Open Vallejo News Archives

A woman in her 20s smiling broadly at the camera. She has dark shoulder-length hair and is wearing a crisp white professional shirt. She stands against a background of wood shingles that are pleasantly out of focus due to depth of field.

Laurence Du Sault wins James Madison Freedom of Information Award

by Open Vallejo February 10, 2023October 27, 2023

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

Then-Vallejo Councilmember Hakeem Brown speaks at a city council meeting on police reform on Dec. 6, 2022. Brown is a Black man in his mid-40s wearing glasses, a green Pendleton-style cap and green vest over a black shirt. He has a goatee.

Hakeem Brown to lead Vallejo NAACP despite domestic violence revelations

by Geoffrey King January 13, 2023October 27, 2023

A stocking hanging outside the Vallejo City Attorney’s office on Dec. 21, 2022 reads, “We’ve been GOOD, we PROMISE!!” In September, Deputy City Attorney Katelyn Knight hired a firm to uncover the identities of authors behind two social media accounts, an Open Vallejo investigation has found.

Vallejo spends thousands to expose online commenters

by Geoffrey King December 23, 2022October 30, 2024

Vallejo Police Lt. Michael Nichelini takes a selfie with colleagues in front of his family’s winery in St. Helena, Calif. during a “training ride” on Nov. 14, 2019.

Termination overturned for Vallejo police lieutenant who threatened journalist

by Geoffrey King December 1, 2022October 27, 2023

Open Vallejo wins statewide criminal justice award for journalistic integrity

by Open Vallejo November 10, 2022November 15, 2023

Members of Willie McCoy's family hug in front of Vallejo City Hall during a protest on Feb. 28, 2019, three weeks after Vallejo police killed the 20-year-old.

Vallejo police reforms stall despite scrutiny over killings

by Laurence Du Sault November 8, 2022October 27, 2023

Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams is seen at his swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 12, 2019, at Vallejo City Hall.

Vallejo police chief resigns, former Sacramento chief to consult

by Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King November 4, 2022October 27, 2023

Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams speaks with Annice Evans, whose son Angel Ramos was killed by a Vallejo police officer on January 23, 2017, at a Vallejo City Council meeting on March 8, 2022. Ramos did not have a weapon.

Shake-up looms as Vallejo police chief takes time off

by Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King October 27, 2022October 31, 2023

Five Vallejo police officers pose indoors with another man in a black and white group photograph taken in the 1970s or early 1980s. Front row, left to right: John Lynch, Peter Zander, Ronald Guerra. Back row: unknown, Herbert Shrum, Burky Worel, Louis Baldino.

Vallejo patrol staffing drops below 1975 levels

by Laurence Du Sault and Geoffrey King September 21, 2022October 27, 2023