Ethics Archives - Open Vallejo

A man in a white polo shirt and khaki pants stands outdoors beside a weathered building with red wooden shingles and broken windows. Tall dry grass surrounds him as he looks thoughtfully off to the side.

Mathew Mustard, of ‘American Nightmare’ infamy, retires from Vallejo

by Matthew Brown April 1, 2025April 1, 2025

A man stands in front of a dimly lit concrete wall, gazing into the distance with a contemplative expression.

Vallejo whistleblowers who alleged corruption settle for $3 million

by Anna Bauman October 9, 2024October 9, 2024

A truck labeled 'Don's Johns' parked on the street in front of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. The truck is carrying portable toilets. The building's facade is visible in the background with trees on either side of the street.

Supreme Court narrows anti-corruption law used to convict local official

by Anna Bauman June 28, 2024June 28, 2024

A man in a suit, identified as Greg Nyhoff, is speaking at a podium with a microphone. He appears to be addressing an audience in a city council chambers. Behind him, there are chairs and a California state flag is partially visible.

Greg Nyhoff, controversial former Vallejo city manager, hired in Texas

by Anna Bauman June 24, 2024August 9, 2024

Photo of several police officers in riot gear, standing inside a building. One female officer in the center, identified by a badge as S. McDonough, looks intently ahead. The officers are wearing dark uniforms with helmets, badges, and have body cameras and various equipment attached to their belts.

Vallejo officers intervene after detective stopped by Cotati police

by Anna Bauman April 5, 2024April 29, 2024

Mat Mustard, a middle-aged, balding police detective, interrogates Aaron Quinn, a kidnapping victim Mustard falsely accused of killing his girlfriend Denise. Aaron and Denise are now married with two children.

Vallejo seeks to keep evidence destruction probe secret

by Anna Bauman February 2, 2024March 12, 2024

Then-Councilmember Hakeem Brown, who is a Black man in his mid-40s, listens to a speaker out of frame from the dais of the Vallejo City Council chambers. Brown, who is in sharp focus, is wearing glasses and a hoodie, and sports a closely-cropped beard. His colleagues, who are out of focus, are seen behind him. A "City of Vallejo" sign is partially visible on the wall.

Hakeem Brown not Vallejo NAACP president, NAACP leader alleges

by Laurence Du Sault March 10, 2023October 27, 2023

A police car sits in front of a roll-up metal door next to a "police vehicles only" sign in late afternoon light. The door is part of a large brick building. A security camera can be seen near the door.

Open Vallejo cautions city’s lawyers in destruction probe

by Geoffrey King February 28, 2023October 27, 2023

A middle-aged Black man wearing a suit sits to the right of a blonde woman who appears to be in her sixties. She is wearing glasses, a black top and a brown sweater. Both individuals are seated at a wooden city council dais. An American flag hangs behind them.

Vallejo officials’ handling of evidence destruction probe marked by confusion, concern

by Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King February 22, 2023April 29, 2025

A young woman wearing a red top, red shoes and white and red pants holds a bright pink handwritten sign that reads, "Release the tapes!! Killer Cop" She stands in front of a large, off-white sedan from the 1980s or early 1990s. The background is dark and it appears to have been raining.

Senior officials ordered destruction of Vallejo police shooting evidence

by Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King February 5, 2023January 27, 2025