Investigation Into Former Ukiah Police Chief ‘Still Ongoing’ Six Months Later

Ukiah Police Chief Noble Waidelich when he graduated from the Peace Officers Standards and Training Leadership Institute in 2019 [Picture from the Ukiah Police Department Facebook page]

The state agency to date is the only source of updated information about a high profile police misconduct case encircled in a blue wall of silence by Eyster and other local authorities.

Why is unclear.

District Attorney Dave Eyster refuses comment about the Waidelich case, which is being described in local enforcement circles as a basic ‘he said, she said’ scenario. Eyster has had the conclusions of an outside investigation conducted by Sonoma County since late summer.

Waidelich, a well-known Mendocino County cop, was stripped of his police duties in mid-June after a local woman complained that the former police chief while on duty and in uniform demanded oral sex from her during an encounter in June.

Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall learned of the allegation, and immediately asked his counterpart in Sonoma County to investigate to avoid possible conflict. The results of the Sonoma County investigation was turned over to Eyster in late summer, but the findings remain under wrap.

Eyster’s refusal to act, or comment on the Waidelich case, leaves the former police chief in legal limbo. It also exacerbates concerns about how police misconduct cases are handled locally.

Waidelich’s case is the second high-profile police misconduct case that Eyster’s office has handled in the past year.

A public furor erupted in July when Eyster’s office agreed to a plea bargain deal for former Ukiah Police Sgt. Kevin Murray, who originally faced sexual assault allegations from two women. But after two trial delays, Eyster unexpectedly agreed to a plea deal with Murray’s defense team from the Santa Rosa law firm of Andrian & Gallenson regarded among the best in Northern California. Three serious felony sex charges were dismissed in return for guilty pleas by Murray to lesser charges. Instead of a minimum year in jail as recommended by Sonoma County probation authorities, Murray was placed on probation.

The disputed plea agreement was publicly ripped by one of the alleged victims, a Washington state nursing professional and friend of a former Murray wife, as a ‘sweetheart’ deal. There also were a spate of public protests outside the Mendocino County Courthouse in downtown Ukiah.

In the Waidelich case, it is only through statements from the state Attorney General’s Office that the public has learned any details.

Eyster turned to the AG’s Office in late September seeking a possible recusal from prosecution of Waidelich, but state prosecutors determined there is no reason why the DA cannot decide if charging is warranted.

The scope of the Waidelich investigation was first revealed publicly in an official state AG response to Eyster in November.

The AG letter then stated in part, “The investigation arose from a complaining witness’ June 13, 2022, complaint to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office that Mr. Waidelich sexually assaulted her while he was on duty.”

Eyster has refused to publicly comment on any aspect of the case, despite the seriousness of a sexual assault allegation involving a police chief in uniform.

The identity of the woman is known but not publicly revealed. She has declined through an intermediary to talk about her encounter with Waidelich.

Eyster refused to release the contents of his original request to the state AG under the state Public Records Act. He insists the information is ‘privileged.’

In a Nov. 15 letter of refusal signed by Eyster’s chief assistant, Dale Trigg, Eyster claimed any disclosure would “endanger the successful completion of the overall investigation or related investigation.”

Asked for a further review, the state AG on Monday concluded that because Eyster maintains the Waidelich investigation is still ongoing the contents of his letter can remain under wraps.

“As the investigation is ongoing and no decision has been made yet about whether charges should be filed, the public interest in disclosure of the letter is clearly outweighed by the public interest in facilitating an accurate and thorough investigation and maintaining the privacy of the complainant.”

Neither Eyster nor Trigg responded Monday to requests for comment on the latest AG statements.

Earlier:

• Former Probation Officer’s Suit Alleges Domestic Abuse by Her Fiancé, the Current Ukiah Police Chief, and Retaliation by Her Mendocino County Bosses
• Ukiah Police Chief Noble Waidelich on Administrative Leave Due to ‘Criminal Investigation’
• Sonoma County Conducting Investigation into Ukiah Police Chief Waidelich at Request of Sheriff Kendall
• ‘Our community deserves better’: City of Ukiah Terminates Police Chief Who Is Under Investigation for Unknown Criminal Activities
• ‘The whole police department is burning down’: Scandal-Plagued UPD Faces Latest Allegation of Beating an Unarmed Man
• Case Brought by Ex-Girlfriend of Fired Ukiah Police Chief Moves Toward Trial
• Policing the Police: Multiple Cases Involving Ukiah Officers
• Sonoma County Completes Its Investigation Into Ex-Ukiah Police Chief —Forwards Finding to Mendo DA
• The Police Chief Saga: An Op-Ed From Mike Geniella
• California Attorney General’s Office Assessing Whether Mendo DA Is Free of Conflicts in Case of Former Ukiah Police Chief
• Attorney General’s Office Declines to Allow Mendo DA Dave Eyster to Be Recused From Former Ukiah Police Chief’s Alleged Sexual Assault Case