Post by almagata on Jun 24, 2018 23:38:59 GMT
All Shelby and Crompton needed back then was that one good tip. That's all they needed.
Had JJD's boss not been lacking the CRITICAL thinking skills every cop should have, and had he been on the ball, I have no doubt the EAR Task Force would have nailed the EAR back in 1979.
This is so disturbing!
NYC,
Do you really believe, that once JJD was arrested for shoplifting that his personnel file was reviewed thoroughly by multiple people in the Auburn PD, as well as people in the Sacramento District Attorney's office?
I'm not a cop, but if I was and one of my staff had been arrested for a crime, I would be learning everything there was to know about him. If for no other reason, to see if he may have been involved in other unsolved crimes in my jurisdiction that I may have to deal with and explain to the City Council or City Attorney.
I doubt that the background checks on police officers was as complete as it is today but I'm sure there was information in his file like:
1. GED high school but had attended Folsom High.
2. Military service record.
3. College degree information
4. Work history in Exeter
5. Prior addresses - including living with family in Exeter and Rancho Cordova
6. Right or left handed
7. Shooting tests
8. Training record
9. Attendance history
10. Pay history
11. Reviews
12. Family history
I'm not sure what else would have been included in the file but as a new chief and having to deal with this as one of the first embarrassing staff situations of his career, JJD's case would have been memorable.
In little towns, people know each other. There are only a few restaurants and people go to the same places. Hey, the retiring police chief owned one of the restaurants, sold it and bought another. Bonnie's family lived in Auburn and most certainly there was chatter about their failed engagement when the shoplifting arrest occurred that was discussed at these restaurants.
The Sac Bee articles about the EAR also being the VR had been published by 1979 as were the rumors that EAR was a cop.
Also, there were the two little situations of Willick's daughter waking to a guy looking in her window with a flashlight and the death threat by JJD following his firing.
I'm sorry, I just don't believe Willick did not have an inkling that JJD was EAR.
Did Willick take the correct actions as a police chief and fire JJD? yes. Did he take the right actions and protect the people of Auburn? yes. He likely avoided Auburn being sued if it was made public that EAR was found to be an officer on the Auburn PD.