In Novemeber of 2009 Petaluma Police Officer Clay Begrin took individual portraits of the personnel at the Petaluma Police Department

Fired lieutenant vows to clear name

Recently fired Petaluma Police Lt. Dave Sears said this week that he'll fight to clear his name of what he called the "false charges" against him that led to his dismissal last Thursday.

"I've worked way too hard to build a reputation of integrity to let them trash me this way," said Sears. On the advice of his attorney, Sears would not reveal why the department had fired him, but said he would pursue every legal remedy at his disposal.

Assistant City Manager Scott Brodhun said Tuesday that the city cannot comment on personnel matters. The Petaluma Police Department spokesperson and Police Chief Patrick Williams did not return multiple requests for comment on the matter. City Council members interviewed this week said that they remained unaware of why Sears was fired and did not comment further.

Sears was originally placed on administrative leave on June 13, stemming from a department complaint that originated last summer - shortly before current Police Chief Patrick Williams took over for then-interim Police Chief Lt. Dan Fish. The city and police department have refused to say who filed the complaint, citing personnel and privacy matters.

Earlier this month, a hearing to allow Sears to respond to the allegations against him - commonly referred to as a Skelly hearing - was held with Fire Chief Larry Anderson acting as the hearing administrator. Anderson could not comment on the outcome of the proceedings since they pertained to personnel matters.

During his 10-week leave, Sears says he was required to remain at home Monday through Thursday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. with a break for lunch. He received approximately $25,000 in salary in that time.

Then, on Aug. 22 at 4 p.m., just an hour before City Manager John Brown left for Spain on a six-week sabbatical, he called Sears into his office and fired him, Sears said.

"I'm disappointed that it's come to this," said Sears this week. "But I'm working with my attorney to appeal this through the proper channels. I have to believe in the process and I'm sure that when everything is said and done, I'll be exonerated."

Sears worked with the Petaluma Police Department for 14 years. He was hired in 1999 as a lieutenant after spending 12 years with the Benicia Police Department. He was eventually promoted to police captain before the city removed the department's two captain positions from the city budget in 2011 at the recommendation of then-interim chief Dan Fish.

Sears was subsequently demoted to the rank and salary of lieutenant. Sears later considered filing a lawsuit against the city for his demotion, but eventually decided against it. After the city hired current Police Chief Patrick Williams last year, Fish was also demoted to lieutenant.

During his tenure with the Petaluma Police Department, Sears participated in the Petaluma Kiwanis Club and served on the Petaluma Youth Network and the Sonoma County Housing Land Trust. He's also on the board of directors for the Healthy Community Consortium. His recent firing has surprised many community members, who say he was a trusted community member.

"Obviously, I don't know the specifics, but I'm very irritated with the way the city has handled this," said former Petaluma Parks and Recreation Director Jim Carr, who worked for the city for 16 years, spent 34 years in the public sector, and has worked with Sears both in a professional capacity and through the Kiwanis Club. "I'm pretty angry that some of the information was made public on the internal investigation. It's a personnel issue and all this has done is destroy the reputation of someone I hold in high esteem. In my 24 years working for the public, this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this."

While admitting that he had no knowledge of the reasons for Sears' firing, Carr said he has always found Sears to be a very honest person.

Former City Councilmember, County Supervisor and Petaluma Police sergeant Mike Kerns said that he has known Sears for quite some time and considers him a friend. He was surprised to hear that Sears had been fired.

"My experience in knowing Dave (Sears) is that he's always been a straight-shooter and a good person," said Kerns. "I don't have any knowledge of the details of what happened, but it surprised me."

When asked whether or not the department would be replacing Sears, Brodhun could not say on Tuesday.

(Contact Janelle Wetzstein at janelle.wetzstein@arguscourier.com)

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