Two Officers Outed on This Website Now on California’s POST Decertification List
Officer Joe Huffaker and Sgt. Jacy Tatum
Unsurprisingly, two former Rohnert Park officers, Jacy Tatum, and Joseph Huffaker, are among the 20 officers now listed on California’s POST decertification list. Designed to combat job hopping by officers alleged to have engaged in wrongdoing, a law, which went into effect in January, established a statewide process in which officers who are fired or resign because of serious misconduct allegations could be added to the list and barred from future law enforcement positions.
Five years ago this last December, two men claiming to be ATF agents stopped Zeke Flatten, a former undercover officer, just north of Frog Woman Rock in Mendocino County and robbed him of three pounds of Humboldt County marijuana. From the beginning, Flatten believed these were real local officers masquerading as law enforcement.
We broke the story on this and have been investigating and following this story (as have a number of other news organizations, private individuals, and law enforcement entities.) Since the first article was posted and the subsequent investigations have rolled out, Tatum has pled guilty to charges related to the incident.
Huffaker, however, continues to plead innocent to all the charges against him. (See here for the most recent indictment from the FBI.) In the indictment, the US Attorney explains to the Court, “After the publication on February 11, 2018, of two articles [by Redheaded Blackbelt]…Tatum, in the presence of HUFFAKER, contacted his and HUFFAKER’S supervisor to get approval to issue a press release… .” The Attorney alleges that Tatum with Huffaker’s knowledge used the press release to provide false information first to this reporter and then to the FBI. (Read more in this detailed account of how we uncovered the falsifications in their story here.)
Tatum is now ruled to be ineligible to hold any law enforcement positions. Huffaker has been given a temporary suspension presumably while his legal issues play out. He can appeal to the Commission of Peace Officer Standards, or POST but, unless they clear him, he cannot work for any California law enforcement agency.
Zeke Flatten, the victim, in the case that has led to Tatum’s guilty plea and Huffaker’s indictment and current suspension by POST, told us. “With the new law and the new process I felt it was coming and appropriate…[This will] keep these individuals from being police officers any more.”
He added though that the fight for uncovering the corruption involving these officers isn’t done. “I think there has been a lot of wins along the way,” he explained. “But I don’t think we are there yet…We’re not done fighting to expose wrongdoing.” Flatten alleged that there were other agencies and other officers including higher ups who acted with Tatum and Huffaker. “There are a lot more people involved.”
Even though he said that his life has been threatened, he told us by phone this morning, “[W]e’re going to keep pushing until we expose the corruption.”
Earlier Chapters:
- Former Undercover Officer Involved in Developing Cannabis Products Accuses Hopland Tribal Police Chief of Theft, Corruption, and Civil Rights Violations
- Outraged: One Man’s Two Month Quest From the FBI to the ATF to Expose What He Says Are Corrupt Police Officers in Mendocino County
- Rohnert Park Police Officers Being Investigated Following Two Incidents Where Humboldt County Cannabis Was Seized Under Suspicious Circumstances
- ‘Highway Robbery’: Drivers Allege Rohnert Park Police Illegally Seized Cannabis, Cash
- What Happened to 800 Pounds of Marijuana Seized by Rohnert Park Police?
- City of Rohnert Park Hires Police Practices Expert to Address Corruption Allegations
- Former Rohnert Park Police Sergeant Faces Credibility Questions as He Testifies in Court This Week
- Rohnert Park Police Officer Accused of Misconduct in Case Involving Pounds of Humboldt County Marijuana Agrees to Resign for $75,000
- City of Rohnert Park Settles for $415,000 in Lawsuit Alleging Its Officers Stole Cannabis From Travelers Just After a Second Suit Alleging More Corruption Was Filed
- Another Settlement in Case First Reported Here of Rohnert Park Officers Illegally Seizing Cash and Cannabis
- Two Rohnert Park Police Officers Named in the Case Involving Theft of Humboldt County Marijuana Indicted in Federal Court This Morning
- US Attorney’s Office Brings Charges Against Two Rohnert Park Police Officers in Story We Broke Here
- Former Sergeant and Head of a Drug Interdiction Team Pleads Guilty to Charges Resulting From Law Enforcement Officers Stealing Humboldt CO. Cannabis
- Lawsuit Alleges Members of CDFW and Mendocino County Sheriff’s Dept Conspired to Steal Marijuana, Guns, and Cash
- Cash, Guns and Cannabis Highlighted in Civil Case Amended Against Top Law Enforcement Officials in Mendocino County Last Week
- Five Years Ago This Month, Police Officers Robbed a Texas Man in Mendocino County; One Suspect Now Faces New Charges
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Never have I stopped being impressed by Kym’s breaking of this story and Zeke’s insistence of it being broken.
Kym Kemp deserves all the praise in the works for her major role in uncovering these two crooked cops. Zeke Flatten also gets credit for blowing the whistle.
Less admirable was Flatten’s subsequent sensational but factually unsupported claim against Mendocino County officials and Kym’s equally sensationalistic reporting.
Flatten and his attorney alleged that everyone from Sheriff Allman, DA Eyster, the BOS, F&W and individual deputies conspired to rip off growers and sell the confiscated weed for their own profit.
If RHBB reported the outcome I missed it, but in dismissing the suit the judge said “The allegations, though lengthy and interesting are conclusory and speculative and just don’t amount to a RICO claim.” The judge added that “the complaint does not contain any plausible, non-conclusory, non-speculative allegations of criminal activity.”
In short, there was not a single piece of evidence to support the sensational claims.
Collusion in the commission of a crime is ipso facto conpiracy, the basis of RICO. If you & one judge don’t get that, does not make it incorrect. The story isn’t at “THE END” yet
The problem you’re faced with and why the lawsuit was dismissed without leave to amend, is it failed to cite any facts to support the allegations of criminal acts. Which is why the Judge Susan Illston, who is very fair and thorough, dismissed it instead of allowing it to go to trial.
I have been saying the essentially same thing for years, that Flatten showed no evidence.
The conspiracy hidden in the RP Police dept is the real crime, and it may be forever unpunished.
Breaking corrupt Police Departments is hardly a new thing, but Redheaded Blackbelt and KQED showed that whistleblowers come in all shapes and sizes, and while I doubted early and later assertions and reports, the items posted on this site were certainly instrumental in actions which have vibrations penetrating at least a few miles from Mendo.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
This case blew me away. I even laughed that they thought they could get rid of a bad cop, and even said so on this blog.
This is a great day for the good honest cops that do their jobs right.
Way to go Kym!
Kym, you have done an outstanding job in breaking, investigating, and reporting on this important story. While I am saddened and disappointed that it involves two corrupt law enforcement officers, transparency and accountability are paramount and required in policing. These individuals tarnished their badges and the heroic, noble profession of policing while victimizing others. I’m glad that they’ve been caught, are being held accountable, and can never be police officers again. They disgust me.
The story is in the LA Times today.
My ex-niece married tatum.
tatum threatened my life for exposing him and his corrupt family.
To those in tatum’s family, friends and co-workers who were/are complicit:
You all let your boy down. Instead of doing the right thing of advising, encouraging and giving him an ultimatum to stop his illegal and unethical criminal activities over many years that have affected a multitude of lives, you all embraced, encouraged and enriched yourselves via his corruption. He metaphorically raped his victims of their rights, freedoms, property (selling stolen drugs and possibly weapons, vehicles, etc..) and cash as all of you watched and cheered him on. While he was “good” to you, via money, gifts, dinners, vacations, vehicles, houses and botched plastic surgeries, he left a wake of destruction for many more than you. While he used a badge and gun, you all used your denial and silence, not to mention some family members to distribute and sell some of his stolen drugs. You are all immoral, unethical, selfish, and narcissistic wolves in sheep’s clothing.
He has likely exposed, informed and ratted out on many other bad actors and organizations to minimize his as well as some of your punishment. He likely has many enemies. I hope no one flips his switch to off, however, if that were to happen, to what degree of accountability is on some of your shoulders?
They will probably move to Florida to get a job on a PD there.
“Florida police organization offers to hire cops who were fired or resigned over police misconduct”
CNN
Or Redding! I have 1st hand experience how shattering it is to a persons belief system of right and wrong to go back over your security cam footage and see 3 different policemen steal a legal registered firearm from you. And then the ever sinking depth of your anxiety and fear of what to do about it. We found ourselves wearing an online go-pro as our only way of protection. #Law Enforcement have become the thugs
All for three pounds of marijuana.
What a tremendous waste.
This is about way more than 3 pounds. These douche bags victimized countless people on the gauntlet for years with no consequences. They should do some seriously hard time. But please, continue downplaying corruption, im sure you have no skeletons in your closet, bro..
im a victim of these guys black asphalt/desert snow network.theres alot more involved its a disgrace.i could tell you first hand they don’t want anything said about there corruption coming out they sealed my case&its made life misserable.thanks marjorie flemming for doing your part who ever you are.also like to thank all the agents&deputies who showed up to represent whats wrong&what killed everything up here in humboldt.who needs a real warrant or inventory sheet when we can print them now fix them later&got our ol trusty car ipound sheet works great.thanks to my federal lawyer for doubling as my prosecutor&lying to me&doing her part along the way.if anyone would like to hear how to lie in open court ill post a recording
Whenever I decide to donate more than my monthly amount (not much), I always refer to this case in my memory. Please donate to Kym.
Shine that light! Thank you Zeke Flatten for having the guts to call it out. Thank you Kym Kemp for having the guts to publish the accusations.
Kym, you do work that matters. Thank you.
California and New York: Making Creeps Accountable Again.
Amazing that they are only now starting a bad cops list.
I certainly support the list and holding corrupt and abusive cops accountable but, I don’t know if I can support being put on the list for allegations alone, seems like a slippery slope..
Tatum, who pled guilty, has been decertified and can’t work as a cop again. Huffaker, who has been indicted but is fighting the charges, is on temporary suspension, similar to being put on admin leave.
From another news site: “Twenty police officers across California face possible decertification unless they are cleared by investigations or win their appeals, according to the latest public list.”
Being put on the list doesn’t automatically result in decertification. In addition to the 20 that have been named there are others under investigation.
Like any professional license you get an opportunity to defend yourself. Ive had to defend a professional license. Its not rocket science but it requires attention to details.
Mcso has always been corrupt in the 90s when I was in my early 20s I use to buy weed off a girl who got it from her sheriff dad
That weed had bad bad mojo.
Awesome Kym.
I also hope that the EPD (and those embedded with them at “County Mental Health”, actually independent contractors, who abuse people regularly particularly vulnerable women get outted. Much worse happens and still those txts were pretty damning and the EPD were back on the job within a week or two. People need protections in order to speak up and out though.
Kym never gives up giving us the latest updates….thank you!