California Department of Justice Archives - Open Vallejo

A uniformed police officer with visible arm tattoos sits behind a transparent barrier on a courtroom witness stand. The wood-paneled wall behind him features hanging green plants, and courtroom equipment is visible nearby.

How Open Vallejo exposed Vallejo police badge bending

by Geoffrey King July 28, 2025July 29, 2025

Vallejo City Council meeting in session, with council members seated at a long curved dais, facing an audience of community members in the council chamber. California and city flags are displayed behind the council.

Open Government

Vallejo asks state Supreme Court to suppress badge-bending report

by Matthew Brown July 28, 2025August 6, 2025

A line of California National Guard members in camouflage uniforms stands shoulder to shoulder holding clear riot shields and wooden batons. The shields are labeled “CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD” in bold white letters. The guardsmen wear helmets, goggles, and protective gear, forming a defensive line under a building overhang.

Can Trump keep troops in Los Angeles? Case goes to appeals court today

by Mikhail Zinshteyn June 17, 2025June 17, 2025

Open Vallejo wins national journalism award for uncovering in-custody death

by Open Vallejo June 16, 2025June 16, 2025

Former Vallejo Police Capt. John Whitney stands in a black suit and tie near a shallow creek, flanked by reeds and ducks, with a concrete bridge arching in the background.

Vallejo police hid misconduct records from courts, former captain alleges

by Matthew Brown June 11, 2025June 12, 2025

Grainy black-and-white surveillance image shows Darryl Mefferd, handcuffed and wearing a Chicago Bulls shirt, leaning forward in the backseat of a police vehicle. He appears distressed. A timestamp in the upper-left corner reads “2016-12-07 23:54:12.”

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

by Anna Bauman May 14, 2025May 20, 2025

An oil refinery is seen at dusk, illuminated by orange and white lights, with smokestacks releasing plumes into the darkening sky. The image is taken through a metal security fence in the foreground, emphasizing restricted access and industrial scale. Smoke and vapor rise from various towers, and trailers and utility vehicles are visible in the fenced-in lot below.

Valero plans to close Benicia refinery by 2026

by Sarah Hopkins April 17, 2025April 17, 2025

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, 2025July 1, 2025

A group of people, including several uniformed police officers, sit around a table in a large, well-lit meeting room. A flipchart with handwritten notes stands behind them, and other participants are gathered at tables in the background. One individual wears a colorful patterned headwrap, while another person in a knit sweater faces the group. A few officers stand nearby, observing or listening to the discussion.

Vallejo police commissioner resigns, questioning city’s commitment to reforms

by Anna Bauman and Matthew Brown March 3, 2025March 4, 2025

A dimly lit scene at dusk. A uniformed police officer stands beside a black patrol SUV, his face illuminated by red emergency lights. Behind him, a two-tone van is partially visible. Silhouetted trees and utility poles appear in the background.

Vallejo police reform evaluator to hold public meeting Monday

by Anna Bauman January 26, 2025January 27, 2025