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Open Vallejo - Knowledge is power. Power to the people.

Open Vallejo (https://openvallejo.org/author/laurence-du-sault/)

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Laurence Du Sault

Laurence Du Sault is Open Vallejo’s senior writer and editor focused on technical publications and investigations.

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Members of Willie McCoy's family hug in front of Vallejo City Hall during a protest on Feb. 28, 2019, three weeks after Vallejo police killed the 20-year-old.

Vallejo police reforms stall despite scrutiny over killings

By Laurence Du Sault | November 8, 2022

In 2020, the California DOJ endorsed 45 reforms for Vallejo police. The department has implemented just two of them.

Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams is seen at his swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 12, 2019, at Vallejo City Hall.
City Manager

Vallejo police chief resigns, former Sacramento chief to consult

By Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King | November 4, 2022

The City of Vallejo has signed a $100,000 consulting agreement with former Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn, whose tenure included the fatal shootings of Stephon Clark and Darrell Richards.

Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams speaks with Annice Evans, whose son Angel Ramos was killed by a Vallejo police officer on January 23, 2017, at a Vallejo City Council meeting on March 8, 2022. Ramos did not have a weapon.
Public Safety

Shake-up looms as Vallejo police chief takes time off

By Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King | October 27, 2022

The Vallejo Police Department is hiring a new deputy chief, promoting multiple officers to the upper echelons of its command staff, and disbanding two key programs — all while the police chief is expected to be out of the office for weeks, Open Vallejo has confirmed.

Five Vallejo police officers pose indoors with another man in a black and white group photograph taken in the 1970s or early 1980s. Front row, left to right: John Lynch, Peter Zander, Ronald Guerra. Back row: unknown, Herbert Shrum, Burky Worel, Louis Baldino.
Public Safety

Vallejo patrol staffing drops below 1975 levels

By Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King | September 21, 2022

Half a century ago, Vallejo had twice as many patrol officers per resident as it does today.

Then-San Jose Police Department Capt. Jason Ta, left, poses in the Vallejo City Council chambers for a photograph with Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams minutes after Williams was sworn in as Vallejo's police chief on Nov. 12, 2019. In 2021, Williams recruited Ta to serve as his deputy chief of police.
Ethics

Deputy police chief arrived impaired to Vallejo homicide, memo alleges

By Laurence Du Sault | July 20, 2022

Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams was notified in March that his second-in-command had been drinking before he showed up to a homicide scene in a department SUV, according to an internal memo obtained by Open Vallejo. Now, sources say the city has opened an outside investigation — which the chief says he knows nothing about.

A flashlight leaves a streak of light through a crime scene at night.
Public Safety

Vallejo tolerated officers’ mistakes. Then they killed again.

By Laurence Du Sault | July 7, 2022

The Vallejo Police Department’s flawed handling of fatal police shootings allowed six officers to use deadly force again before their first cases were decided. Experts say the department’s system “isn’t even basement standard practice” and needs oversight.

A 3D rendering of a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone hovering over a 3D-rendered scene that includes a man lying dead in front of an undercover police truck.
Public Safety

Footage of Sean Monterrosa’s killing by police was ‘overwritten.’ Here is what we know about that night.

By Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King | December 9, 2021

As Vallejo moves to fire the detective who killed Monterrosa, newly-released records raise questions over officials’ handling of investigation.

Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams speaks with the media at his swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 12, 2019.
Ethics

Claim alleges false testimony by Vallejo police chief

By Laurence Du Sault, Katy St. Clair and Geoffrey King | November 1, 2021

Former Lt. Herman Robinson, Vallejo’s longest-serving police officer, accused Chief Shawny Williams of making false statements under oath as Williams sought to fire him, records obtained by Open Vallejo show.

Vallejo police Det. Jarrett Tonn
Public Safety

Detective on leave over Sean Monterrosa shooting

By Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King | July 11, 2021

An outside investigation found that Vallejo police Det. Jarrett Tonn violated department use of force policies in the 2020 killing, sources told Open Vallejo.

Protest signs left at the site of Sean Monterrosa's killing by Vallejo police can be seen on June 5, 2020 in Vallejo, Calif. Monterrosa was killed three days earlier by an officer who had three prior shootings since joining the Vallejo Police Department in 2014.
Partnerships

Help us investigate the Vallejo Police Department

By Laurence Du Sault | May 14, 2021

Reporters have documented 33 killings by police since 2000 in Vallejo. We need your help to learn more about Vallejo police violence and potential misconduct.

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