Willits Police Chief Resigns
Willits Police Chief Fabian Lizarraga [Photo from the City of Willits]
Chief Lizarraga has been the head of the Willits Police Department since May 2021. Before that, he served as the Fort Bragg Police Chief between 2015 and 2020. Prior to serving in Mendocino County, he was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 37 years. In total, he had a career of over forty years in law enforcement.
Chief Lizarraga told us he has some “R&R” in his future and said he is “done with law enforcement and working for city governments.”
We asked Willits City Manager Brian Bender what the plan is going forward to hire a new police chief. He told us, “The City cannot comment regarding a personnel matter.”
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What a shame! He is respected in the community and will be missed. He said he was “done working for city government” maybe city council should take a hint and look into that? I hear they lost a few officers recently as well. Yet the creepy Sgt. that likes to hang out with the high schoolers is still on the force. But that’s par for the course in Willits over the last few years
https://kymkemp.com/2023/06/15/willits-police-department-sued-by-former-female-officer-who-alleges-sexual-harassment-and-hostility-by-fired-lieutenant-retaliation-by-chief-of-police/
https://kymkemp.com/2023/06/22/fired-willits-police-lieutenant-accused-of-abusing-his-power-faces-decertification-by-the-state-of-california/
and he had his whole term to deal with it
https://kymkemp.com/2022/12/22/city-of-willits-settles-suit-with-former-police-chief-who-alleged-sexism-racism/
That seems a bit abrupt.
The short statement and almost no context makes it seem like a contentious decision.
The Willits PD has fought crime to a standstill. No more crimes in Willits! No need for the PD anymore.
Same as eureka, no crime here either.
So true! No need to lock doors on your house or vehicle. It’s so safe now! ? ?
How disappointing another qualified Police chief resigns.
Perhaps we could find some equally qualified City Managers!
Unfortunately, the current climate of blaming law enforcement for all the community ills leaves no room for reason. Beware Willits Community; stop calling 911 for your crisis, or better yet, call the City Management to solve your problems! I’m sure they respond appropriately…
A great loss to the city and the few good officers that are left. Meanwhile people like Sgt Gray are left running around assaulting old men for breaking a tree branch. Harassing citizens, throwing temper tantrums and hanging out with teenagers at gas stations and Starbucks. Yea we all see you when you park on the side of the building.
Isn’t it crazy that the good ones get ran out and the the ones people complain about don’t have to leave? Isn’t this the same Sgt that was formed for making racial slurs? Or is this the one that harasses the homeless? Or is this the same guy?
Having the opportunity and the pleasure to be and Willits frequently these officers are a little out of control. I say a little, but I could say a lot. The way they run up and down Main Street driving two and three times the speed limit is a total disregard for “public safety” in the name of “public safety”. Funny thing is town is so small those small points of speed are they really going to make that much of a difference in a response? No, it’s the adrenaline rush. Last evening there was a massive response in the Safeway parking lot Willits, several sheriffs Highway Patrol, Willits police cars surrounding a gentleman and had him sitting on the hood. I think the interesting thing about traffic ticket responses the hyena effect. One starts we all jump in. If we could get past the hyena effect in policing we could really start making a difference.
Well you’re clearly so educated on everything that happens, what was the incident at Safeway you speak of that called for that response??? It’s also comical how people will say the cops were double or triple the speed limit with not training to back that up other than, trust me bro?…when you get to see the videos and yes they are speeding however not excessively. Read the vehicle code. As long as they drive with due regard, which I haven’t heard of a collision or anyone getting hurt, then they are, it’s legal…get a life Karen.
You’re so sweet and kind thank you for your compliments. Willits police were just involved in a crash not too long ago. I’ll see if I can find the story anybody else got it out there? Irratic driver hits officer attempting to stop vehicle. Really? There’s never been any crashes with officers before? Having the ability to think and communicate is a good thing. No one should be shamed or called a “Karen” for having a brain or caring to communicate. If we are going to have a better world we have to be able to talk about the issues we face, and not be horribly bullied when we do.
The article you’re talking about was an officer who had pulled someone over and was writing a ticket when a drunk driver crashed into his parked patrol car. Kinda had to laugh at that article. I mean if that’s not a hey I’m right here drinking and driving kinda thing I don’t know what is.
But to your hyena effect you are correct. If one cop pulls some one over then two or more show up. I don’t get it. I wish when we called them for harassing our dogs for barking at them at 2 in the morning they would show up just like that. Or when someone crashes through our fence cause they were speeding. We are lucky if they even show up.
The hyena effect that you’re calling it is a clear statement by someone who has no knowledge in law enforcement at all. It’s called back up. I can assure you the solution to things is not allowing officers back up. Many instances of back up officers observing guns and other safety concerns. There’s definitely issues with the whole system. But without knowledge into what actually goes on, claiming you know the way isn’t helping anyone. That’s one problem I see now. You don’t tell your plumber how to fix your sink. You don’t tell your dentist what teeth to pull so why do you think you should tell the police how to police? Multiple officers showing up isn’t uncommon at all. This is nationwide if the officers are lucky. A solo officer is far more likely to be assaulted than when there is two. And yes if they pull up and see grandma, there’s no reason to stay unless asked. But to make baseless claims without ever having been in the position only proves you to be a keyboard warrior. I have 100% seen more cops than necessary at calls in Willits, but I’ve also seen one guy handling way more than he should alone.
That Safeway incident was for a felony domestic violence suspect that attempted to flee and fought with the officers. That “hyena effect” you talk about is for safety cause lord knows if they had shot his dumb ass, you’d be complaining about “why weren’t there more officers there to just go hands on?” Everyone with zero experience in or knowledge about law enforcement seem to have the most to say about their tactics.
And Sgt Gray has entered the chat ^ lmao
I get what you’re saying. Buuuut I have seen them do the “hyena effect” on little old people. Do you really think granny has a gun?? They know everything about you once they run your registration. They know if you are a problem or not. So it is a little excessive at times when they pull people over.
Live in a rural area and you can’t get one to even show up until day light.
But stand up and protect what’s yours and you go to jail. Willits needs help!
Seen similar in Eureka; three separate incidents none of the women knew each other : 2 women of small stature on two separate occasions one of which 3 cops descended on her though she was obviously not armed nor hurting herself nor anone else…she had jay walked and yelled at a car. Another woman on another day sitting on a curb softly crying and a cop pulls up and pulls her by her hair into the car,…neighbors who witnessed complained. An elderly woman in her own back yard had a reaction to prednisone and cops angry about something else did not even test her and assumed she was intoxicated though not yelling, swearing, not throwing things nor treating herself nor anyone else and zero criminal record nor drug or alcohol issues..she was quietly walking up the stairs to her apartment when a neighbor called concerned because the elderly woman had knocked on her door. Also saw a cop berate a man in a wheel chair who had no legs, a veteran, and who was intoxicated and peed on a tree which i didnt’ like and in all fairness all the restrooms were closed and no matter there was no need to tell the man he is a “Piece of shit” etc like the cop did. They are out of control.
Oh my goodness I guess you must be a fairly new commenter to the thread. I will clarify something very clearly I will not speak about which I do not directly know. Don’t like to do that “talk out of the neck” stuff that people say. If I do not have experience about it I will not speak about it. So if I’m speaking about it something’s come down somewhere. Felony domestic violence whatever he still went to jail didn’t need a bunch of cops to take him to jail he was sitting handcuffed on the hood of the car with all the cops standing around the parking lot chatting long after detainment and containment occured.
So I’m confused, if one officer pulls him over and he’s trying to fight with him, I think we can all agree they want help. But after it calms down, sure you will see some leave and some stay to talk, much like how people needlessly talk in the grocery line. If there’s more cops than there’s needs to be, is it really your concern? How many of those officers actually took action vs showed up to assist and were not needed? If the call needs two and it evolves into needing four does that mean it sucks for the two guys there because MendoMomma doesn’t want more cops showing up or it will ruffle her feathers? Sounds like you should either do the job yourself since your so knowledgeable or stop critiquing people you know nothing about…also the suspect you talk about on the hood wasn’t the person arrested, if you did actually witness it like you claim, you would see the guy seated at the bumper, not on the hood was released. The cops had already arrested the violent drug addict trying to fight them and were investigating what crime was reported vs what actually occurred…
Policing efficiency is there such a thing? Departments everywhere not just Willits struggling with staffing. Budgets busted. Yet if more efficiency was considered more money could be allocated to well…policing. QCI. continuous quality improvement. All entities are business at the end of the day. Must seek, adapt, change as the world does or fail. A “violent” drug addict trying to fight em. Back off. Give em some space. Watch. Call the mental health crisis staff. Officers with an easy “hyena” switch are a concerning issue. Departments run by a hyena packs =lawsuits.
Of course the really big kicker in it all someday that “violent drug offender” you’re called to assist may be your coworker. We’ve seen that often times before in Mendocino County Law Enforcement. Yes… they struggle too, not immune. ODs, Suicides, rapes, selling drugs, stealing, lying, bulling, wrongful death lawsuits Ummm yeah. Ignorance is bliss ehhh?
The problem is that officers report this and nothing happens. No changes, no nothing. That’s why you’re seeing more lawsuits coming out where cops are shining the cities. Officers have tried to step up and fix the issues and get beaten back down by people who thing a title makes them untouchable. They need help too.
Straight lies
Native1one..see my comment above. You are absolutely correct about Sgt Gray. We better watch over our kids in this town! He’s a bad dude! Even the elderly need protection from him! Willits is doomed!
Closer than you think . .you are absolutely right! The legit ones that speak up are disposed of. The city manager and all representatives are allowing the corruption and covering the disgusting behavior of the department. And when I say the department, it really comes down to one toxic seed in the department! The city doesn’t want any legit officer/Sgt to speak up and create waves that prove the corruption going on so they get rid of those ones. The chief has no say. It’s a fact. Funny that one of our officers was let’s just say for giggles, just quit the other day. The chief “resigns” and now a Sgt just got fired last night. But Sgt Gray is still with the department! The Sgt that is racist, a bully, a pedophile, an elderly assaulting Sgt is the one that gets to stay?? It’s getting real scary in this town!
Mental health and drug abuse are not the same thing..they are often intertwined however are very different issues. Mental health in the county coming to a scene? Probably not. Challenging the police to fight, a crime, for crimes you go to jail. Go to court once and watch the defendants beg to be let out, they will do so good, stay off drugs, keep on meds, go to mental health. The bleeding heart liberals say okay, do better, they might get out and do good for a week, then right back. Not all but most.
The budget for mental health crisis services is minimum 7 figures. Where is this money spent? Are ALL officers trained in mental health support county wide? No. Is there adequate supports? No. Example…mental health clients are REALLY TOUGH. Hard to get em engaged consistently. The majority of services have rules and limits, kick people out of services for write ups or infractions. Yet, HELLO they are mental health clients. They churn through services due to the lack of acknowledging this FACT. They will struggle. Healing takes time…if it ever occurs. Blowing out, running away, using substances are all avoidance skills. Fing up. Trying to get out of expectations is to be expected if you know ANYTHING about mental health. Bad days, good days, everything in-between. Its life. Some struggle more than others. We need to spend our mental health funding where it is seen. To better our responses and communities. Where are the crisis van(s) they were looking in to a while back?
Don’t give me that BS
Clean Up this department. Pedo cops hanging out at Safeway parking lot with young teen girls. Officers who sit in hidden spots on their cell phones all day long, cops who wear cowboy hats and act like boss hog all summer long, cops who routinely target and harass local homeowners and long time community involved neighbors. The list goes on and on, then the Sexual Assaults on other officers that occur at Willits PD. No chain of command to evidence room where drugs and money and key evidence is stored. When everyone is corrupt nobody snitches on each other cause everyone has dirt on everyone. Then the whole Derek Henry sexual misconduct and accused rapes by local women…. Sexual and racial harassment… On and on. Real proud city council and City Manager
EPD not so great either and Fortuna I hear also “Like a gang”
Soooooo a pheno ? Can hang out with Minors???? Wtf ????
I am sorry see the Willits Police Chief Fabian Lizarraga heading into “R&R” (retirement), but I guess after 40 years of law enforcement he is just completely burned out. I wish him nothing but the very best in his future endeavors.
Agreed burnt out. Came out alive. Still able to enjoy. 40 years a lot has changed. A lot has not. Not all are so lucky. Enjoy your well deserved retirement chief!