HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdministrative Leave Notification_Etherton Notice of InvestigationCONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM
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To: Blake Etherton
Officer
From: Jeff Smith
Interim Chief of Police
Date: December 8th, 2020
Re: Paid Administrative Leave Order
Internal Affairs Investigations FN2020-0025
This memorandum will serve as an official notification that you are, hereby, placed on
paid Administrative Leave immediately until the conclusion of an Administrative
Investigations or until you receive further direction from Acting Captain Mickel of the
San Luis Obispo Police Department's Administrative Services Division. The
investigation is regarding allegations you have poor decision -making skills and take
unnecessary risks when using force that place the public and your partners in peril.
The following conditions will apply during your suspension:
• You are relieved of any and all peace officer powers and duties. You are
prohibited from performing any peace officer functions on behalf of the City of
San Luis Obispo Police Department or representing to any person that you are acting
as a San Luis Obispo Police Officer.
• You are not allowed to access City computers, email or other work -related
hardware, software or data bases unless authorized by the Acting Administrative
Captain.
• You will make yourself available for interviews and/or other investigative purposes
when requested by members of the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
• While on administrative leave, you must provide the Acting Administrative
Captain with a telephone number _ _where you can be
reached between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays. You shall be
available for telephone contact during these hours. If there is a reason you
cannot be available by telephone during these workin , hours, you must contact The
Acting Administrative Captain at to make appropriate
arrangements.
• You are ordered to cooperate fully in the administrative investigation and to be
completely truthful.
CONFIDENTIAL
, MEMORANDUM
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• Your San Luis Obispo Police identification, any San Luis Obispo Police badges,
departmental keys, City issued weapons, and any other property determined necessary
are to be turned into the Acting Administrative Captain.
• Until further notice, while on administrative leave, you are not authorized to be on
the premises of the San Luis Obispo Police Department site, or any offices or
locations controlled by the Police Department, City or at any City -sponsored
meetings or events, unless authorized in advance by the Acting Administrative
Captain. Nothing herein is intended to infringe upon your right to representation and
your ability to fully participate in association activities.
• You will not discuss this investigation with anyone associated with the San Luis
Obispo Police Department other than your union representative and/or attorney or the
investigators assigned.
• Disobedience of these orders will be considered insubordination and may lead to
disciplinary action up to and including termination.
WARNING AGAINST RETALIATION
This provision is to notify you that it is illegal and inappropriate to retaliate against any
person who has participated in complaining or providing information regarding
allegations of inappropriate or inaccurate public statements regarding Departmental
handling of sexual assault complaints. You may not attempt to coerce, intimidate,
influence any involved party, or in any other manner retaliate against any individual who
has provided information to the City of San Luis Obispo regarding your conduct.
I, , have read the above and will comply accordingly.
BL A K&- er14A -ram
Officer Blake Etherton
Jeff Smith
Interim Chief of Police
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Date
December 8, 2020
Date
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CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM
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Collection of City Property
• As part of the conditions of the suspension the following City Property shall be turned
into the Administrative Section Captain and kept until your return date.
On 12/08/2020, Acting Captain Mickel collected the following city property from Officer
Blake Etherton.
VDutyWeapon: <-' o L- T o� 87 B 8
K Chest Badge: 0�- /O
❑ Flat Badge: ypweL
I.D. Card:
Keys:
,( Toughbook:
Other:(please list) (>o RTA 4-t-f, / ram
Investigative File No FN2020-0025
Date: 12/08/2020
Cite/Case #: N/A
CLETS: ❑Yes NNo
SAN LUIS OBISPO POLICE DEPARTMENT
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
SOURCE OF ALLEGATION: ❑ Citizen N Department ❑ Other Agency
EMPLOYEE'S NAME:
EMPLOYEE #
DIVISION
PHONE NO.
SEX:
Blake Etherton
Patrol
NMALE
❑FEMALE
DATE REPORTED 11/19/2020
TIME REPORTED 1100
ALLEGATION RECEIVED BY: Amoroso
EMPLOYEE #
DIVISION: Patrol
NATURE OF ALLEGATION:
Officer Etherton displayed poor decision -making skills and took unnecessary risks when using lethal force that placed Officers in peril during
a SWAT callout. Officer Etherton has received prior counseling related to using de-escalation tactics, but has continued to show poor
judgment in these situations.
To ensure a full, fair and effective investigation in this matter, during the pendency of the investigation, you are directed not to
discuss this investigation or its subject matter with anyone other than the investigator, your union representatives and/ or legal
counsel. This order shall automatically be lifted at the conclusion of the investigation, when the need for accurate collection of
information from individuals involved in or who witnessed events and to prevent the fabrication of testimony will abate.
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Date 12/8/2020 Employee's Signature Notifying Person's Signature,
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