Badge of Honor 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 composite image titled "No Responsive Records," featuring grayscale portraits of five individuals who were killed in encounters with the Vallejo police. Each portrait captures distinct facial expressions, suggesting a personal story behind each individual. Below the images, the text reads, "How Vallejo Hid Killings by Police," highlighting investigative themes.

Open Vallejo wins journalism honor for exposing hidden killings by police

by Open Vallejo November 1, 2024November 1, 2024

Photo of a white car’s windshield marked with multiple bullet trajectory rods and labels, indicating the paths of shots fired into the vehicle. The image, dated September 6, 2012, shows an investigator leaning toward the passenger side, examining the scene.

Vallejo releases some police shooting evidence previously thought destroyed

by Anna Bauman October 10, 2024October 10, 2024

A partial view of the Old Solano Courthouse, framed by leafy trees and a hedge in the foreground. The building's light gray stone exterior is partially obscured, with modern patterned metalwork visible on one side. A single window is seen through the foliage, hinting at the structure’s historical architecture.

From a locked courtroom, judge rules Vallejo badge bending report will remain secret

by Anna Bauman October 2, 2024October 3, 2024

A Vallejo police officer gestures while holding a gun in one hand, his uniform and vehicle illuminated by the warm light of late afternoon. The background shows a sign for Kyles Temple A.M.E. Zion Church.

As Vallejo police force shrinks, 911 response times soar

by Anna Bauman September 23, 2024January 28, 2025

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

The image, a still from a security camera, shows a suburban street with two individuals and two cars visible. One, a police officer, is in the process of firing a handgun. The second person, dressed in a blue top and dark pants, is falling while in the process of running away toward a house.

Napa DA releases new video of January police shooting in Vallejo

by Geoffrey King and Anna Bauman March 13, 2024March 26, 2024

A first-person view from a police officer's body camera, displaying part of the officer's uniform with a name tag reading 'COLEMAN' and a radio speaker microphone attached to the front. The officer's hand is visible, pointing to something off-camera. In the background, a residential street with parked cars and houses can be seen. The sky is clear and blue. Timestamp and camera information are overlaid at the top, showing the date as "2024-01-11 15:19:53 -0800" and the text "AXON BODY 4 D01A12418."

Open Vallejo compels disclosure of footage from January shooting by deputy linked to badge bending

by Anna Bauman and Geoffrey King March 7, 2024September 23, 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

A police investigator wearing a dark suit with salt and pepper hair stands outside against a glass wall during daytime.

‘A whitewash and a coverup’: an interview with Vallejo police whistleblower John Whitney

by Geoffrey King December 6, 2023March 20, 2025