PD officer is latest to be placed on leave
SAN JOSE >> A San Jose Police Department officer placed on administrative leave was accused of masturbating inside a family's home while on duty, a source tells the Bay Area News Group.
The allegation is the latest black mark for San Jose police, who confirmed last week that another officer was being investigated for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol during the search for a kidnapped child.
The details of the sexual misconduct allegation were first reported by NBC Bay Area. A source familiar with the investigation told the Bay Area News Group that in late April, an officer was on an unspecified call for service in San Jose when he stepped away from a group inside a home and began to masturbate.
One of the residents speaking to police spotted the officer, and other police detained him, the source said.
San Jose police confirmed that the investigation was the same case referred to by Assistant Chief Paul Joseph during a Tuesday press conference.
Joseph said Tuesday that the officer had been placed on administrative leave. The investigation is ongoing and the department said it will coordinate with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office on any potential criminal charges.
Chief of Police Anthony Mata condemned the allegations in a Friday statement and said the department would share what it can regarding the incident but that information may be “limited” during the investigation. Mata didn't reveal any details of the allegation or the cause of the original service call.
“I would like to propose changes to the disciplinary process that will allow me to speak openly with the public about cases where I believe termination is the only option,” Mata said. “If true, any conduct similar to what has been alleged will result in termination as quickly as the system allows me to do so. It will also include criminal prosecution and decertification as a Police Officer.”
Sean Pritchard, president of the San Jose Police Officers Association, said in a statement: “I am absolutely disgusted by this repugnant allegation that damages the reputation of our profession and department, where 99% of SJPD police officers serve honorably every single day.”
“If this is true, the individual must be held accountable and he should never be allowed to be a police officer ever again,” he continued. “Our department must take a hard look at our recruiting standards and backgrounding process to weed out people like this from ever donning the uniform.”
The news comes after multiple controversies surrounding the San Jose Police Department in recent weeks. On Saturday, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that officer De'Jon Packer, who was found dead in his Milpitas home on March 13, died from a fentanyl overdose.
Mayor Sam Liccardo also called for universal drug and alcohol testing for all police officers last week while responding to the allegation of an officer under the influence of alcohol while on duty. That officer also is on paid administrative leave, officials said; the allegation could result in termination and criminal charges for the officer if it is found to be true.
A source familiar with the incident told the Bay Area News Group that the officer had a blood alcohol level of 0.139 — nearly twice the legal limit. The officer was reported by an FBI agent, who was working with the officer that day.