Mario Romero 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 wearing glasses and a black shirt hugging a person wearing a white hoodie with the word "justice" on the back.

Vallejo officers could lose badges as state opens investigation

by Vanessa Arredondo October 18, 2024March 31, 2025

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 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

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

City of Impunity

Vallejo tolerated officers’ mistakes. Then they killed again.

by Laurence Du Sault July 7, 2022January 28, 2025

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.

Vallejo police bend badges to mark fatal shootings

by Geoffrey King July 28, 2020March 28, 2025