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Open Vallejo

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Public Safety

FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan speaks to reporters at a press conference in Fairfield, Calif. in 2018. Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara, second from right, has recently sought to downplay concerns about possible far-right extremism in his agency following an investigation by Open Vallejo.
Posted inNews, Public Safety

FBI rebuffs sheriff’s claim it cleared deputies of extremist ties

by Scott Morris April 26, 2021October 27, 2023
Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams is sworn into office under the gaze of a city surveillance camera on Nov. 12, 2019. A BuzzFeed News investigation found that Vallejo was one of more than 1,800 public entities to use a facial recognition technology so powerful, it is the subject of numerous lawsuits and several government probes. A Vallejo police spokesperson said the department’s command staff were unaware of its use prior to being contacted for comment by Open Vallejo.
Posted inNews

Vallejo police secretly tested ‘dystopian’ facial recognition tool

by Brian Howey April 13, 2021April 29, 2025
An official portrait of Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara
Posted inNews, Public Safety

Amid calls for investigation, sheriff stands by deputies who displayed militia support

by Scott Morris March 9, 2021October 27, 2023
A photograph depicting the facade of the University of Southern California's Annenberg Hall
Posted inNews

Open Vallejo wins national journalism honor for exposing secret police ritual

by Brian Howey February 10, 2021October 27, 2023
A man stands among a crowd of people in silhouette against a backlit flag of the "Three Percenter" militia.
Posted inNews

Solano deputies, Vacaville councilmember promote anti-government militia

by Scott Morris February 4, 2021October 27, 2023
Surveillance video shows then-Detective Kent Tribble repeatedly struck Enrique Cruz, 29, as Cruz sat in a holding cell inside the Vallejo Police Department in 2012. Tribble has since been promoted to lieutenant, and is as a senior member of the department's command staff.
Posted inNews, Public Safety

Vallejo police lieutenant assaulted man in custody, video shows

by Brian Krans January 21, 2021October 27, 2023
Members of the Vallejo Police Department, including Chief Shawny Williams, Deputy Chief Michael Kihmm, and Captain Jason Potts pose for a photograph with the controversial "Blue Lives Matter" flag, which has been criticized for its associations with the white supremacist movement. The Vallejo Police Department posted the image to its official social media accounts on Dec. 25, 2020, but deleted it from Twitter following criticism. The photograph remains on the department’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.
Posted inPublic Safety

Blue Life

by Nijah Cunningham and Tiana Reid December 25, 2020October 27, 2023
A handout photograph of Vallejo Police Spokesperson Brittany K. Jackson
Posted inNews

Police union alleges hiring of civilian spokesperson ‘unlawful’

by John Glidden August 9, 2020October 27, 2023
Steve Darden, a member of the Vallejo Police Department Honor Guard, is seen at the swearing-in ceremony for Chief Shawny Williams on Nov. 12, 2019. He has participated in four fatal shootings, two as a primary shooter. Darden was promoted to lieutenant in February.
Posted inPublic Safety

Vallejo police bend badges to mark fatal shootings

by Geoffrey King July 28, 2020March 28, 2025
Former Vallejo Police Chief Andrew Bidou poses for a picture with officers Matthew Komoda, David McLaughlin and Kevin Barreto on April 29, 2016. Over the next two-and-a-half years, Komoda would participate in three shootings, McLaughlin in two, and Barreto in one.
Posted inPublic Safety

For Vallejo officers who use force, a pattern of promotions and awards

by Scott Morris July 28, 2020October 27, 2023

Posts pagination

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Editor’s Picks

‘I can’t breathe’: video shows death Vallejo police concealed for years

‘I can’t breathe’: video shows death Vallejo police concealed for years

Senior officials ordered destruction of Vallejo police shooting evidence

Senior officials ordered destruction of Vallejo police shooting evidence

Vallejo police bend badges to mark fatal shootings

Vallejo police bend badges to mark fatal shootings

Suspects in killings of Vallejo witness, Vermont border patrol agent connected by marriage license, extreme ideology

Suspects in killings of Vallejo witness, Vermont border patrol agent connected by marriage license, extreme ideology

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