Nine Bay Area cops disciplined for roles in sexual misconduct scandal

The city manager’s office for Richmond, California, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, disciplined nine Richmond police officers Friday for their roles in a sexual misconduct and abuse scandal that has swept multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the East Bay and lead to the resignations of three successive Oakland police chiefs in one week. One Richmond officer was fired, one was demoted, two were suspended, and five received reprimands. The city manager’s office said in a statement it was prohibited from releasing the officers’ names. Combined, the Oakland and Richmond police departments have administratively disciplined 21 cops.

The same day, Brian Bunton, a Oakland police officer, was arraigned at Alameda County Superior Court on criminal charges of trading information about where police were holding prostitution stings for sex with the victim at the center of the case, Jasmine, formerly known as Celeste Guap. Bunton pleaded not guilty and his bail was set at $12,500. Alameda District Attorney Nancy O’Malley has charged four other East Bay law enforcement officers, and plans to charge at least two more.

Critics, including Jasmine’s lawyer, Pamela Price, say that these charges against low-level officers are not enough. Price told the East Bay Express, “We’re not just asking that low-level staff be the ones who are held accountable. The climate of each department is set by the leadership.”

Sam Stecklow is the Weekend Editor for Fusion.