for lost earnings, said spokespersons for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

“You’re only supposed to receive a disability retirement if you are disabled and unable to perform the normal duties of your job,” said spokesman Ed Fong. “If that is not the case, it would be fraud.”

It also took aim at the city’s promise to support a disability retirement and to provide lifetime healthcare benefits to Adams and his dependents, with no vesting period. The suit did not specifically challenge his claimed disability, detail how much he stood to benefit from it or refer to his almost simultaneous filing for a non-disability pension……


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***(article continues at URL, above)***


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“Stupid is as stupid does…” FG

That is the modus operandi, and how these small towns, and the national government is guilty of the same thing, keep progress in the dark. But, especially in these small towns you get the local “rags” just report on the little parades, and what is going on, garage sales, small town stories that don’t educate or inform…but fill the paper where they are not able to paste an advertisement, and sure don’t want to upset any apple carts or upset any of their advertiser so they are so down the middle of the road and supporting the power of the elite local yokel big shots with the lack of news, even worse than the slanted news…


As suggested by several comments, donate to and support CCN, these are JOURNALIST AND REPORTERS…to get at the bottom of things you need HARD NEWS. I think the past couple of months of reporting that they have done, and the results, and ongoing story, cause the fat lady ain’t sang yet and the cows are still on the way home opening up this Paso Can of Worms…that this should become a national story on how two reporters and a news website can turn around a town and expose a long list of corrupt people that have been running the town like gangsters…


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I wonder if Bob Cuddy and Ryan Miller are laying in the fetal position right now, sucking on their thumbs?


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Nobody booted, deleted or moderated your posts TQ, they’re still there. Just another thread


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It is about time. Time to clean out the rest of the garbage. Stopping with just the chief is like mowing half of your lawn…


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TQ, there are many people who are working to be effective for change in Paso Robles. They may not step into focus as I have but they are giving of themselves and are working hard for that change. In the days that follow, I, along with several others, will be rolling out a new voice for this change, “Change

Paso Robles Now”. Please, watch for it!


On a personal note, I always want to hear what you have to say even if I don’t always agree with it. Know that I have made a firm pledge to continue speaking out to shed light on the issue of (and the lack of) safety in Paso Robles.


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I grew up in a family that was heavily into commuinty activism. Being what I think of as a sort an activist I know from first hand experience that people say that they will help but in the long run you will be lucky to get more than a few people that actually work and help. That’s just the way it has always been and the way it will always be. People say ‘yeah, you’re right I’m going to do this or that’ but they don’t. So I get frustrated when I see this and I’ll bet that this is the case with most of these outraged posters. If they do follow through then I say all the power to them but I’ve just seen this so many times that I believe most of it to be a bunch of hot wind. When you stated that you’ve actually called the police and when you wrote an article here you demonstrated that you are one of the few that practices what you preach. Mark my word, you’ll see. Lets see if Mary, Cindy, Gim and the rest of them actually do anything, my guess would be no.


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TQ, I did not write the article, just spoke to the issue. I know who is already working behind the scenes for “Change Paso Robles Now”. You might be surprised who they are. People have already begun to answer the call to aid and I have no doubt they will continue to do so. Having Solomon step down was an excellent first step, but just a step in the direction for change. I may sound like a politician but I am not one. I am a simple business owner whose issue of safety was brushed aside by the PRPD for YEARS. Well, no more. I made a promise to continue the fight, and I will live to that promise. You will be seeing more about “Change Paso Robles Now” in the next few days.


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While we welcome your opinions about our stories, your opinion of other folks who post here is not why we have provided a publishing tool for your use. stop abusing your invitation If you have questions or comments about moderation use the link in the sidebar. Email


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Just saw a post at the Tribune reminding me to tune into Congalton at 5. Sounds like it is going to be a extra good show today. I’m glad someone reminded me because I forgot so I’m reminding all of you in case you didn’t know or maybe you forgot too.


KVEC 9:20 AM, I think the on line link to listen live is posted on the 3rd comment page here.


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The link is posted over to the right under FURTHER INFORMATION – LINKS


I heard them on the Tom & Jerry Show this morning, it was good but Congalton is always better.


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All of us have differing opinions at times. I chuckle when I get 20 dislikes, but also reassess my opinion because of new info shared by those in disagreement. Also, your posts are still here, but you put them in an earlier article. I know because I just read that forum and yours was one to which I replied. You’re no different than any of us here.


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you have me confused with some one else.

4:04 am edit

some comments mentioning moderation have been deleted

more signal less noise

the first rule of moderation don’t mention moderation.

email


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“Why would you reassess your opinion based on thumbs down or up?”


That’s easy. Once they respond to my message, often their opinion makes more sense than my original one. I admit that I don’t know more than the rest of you and try to keep an open mind. Re-read my total statement….my occasional change is related to comments, not thumbs up/down. I also know alot of people in different communities throughout the county, and more and more they’ve come to appreciate the fact that CCN is not afraid to investigate what’s wrong in county govt. Too long we’ve been apathetic and naive. Until the info gets out, there’s no way to evaluate it.


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Stop whining.


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