San Diego scandal cause for new Paso chief withdrawing?

January 4, 2013

Manny Guaderrama

The San Diego police captain slated to become Paso Robles’ next police chief has withdrawn his candidacy for the position.

Manny Guaderrama, a 29-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, was set to earn up to $160,000 plus benefits as the permanent replacement for Lisa Solomon-Chitty after city leaders conditionally approved his hire in December. But, Guaderrama, who has received criticism for the perceived preferential treatment of his son by police, withdrew his interest Thursday, citing personal matters.

In August, multiple witnesses accused the captain’s 23-year-old son of a drunken tirade in which he groped two women, hit another in the face and smashed a car window. Instead of arresting the younger Guaderrama, officers allowed him to receive treatment for his cuts and then transported him to a parking lot in La Mesa, where his mother picked him up.

Following the incident, several officers complained to the press about the preferential treatment of a police captain’s son.

Police records showed that witnesses accused Guaderrama of grabbing a woman’s buttocks while waiting in line at a Pacific Beach taco shop early in the morning of August 21. After doing so, Guaderrama got into a fight with the group accompanying the woman. Witnesses said that the capatain’s son then grabbed another woman’s breast and struck a third woman in the face.

After the fight, the three women called a male friend to pick them up. When he arrived, Guarderrama smashed the back window of the car.

Manny Guaderrama never commented publicly on the actions of his son, nor on the reason officers did not arrest him for sexual battery and vandalism. In the past two years the San Diego Police Department has also had more than ten internal investigations into alleged crimes committed by officers.

Guaderrama, who lives in the small San Diego County town of Alpine, told the Tribune in December that he planned to move to Paso Robles once hired and that he, along with his wife, was attracted to the city because of its small-town atmosphere.

Paso Robles must now reopen its search for a new police chief. Acting Chief Robert Burton will continue to head the department until the city makes a new hire.

 


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I wonder if the son is available for the Chief job? Maybe over qualified?


Did anyone read the lame excuse he gave to in the Trib? The part he said about closing his wife’s business would cause financial difficulties. HELLO MORON, if that was true and we know it isn’t, what did you expect her business to do when you relocate about four hundred miles north? Glad we found out what an idiot he is now, before another Lisa.


On a side note I wish they would get rid of the firm that recommend and App also. This is TOTAL incompetance on both sides not to vet this out in the process.


Sounds like a perfect match for Paso PD.


I quess the recruiting missed this and Guaderrama wasent gonna bring it up now was he? Why do people

think their past behaviors will NEVER catch up to them? I think one of his officers ratted him out to PasoPolice Dept. His co officers probably would have most likely respected him a hell of a lot more if he would have done the right thing not only as,a captain but as a father and let his out if control son go to the

slammer and pay full consequences for his behaviour! instead of protecting him and asking his fellow

police officers to protect him too. Who knows what kind of dishonesty would follow him to Paso.


Awe. history repeats itself, again! When you continue to elect the same people, continue to employee the people making the same decisions, continue to hire the same people, you continue to get the same results. Paso will continue to have serious issues until serious changes are make from the top down. Not change you can believe in by the same old politicians, but real change…


Amen, brother.


KSBY says a new search will take yet ANOTHER five months, free of charge of course, since the recruiting firm botched this choice.


But why would this process be so slow? Wouldn’t there already be a list of prior finalists that could be contacted? Jim App’s paid a lot of money fo “manage” the city; why can’t he and his H.R. staff just find a qualified candidate themselves? (as long as they don’t “pull another Lisa.”)


Excellent point, Scarlet. Several questions: How could the recruiting firm miss this obvious issue in the background investigation; how thorough was the background vetting, after all the previous problems PRPD experienced; how much faith do you (Paso Robles) have in the firm and its background investigations; and if this issue was indeed revealed during a background investigation and presented to the Council and the CM, what were they thinking?


Chief Sinner may have been of sinners. Trying to cover for your son is nothing new, error or not. Best wishes to Manny, his wife and help for his son. I’d suggest that Paso Robles build a very large jail for Chief Angel to fill.


Sorry, Jorge. Some things are right, some things are wrong. Cops should know the difference and stay on the correct side of the line. Best way to get “help” for his son might have been to get him locked up for detox, etc. I don’t see anything in this story that suggests the son received “help.” Would you be so tolerant if your wife, girlfriend, mother, grandmother, etc. were the target of the son’s behavior. I think not.


Ya, I agree he did wrong by not cutting the line between father and the public trust. When considering the world of today, an old-world imperfection may have been the best available. It appears that he tried to create distance and failed, a lesson for all.


Oops, another poor vetting job


Well, there it is. Knew it would come up eventually, but not by the Trib. Why would Paso continue on with the head hunting service that promoted this winner?????


Because the same people who hired, fired, and paid out an enormous sum to get rid of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, hired and approved this company to recruit this guy.

they need to start anew by getting rid of App and continue from there.

Paso has to come to terms with the fact unless they make some serious changes, this will be as good as it gets, and it’s downhill from here.


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