Rohnert Park Police Officer Accused of Misconduct in Case Involving Pounds of Humboldt County Marijuana Agrees to Resign for $75,000

Officer Joe Huffaker

Officer Joe Huffaker after receiving “a lifesaving award” in 2015. [Crop of a photo on the City of Rohnert Park Police and Fire Facebook page]

Officer Joseph Huffaker, age 34, has agreed to resign from the Rohnert Park Police and Fire Department after reaching a settlement with the city. Huffaker is one of two officers accused of being involved in trying to tie Zeke Flatten to carrying 30 pounds of marijuana for sale after Flatten tried to bring attention to three pounds of marijuana being illegally taken from him. (The marijuana, both the three original pounds and the thirty pounds that were taken from another driver, were from Humboldt County growers.)

Another officer in the case, former Rohnert Park Sergeant Jacy Tatum, resigned in June without compensation.

Huffaker has been implicated in other misconduct charges.

According to a detailed article in yesterday’s Press Democrat,

An internal affairs investigation concluded in July that Officer Joseph Huffaker, 34, “engaged in misconduct that warrants termination,” according to a report the city attorney’s office submitted to the council. In November, the city informed Huffaker it intended to fire him with cause — a punishment he challenged in refuting any misconduct, saying he would appeal, according to the report.

City Council then directed the city attorney and city manager Darrin Jenkins to reach a separation agreement that would lead to Huffaker’s resignation. The agreement, subject to council’s approval, calls for Huffaker to receive $75,000 from the city’s general fund within 30 days of him submitting his resignation. Huffaker has agreed to waive any claims against the city and an appeals process.

Huffaker has continued to receive a salary while out on leave for nearly a year.

While 2018 salary compensation isn’t available yet, in 2017 his regular pay not including overtime and benefits was $81,619.00. That means for the last year he was on paid leave he will receive over $150,000.

UPDATE: Rohnert Park’s Deal With Cop Involved in Alleged Theft of Humboldt County Cannabis Shields Him and Possibly the City, Says KQED Story

Earlier:

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61 Comments
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Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago

So, misconduct brings a 1 year paid vacation and $75k termination bonus? Did he get a new car too?

Are criminal charges still pending?

bearjizzle
Guest
bearjizzle
5 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

He’ll probably use the 75K to buy 150 pounds thanks to 64… he can just steal them “legally” below cost like every other buyer up there… 🙂 He obv. has connects… “That’s MR. former officer Pound Stealer to you, sonny boy”

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Let the punishment fit the crime. He and the coconspirators … Should be tried in court by the people….

R-DOG
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Good know he can start his own operation

Taurusballzhoff
Guest
Taurusballzhoff
5 years ago

Interesting end to a completely unintelligible story. “Here’s a pile of money, now go away”…

It’s good to know that local governments operate in the same manner as crooked and incompetent corporations…

I certainly hope that this officer finds himself a different career, but I still haven’t heard an account of what happened here that is understandable, and I just don’t believe anything that Zeke Flatten has to say…

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

… it’s HUSH MONEY !!!

Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯He got the watch.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago

He got the “Cheech & Chong Sentence”, “Bailiff, Whack his Pee Pee”!!!

anon
Guest
anon
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

uh that was firesign theatre….

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  anon

OK if you say so, but my memory recalls it as being something Cheech & Chong did!!! I didn’t listen to Firesign Theatre all that much unfortunately!!!

Miguel
Guest
Miguel
5 years ago
Reply to  anon

Creech and Chong, Big Bamboo album.

Stormy
Guest
Stormy
5 years ago

Who cares about low life dealers/growers being busted by low life cops. This isn’t local journalism, just more crybaby doper fake news for SoHum stoners.

hmm
Guest
hmm
5 years ago
Reply to  Stormy

I hope that’s not your best thinking. I’m not saying you’re stupid, but often you have bad luck at thinking.

chasi
Guest
chasi
5 years ago
Reply to  hmm

Well said.

Sheesh
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Stormy

Its news in a cannibis growing community like ours.
We dont care about urban America and its problems.
Keep that bs out of here.

Police are criminals.

Mike
Guest
Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheesh

Police aren’t the criminals, the politicians and lobbyists are the criminals. The police are their enforcers/ revenue generators.

Mike
Guest
Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I know how to stop this from happening again, they should make a law saying cops can’t break the law. Then they just need a tax to hire some more cops to enforce it.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

rollin
Guest
rollin
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Ditto, LOL

Joe dirt
Guest
Joe dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  rollin

Isn’t that what they been doing for a long time

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Almost???

I shot the grower, but I didn't shoot his dog.
Guest
I shot the grower, but I didn't shoot his dog.
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheesh

Unless you work for the Sacramento Police Department. You shoot unarmed people in back yards and walk away a hero. Shoot, shoot, he’s got a cell phone!!! Or in the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department. They shot a guy in Blue Lake that was holding a plastic rake. Or the EPD shooting a woman in old town who was holding an empty flare gun ( you can see the flare in the gun’s barrel) Or shooting a 16 year old with a knife who was trying to run away. How soon we forget!! Is a life worth a $75K payout? Not as long as one can think the person is the scum of the earth and not have one shred of evidence. In that case shoot and ask questions later……………much later.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
5 years ago

Jeremiah Chass 16 year old having a mental breakdown, holding a pocketknife.

11 gunshots by the Sonoma Sheriff.

RIP

Taurusballzhoff
Guest
Taurusballzhoff
5 years ago

My advice to drug transporters, out there on the “Marijuana Highway” (101), is install cameras, front and rear. Start your voice recorder prior to any encounter with law enforcement. This is what the cops have, body cameras and vehicle recorders.

Ask for ID’s, ask if the stop is being recorded. Give no information other than your driver’s license/registration. Good luck!

I am enjoying that both sworn officers were eventually relieved of their positions, but is there a civil case here? Is there any proof of anything at all, besides the fact that the officers were far beyond their assumed beat, and that they kept poor records? Did Zeke lose 30 pounds or 3? We just can’t know.

As for the Rohnert Park Police Department, they obviously just did what they could to sweep everything under a tatty little rug, and I assume they are hoping that everyone will now forget the whole thing.

A little cash, a little weed, are cops now operating primarily as pirates? More story please!

Driving through Lake/Mendo/Humboldt/Trinity? Watch the cops or don’t, but don’t be surprised at anything, besides how many Patrol Cars are parked with the officer perusing his phone…

As for Zeke, well, he got them good, but he wasn’t arrested for transporting marijuana, and I guess he has something to celebrate! So are the criminals any better than the cops, in this tawdry and sad little “elevate the magic” story?

Taurusballzhoff
Guest
Taurusballzhoff
5 years ago

And:
https://www.kqed.org/news/11706921/lawsuit-rohnert-park-hopland-police-conspired-to-steal-cannabis-and-cash-on-highway-101

So I presume Mr Flatten will eventually be paid off too?

Remind me to stay out of Rohnert Park in the future…

hmm
Guest
hmm
5 years ago

Most importantly, have at lest $20,000 available for legal fees at all times. You can pretty much pay your way out of trouble with enough money. When a judges sees that you have a public defender, consciously or subconsciously, they think you are a drain on society.

An attorney can say the exact same thing as a pd and get much better results.

Taurusballzhof
Guest
Taurusballzhof
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Without regard for just what Mr Flatten says or believes, Rohnert Park appears to be covering up and paying off everyone, and I suspect Mr Flatten will be compensated.
The truth is suffering, but clearly, the law enforcement agencies need some careful investigating…

Friend or Foe ?
Guest
Friend or Foe ?
5 years ago
Reply to  Taurusballzhof

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely! Not all criminals dress, act, or look the same. Just follow the $$$’s and there they are!

Farce
Guest
Farce
5 years ago

Ha Ha Ha!! $150,000 for NOT working for a year. And then $75,000 more to stay away. Hilarious! This is tax money extorted from the public through administrative fees and taxes of many sorts including income tax and then freely given away to guys like this. Think our system is broken? Not if you’re this guy!! However…if you are a middle-class taxpayer then just keep paying, for everything… you sucker!

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
5 years ago

Spineless city council! Vote the bastards out!

And are the criminals any better than THIS cop? A lot of the growers (but not all by any means) are.

No wonder he has such a big ffing grin, he stole the cookies then got more for a reward.

An honest cop is an honest person.
Guest
An honest cop is an honest person.
5 years ago

Everyone’s expectations should be the police have a higher standard for their behavior. To compare a law breaker to a police officer is apples and oranges. During their POST training they are repeatedly told they are their to catch the law breakers and not become a law breaker. Both cops forfeited their POST certifications and will never work in law enforcement again. There is no appeal process. One strike and you are OUT! A POST certification is a huge investment for an officer. Why they would jeopardize that is a mystery. Every police chief should post this story on the door all officers enter and have their Captain’s and Sargent’s remind all the police officers they are expected to adhere to being honest and above reproach.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
5 years ago

Kym,

I don’t remember a story you broke that was more crucial regarding local corruption.

I guess the Coroner robbing deceased posessions story as also was huge, but I don’t remember if you broke that.

Anyhow, great work on this. The trust you have earned in the local communities is something to regard.

Heads up out there, Kym is on the beat!

For sure
Guest
For sure
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s the same energy that causes Brett Kavanaugh to get voted on to the Supreme Court!

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

Where did you see that their POST certs were taken? .

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

My first thought was PAYING someone not to appeal being fired for malfeasance? And probably a disability pension too. How cowardly. Then I got to thinking of why they would do it. There are two reasons that come to mind- either there was some serious defect in the accuser’s story such that an appeal is likely to win or that an appeal would drag down others with him. The decision makers have a handy excuse to trot out about costs of pursuing in that it costs them so much to pursue that it is better to settle but that never takes into account of gutting any teeth in standards of conduct. No matter how it’s looked at, it is wrong and embarassing unless the accuser is such a liar that all chances of a getting him fired are gone.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
5 years ago

WTF?? He made out like a bandit. He got what he was after, which seems to be money. Now all his friends and family get to see him for what he really is. I wonder if that’s worth it?

zoltan
Guest
zoltan
5 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Rolemodel

CAROL -
Guest
CAROL -
5 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

shakedown

Guests
Guest
Guests
5 years ago

So crime does pay even for the police.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Guests

Quite well, at that it seems, from what I read here!!!

Eyeball Kid
Guest
Eyeball Kid
5 years ago

This is an example of why it is useless to argue left and right, conservative and liberal.
They’re all gangsters. Everybody by now should know exactly what they are going to get from whoever and in whichever situation. There should be zero surprises, zero outrage, and most of all, please, zero cries for sweeping change. Focus instead on what WROL will sound like, smell like and feel like. Who will live and who will die. Give some crucial thought to who might possibly join your Mutual Assistance Group. Above all, recognize that what they have us bickering about right now is nothing more than misdirection. Cat’s in the well, wolf is looking down.

LGR
Guest
LGR
5 years ago
Reply to  Eyeball Kid

I’m guessing this POS will be moving to Idaho now. Unbelievable that this guy gets paid to break the law. Total BS.

tiredofidiots
Guest
tiredofidiots
5 years ago
Reply to  LGR

Not much different than the Smollet story in some regards. Break the law, no consequences. Total BS all the way around.

CAROL -
Guest
CAROL -
5 years ago
Reply to  LGR

karma’s still a bitch tho, short term gain gonna cause him great pain

zoltan
Guest
zoltan
5 years ago
Reply to  Eyeball Kid

It’s just money.

Ann Constantino
Guest
Ann Constantino
5 years ago

Thank you, Kym, for the courageous journalism that brought this story to light.

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
5 years ago

And who knows how much $$ he squirrelled away during his pirate/police carreer.

gunther
Guest
gunther
5 years ago

$150,000 plus whatever they got for the hundreds of pounds of missing marijuana.

10 toes
Guest
10 toes
5 years ago

This is why the general public can’t stand police , or law enforcement. They are all thieves. If you ever met a cop that said he isn’t crooked , you just met a cop who’s a liar and a crooked gang member . The law enforcement is the largest gang in America. These people abuse power and athority , Just like the criminal judge in Georgetown Texas that sold guns to cartel for years and got paid leave and then only 60 days in jail !!!!!

Me
Guest
Me
5 years ago

Settling out of court usually is a lot less expensive than trials and potential appeals. Sad, but true. And the bad guy gets away but will likely not get another LE job of any importance.

crooked
Guest
crooked
5 years ago
Reply to  Me

Unfortunately yes he could- if it’s settled it’s not on his record. Filthy cop mad out like a bandit. Someone should sue the people who made that decision PERSONALLY for refund of city money. What a crock.

Sarah witcher,salem
Guest
Sarah witcher,salem
5 years ago

40 billion dollars of narcotics cross southern border each year.1/2 money forced on Mexican authorities. Before fentanyl. No loss. 1/2 forced on US authorities,no loss. Needed voluntary voice stress analysis . Or thieving vigilanties. Or much more fentanyl. Follow the money.church sells illusion of forgiveness and immortality.IQ now dropping 7 points per decade . testosterone 1-/2 30 years ago.clowns.

Dinny from dinsmore
Guest
Dinny from dinsmore
5 years ago

“If you can’t beat them, join them” take notes.

burblestein
Guest
burblestein
5 years ago

So Huffaker was stationed 50 miles outside his jurisdiction during these incidents, right? So what are the chances he was paid off to keep his mouth shut about who ordered him out there?

SMH
Guest
SMH
5 years ago
Reply to  burblestein

You nailed it! Internal Affairs anyone?

SMH
Guest
SMH
5 years ago

Prick! I hope he gets robbed walking to the bank. Or come visit Humboldt. I hear they have cheap lots for sale on Murder Mountain!

to protect and serve..................their own interests
Guest
to protect and serve..................their own interests
5 years ago

more proof that cops are worthless pieces of excrement that extort money from taxpayers under the false pretense of them doing a job. fill your pockets and run.

crooked
Guest
crooked
5 years ago

Kym, I love the photo you chose. He looks like he just won the lottery.

Itsabouttime
Guest
Itsabouttime
4 years ago

Now employed with PG &E. How about them apples?