Vallejo police chief pledges reform, but community wary after decade of controversial killings
Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams has pledged to reform the police department following a decade of scandal and controversial police killings. Civil Right's groups and family members of people killed by police are skeptical he has what it takes.
Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams has pledged to reform the police department following a decade of scandal and controversial police killings. Civil Right's groups and family members of people killed by police are skeptical he has what it takes.
A decade of police killings in Vallejo and no discipline for officers
Since 2010, Vallejo police have killed 19 people, all but one of which were shootings. And in all that time, no officers have received any discipline.
Since 2010, Vallejo police have killed 19 people, all but one of which were shootings. And in all that time, no officers have received any discipline.
Milpitas woman uses man’s identity to claim unemployment benefits on his behalf
When 20-year-old Sebastian Alvarez opened a recording studio last spring, he couldn’t have anticipated that a pandemic would halt his business before it could get off the ground. But upon approval for unemployment insurance, he found himself in another unforeseeable situation—he couldn’t access any funds, because someone allegedly purchased his social security number, and was using his identity to collect benefits.
When 20-year-old Sebastian Alvarez opened a recording studio last spring, he couldn’t have anticipated that a pandemic would halt his business before it could get off the ground. But upon approval for unemployment insurance, he found himself in another unforeseeable situation—he couldn’t access any funds, because someone allegedly purchased his social security number, and was using his identity to collect benefits.
A look at the people killed by Vallejo police since 2010
None of the officers have been charged criminally for any of these shootings in the last decade, as each case was deemed justified. Yet, many of these men's families say that police have acted with excessive force and have given false accounts about why they felt the need to shoot and kill their loved ones.
None of the officers have been charged criminally for any of these shootings in the last decade, as each case was deemed justified. Yet, many of these men's families say that police have acted with excessive force and have given false accounts about why they felt the need to shoot and kill their loved ones.
California EDD money keeps getting mailed to New York address
Unemployment letters, checks and debit cards from California's Employment Development Department have arrived in a New Yorker's mailbox, pointing to potential fraud at the EDD.
Unemployment letters, checks and debit cards from California's Employment Development Department have arrived in a New Yorker's mailbox, pointing to potential fraud at the EDD.
EDD investigating fraud linked to pandemic unemployment money
California has distributed $77 billion in unemployment benefits and 12 million claims have been filed since March, which is more than any other state, indicating potential identity theft and fraud surrounding the state's Employment Development Dept.
California has distributed $77 billion in unemployment benefits and 12 million claims have been filed since March, which is more than any other state, indicating potential identity theft and fraud surrounding the state's Employment Development Dept.
California inmates battling wildfires despite COVID-19, early releases
Inmate firefighters feel they've been forgotten by the California Department of Corrections and forced to keep battling wildfires as prisoners convicted of similar or more serious crimes are let out of prison early amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Inmate firefighters feel they've been forgotten by the California Department of Corrections and forced to keep battling wildfires as prisoners convicted of similar or more serious crimes are let out of prison early amid the coronavirus pandemic.
San Rafael has highest number of COVID-19 cases in Marin County
Three quarters of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 are among the Latino and Hispanic community in Marin County.
Three quarters of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 are among the Latino and Hispanic community in Marin County.
Man accused of bloody spree in SF was released from earlier psychiatric hold
A man accused of a bloody rampage earlier this year in San Francisco's Tenderloin had been placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold but was released after only a few hours, records show.
A man accused of a bloody rampage earlier this year in San Francisco's Tenderloin had been placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold but was released after only a few hours, records show.
Prison officials turned down free COVID-19 testing for San Quentin
On two different occasions offers by a group of scientists at UC Berkeley for free rapid COVID-19 testing at San Quentin were denied by California prison officials.
On two different occasions offers by a group of scientists at UC Berkeley for free rapid COVID-19 testing at San Quentin were denied by California prison officials.
Oakland police chief: no excuse for thousands of 911 delays
The Oakland Police Department failed to properly handle the 200,000 emergency calls it received in 2019, leaving thousands on hold. Interim Police Chief Susan Manheimer admitted the department fell short.
The Oakland Police Department failed to properly handle the 200,000 emergency calls it received in 2019, leaving thousands on hold. Interim Police Chief Susan Manheimer admitted the department fell short.
Oakland 911 failed 18,000 emergency callers last year
Every year, thousands of emergency calls in Oakland go unanswered for far longer than a state standard allows, leaving potential victims of violent crimes on hold. A recent grand jury investigation found negligent oversight explaining the city can’t competently handle the 200,000 emergency calls it gets every year.
Every year, thousands of emergency calls in Oakland go unanswered for far longer than a state standard allows, leaving potential victims of violent crimes on hold. A recent grand jury investigation found negligent oversight explaining the city can’t competently handle the 200,000 emergency calls it gets every year.
The dilemma of the good cop: Calling out wrongdoing can end an officer’s career
Ryan Adler said he is speaking up now as heightened focus is being paid to reforming police departments across the country. He believes his insights as a former officer can help bring light to these systemic, cultural problems, especially as leaders are vowing that they, too, want change.
Ryan Adler said he is speaking up now as heightened focus is being paid to reforming police departments across the country. He believes his insights as a former officer can help bring light to these systemic, cultural problems, especially as leaders are vowing that they, too, want change.
Survivor’s story: released San Quentin inmate battled COVID-19 behind bars
Kenneth Larkins is just one of more than 2,000 inmates at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County who has tested positive for the coronavirus. A dozen prisoners have died.
Kenneth Larkins is just one of more than 2,000 inmates at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County who has tested positive for the coronavirus. A dozen prisoners have died.
Internal documents reveal disturbing scope of SFPD's effort to out journalist's source
New documents reveal that an illegal search of a journalist by San Francisco police was more invasive than previously known and went all the way to the highest levels of the Police Department.
New documents reveal that an illegal search of a journalist by San Francisco police was more invasive than previously known and went all the way to the highest levels of the Police Department.
California prison officials blasted over San Quentin COVID-19 outbreak
California lawmakers questioned state prison officials and heard from public defenders, non-profit groups, inmates and prison reform advocates following COVID-19 at several prisons including San Quentin where more than 1,100 inmates and 112 staff members have been infected.
California lawmakers questioned state prison officials and heard from public defenders, non-profit groups, inmates and prison reform advocates following COVID-19 at several prisons including San Quentin where more than 1,100 inmates and 112 staff members have been infected.
One-third of San Quentin inmates infected with COVID-19
Cases of COVID-19 at San Quentin State Prison have grown to more than 1,100 infected inmates. Triage tents are setup to house some of them as hospitals take on dozens of sick prisoners.
Cases of COVID-19 at San Quentin State Prison have grown to more than 1,100 infected inmates. Triage tents are setup to house some of them as hospitals take on dozens of sick prisoners.
Contra Costa County sees hospital surge as COVID-19 cases spike
Contra Costa County has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases leading to a 42% surge of hospital patients and causing health officials to reevaluate its reopening timeline.
Contra Costa County has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases leading to a 42% surge of hospital patients and causing health officials to reevaluate its reopening timeline.
“There will be death” from COVID-19 at San Quentin prison
San Quentin prison has seen an explosion of COVID-19 cases after 121 medically-vulnerable inmates were transferred there from another prison in Chino, California, already experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus.
San Quentin prison has seen an explosion of COVID-19 cases after 121 medically-vulnerable inmates were transferred there from another prison in Chino, California, already experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus.