Open Vallejo News Archives

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

An overhead view taken from a drone shows a Black man being placed against a police SUV as he is arrested during daytime.

Vallejo police to weaken drone policy amid potential violations

by Brian Howey April 21, 2022October 17, 2024

A 3D rendering of a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone hovering over a 3D-rendered scene that includes a man lying dead in front of an undercover police truck.

Footage of Sean Monterrosa’s killing by police was ‘overwritten.’ Here is what we know about that night.

by Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King December 9, 2021January 29, 2025

A "Black Lives Matter" yard sign in front of a house on Mare Island, Vallejo, Calif. in 2021.

News

Vallejo’s Black shipyard workers forged nationwide reforms

by Brendan Riley November 11, 2021October 27, 2023

Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams speaks with the media at his swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 12, 2019.

Claim alleges false testimony by Vallejo police chief

by Laurence Du Sault, Katy St. Clair and Geoffrey King November 1, 2021October 27, 2023

Vallejo police Det. Jarrett Tonn

Detective on leave over Sean Monterrosa shooting

by Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King July 11, 2021October 27, 2023

Protest signs left at the site of Sean Monterrosa's killing by Vallejo police can be seen on June 5, 2020 in Vallejo, Calif. Monterrosa was killed three days earlier by an officer who had three prior shootings since joining the Vallejo Police Department in 2014.

Help us investigate the Vallejo Police Department

by Laurence Du Sault May 14, 2021October 27, 2023

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.

News, 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.

News

Vallejo police secretly tested ‘dystopian’ facial recognition tool

by Brian Howey April 13, 2021October 27, 2023

An official portrait of Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara

News, Public Safety

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

by Scott Morris March 9, 2021October 27, 2023