Protecting Journalists Pro Bono Program Archives - Open Vallejo

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

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

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 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