MICHAEL D. SCHWARTZ, ESQ. Attorney Rains Lucia Stern, PC Digital audio recorders (DARs), dash cams, body-worn cameras and city cameras are currently, or in the near future will be, standard equipment for every peace officer in every jurisdiction. Conversely, cellphones with digital video cameras, digital handheld camcorders, and all forms […]
ALISON BERRY WILKINSON Principal Attorney Berry Wilkinson Law Group I share something in common with San Joaquin Sheriff’s Sergeant William “Billy” Mitchell: Our involvement in his termination appeal began with a simple and all-too-typical phone call. The phone call to me was made by the Legal Defense Fund, started with […]
ANDREW M. DAWSON Partner DAWSON & RILEY, LLP Many have heard that if a department wants to get rid of an officer, it will drum up anything to do so. This case is a perfect example of a department doing just that — removing an officer that it wanted out […]
FRED ROWBOTHAM LDF Chairman One of the important duties vested with the Board of Trustees is that each year, after hearing from our highly experienced professional staff, we must evaluate rates for the coming year. This is somewhat of a balancing act. We want to collect enough money to cover […]
BILL HADDEN Partner Silver, Hadden, Silver & Levine It was about 7:30 p.m. on the night of December 16, 2011. It was a cool but clear evening, with no precipitation. Kern County Deputy John Swearengin was sitting in the parking lot of a church in the Oildale area of Bakersfield […]