By Kimber Solana
The Salinas Californian
KING CITY, Calif. — Three King City police officers have filed a claim against the city, alleging that their employer retaliated against them for their roles in last year’s one-month-long investigation and suspension of the police chief.
Officers Christopher Craig, Abraham Aguayo and Jaime Andrade filed the complaint accusing City Manager Michael Powers and Police Chief Nick Baldiviez of violating their civil rights in the subsequent months after the chief’s return to work in September.
The officers allege the police chief authorized, among other actions, unwarranted internal investigations within days after Baldiviez was reinstated. The chief, the claim says, fired Craig, a six-year veteran with the agency, last month.
Other defendants named in the claim include police sergeants Mark Baker and Jerry Hunter. The claim, filed on Feb. 24, is the first step in suing a public agency. The claim asks for unspecified monetary damages.
City Attorney Roy Hanley said Wednesday the city has 45 days to respond. Should the city reject the claim, following its own investigation on the allegations, it would pave the way for a lawsuit.
“If any suit is filed, we will defend it vigorously and [we] predict successfully,” he said. “All it takes to file a claim is a computer. The mere filing ... is not an indication that there is merit to the claim, it is a mere statement of a grievance.”
The officers’ Upland-based attorney Russell Perry could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Craig referred all questions to Perry.
The filing comes six months after Powers placed the police chief on paid administrative leave Aug. 6 as he investigated allegations that Baldiviez showed up to crime scenes drunk, contaminated a crime scene by stepping in blood, and inappropriately promoted a reserve officer.
The allegations were raised by the King City Police Officers Association, which the three claimants are board members.
A week prior to the start of the investigation, the union group had announced that a majority of its eight-member association gave Baldiviez a “no confidence” vote.
Read the original story on the Salinas Californian.