Former UPD sergeant charged

Kevin Murray accused of additional sex crimes

Former Ukiah Police Sergeant Kevin P. Murray was booked into Mendocino County Jail again this week after new charges were filed against him in connection to additional sex crimes that allegedly occurred in 2014.

According to the complaint filed by the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office on Feb. 22, Murray, 37, is being charged with two additional felonies, the first being one count of forcible rape in connection with an incident that occurred some time between June 1 and July 31 of 2014.

“(Murray) did willfully and lawfully accomplish an act of sexual violence with a person (identified only as Jane Doe) … against said person’s will, by means of force, violence, duress, menace and/or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury.” A special allegation related to the first count is that Murray was armed with a firearm during the offense.”

The second count is a charge of forcible copulation, also a felony, which is alleged to have occurred on April 10, 2014.

The charging documents also note that Murray must submit to “a blood test for evidence of antibodies to the probable causative agent of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS),” and that if convicted of either of these offenses, he will be required to register as a sex offender.

Murray was previously arrested in late January after Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster filed charges accusing him of five criminal counts including first-degree burglary, sexual battery and possession of methamphetamine in connection with an incident at the Super 8

Motel on South Orchard Avenue on Nov. 25, 2020.

According to the criminal complaint, Murray is charged with two counts of burglary for allegedly entering a motel room occupied by an unidentified woman at least twice, then also committing sexual battery and intimidating or threatening her. The fifth count is illegal possession of methamphetamine.

When asked about the arrest warrant, UPD Chief Justin Wyatt issued a statement: “The Ukiah Police Department is aware of a pending criminal case against Kevin Murray, who has served as a sergeant with the Ukiah Police Department. Mr. Murray has been on administrative leave since Dec. 1.

“The city of Ukiah and the Ukiah Police Department have supported and cooperated with the criminal investigation since the onset and the city is conducting its own administrative review.

“The Ukiah Police Department and city of Ukiah take seriously and follow proper protocols regarding complaints against officers, internal investigations into possible misconduct, and the law governing personnel matters.”

Days afterward, Wyatt announced that Murray had been fired.

“The law enforcement profession depends on integrity, so there is no room in public service, and there must be no tolerance, for the behavior that was portrayed that evening,” Wyatt continued. “As your police chief, let me say: the department joins with the community in the rejection of this behavior, and the shock and disappointment felt about this. I would like to remind the community that this individual’s actions are absolutely not a reflection of the hard-working men and women of the Ukiah Police Department. We remain committed to this community and to providing the highest level of law enforcement services.”

Murray is scheduled to appear in Mendocino County Superior Court on March 4.