UPDATE:
On Wednesday, Oakland police issued another statement to KRON.
The Oakland Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division initiated an internal investigation regarding allegations of sexual misconduct involving Oakland police officers.
As the result of the ongoing investigation, three Oakland police officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.
As a public safety agency charged with protecting our community along with upholding and enforcing the law, the Oakland Police Department takes all allegations of misconduct involving our employees seriously. Ensuring internal investigations are swift, fair, and objective is our priority.
The Oakland Police Department will not tolerate misconduct of any kind from its employees. The Oakland Police Department holds all employees accountable for their actions on and off duty.
BREAKING NEWS: OPD now says 3-officers are being investigated for alleged sexual misconduct @kron4news
– Haaziq Madyun (@KRON4HMadyun) May 12, 2016
OAKLAND (KRON) — KRON4 News has uncovered alleged sexual misconduct involving an underage girl and Oakland police officers.
Two Oakland police officers have been placed on administrative leave, and as many four additional officers may also be involved, in what multiple sources tell KRON is an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor.
Sources say the alleged sexual misconduct involves the daughter of a civilian employee who works with the police department. The investigation reportedly dates back to October 2015.
KRON went to the Oakland Police Department headquarters to speak to OPD Chief Sean Whent about this case but instead got this written response:
“As a matter of policy, the Oakland Police Department does not comment on active internal affairs investigations. The Oakland Police Department takes all allegations of misconduct of our employees very seriously, ensuring internal investigations are swift, fair, and objective is our policy.”
No one at OPD headquarters would talk on camera.
“If there is any truth to the allegation, it is completely disturbing and alarming,” Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo said.
Gallo said he is troubled with the police department’s lack of transparency.
“That is what the citizens are asking for, you know, I don’t have to read about it in the newspapers or hear it down the line in terms of what happens, who did what to whom,” Gallo said. “Right now, what we do lack in Oakland is public trust, specifically to our police department and certainly that’s not going to help the issue.”
He said this incident, and the handling of it, is a step back for Whent. Gallo said Whent was hired as someone who would improve the culture inside the Oakland Police Department.
“I think he needs to come out,” Gallo said. “He is the leader of the department. At the end of the day, everything begins and ends at his office. And so, we need to take accountability. We need to be transparent with the public, but most of all, we need to come and say we are not going to tolerate that behavior. We are not going to tolerate that action. And if you do, then you’re going to be fired.”
An officer being placed on administrative leave is not something that happens every day. Typically, officers are placed on administrative leave when there is an officer-involved shooting, or if an initial investigation reveals something such as domestic violence, theft, or in this case, sexual abuse.
Sources tell KRON that this current case of sexual misconduct was discovered during an investigation into another matter.
These are serious allegations. According to state law, internal affairs has up to a year to reach a determination.
KRON is trying to verify with Oakland police whether or not a criminal investigation exists regarding this matter as well.