Santa Monica to settle child sex abuse cases
City Council approves $42.6-million payout in suits alleging lewd acts with teenage boys by a police volunteer.
For decades, Eric Uller served as the Santa Monica Police Department’s technology wizard, overseeing street cameras, creating crime maps and advancing its computers. But many knew him better as an everpresent volunteer in the Police Activities League beginning in the 1980s, helping young boys in the predominantly Latino Pico area. He would give kids rides in his unmarked police car.
But two years ago, Los Angeles County Special Victims Unit detectives arrested Uller on suspicion of lewd acts with teenage boys. Uller died by suicide in November 2018 after being charged with molesting four boys. More victims came forward and the number rose to 23, with cases dating from 1989.
On Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council agreed to pay those victims $42.6 million to resolve the ensuing sexual abuse lawsuits that were filed against the city. The settlement also resolves a claim by a woman that she was abused by another PAL volunteer.
A judge will decide how much each of Uller’s alleged victims will receive.
“These are lifelong neighbors and dear friends. To these men, thank you for being brave and coming forward, not only for yourself but for standing up for others,” Councilwoman Ana Maria Jara said after the vote. “Our community and this council walks with you on this journey toward healing and justice. Please know that your community will continue to grow stronger and bind us together with the purpose of ensuring this never happens again.”
Uller’s position with the city and his role as a volunteer with the PAL — a nonprofit operated by the city — gave him access to teenage boys. Authorities allege he molested them in his car, and sometimes under the guise of taking them for medical exams at his father’s medical office. He sexually assaulted one boy for years in the 1980s and 1990s, authorities alleged.
“The Police Department and city had repeated warnings and reports of his horrendous behavior,” said David Ring, one of several attorneys representing the victims. “Uller as authority figure preyed on the most vulnerable young Latino boys.”
Several former city employees told Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives investigating the allegations that they reported Uller’s misconduct to their bosses, and one even described him as being able to use a police car with the knowledge of top officials.
Uller’s former boss, retired Lt. Greg Slaughter, told detectives he witnessed Uller driving young boys “all over town” and reported it to his bosses. Slaughter also told detectives that an investigation launched after child pornography was found on a Police Department communications center screen “led to Eric Uller,” the report said.
The failure to take action against Uller earlier has spurred outrage in the community.
The investigation has also renewed an enduring question over how Santa Monica, a liberal bastion of wealth, treats its less-privileged residents.
School board member Oscar de la Torre, in an opinion piece in the Santa Monica Daily Press, accused the city of ignoring reports and rumors about Uller for years.