Abbreviation RPD Employees 143 | Formed November 17, 1911 | |
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Operations jurisdiction* City of Rialto in the state of California, USA Size 28 square miles (73 km) | ||
The Rialto Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Rialto, in San Bernardino County, California. It offers services including patrol, K-9 unit and school resource officers. It was founded on November 17, 1911.
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Controversies
In 2005, police chief Michael Meyers resigned after members of the police union had taken a vote of no-confidence in him and his deputy, Arthur Burgess.
The department was almost disbanded in early 2007 when the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department was asked to provide a contract for police services.
In 2010, an employee of the Spearmint Rhino gentlemen's club filed a claim for $500,000 against the city of Rialto alleging that Rialto police officers had, while on-duty and off-duty, engaged in sexual relations with strip club employees at the Rialto Police Union hall. The suit alleged that at times group sex between Rialto cops and Spearmint Rhino employees occurred at the union hall. The plaintiff alleged that she was physically and verbally harassed by a former Rialto police officer when she learned that he had impregnated her. Two officers resigned from the department in the wake of the scandal
In 2011, Rialto police shot and killed a man who had been charging them with a brick. Also in 2011, a Rialto policeman was indicted on federal bribery charges for accepting a $2500 bribe. He was charged along with an Orange County lawyer for falsely claiming that a witness had "provided substantial assistance" to the DEA.
In May 2012, a police officer was charged for engaging in sex with an underage female.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Rialto Police Department, three officers have died while on duty.
Rialto Police Department, CaliforniaOfficer Sergio Carrera Rialto Police Department EOW: Thursday, October 18, 2007 Cause: Gunfire
Rialto Police Department, CaliforniaSergeant Gary W. Wolfley Rialto Police Department EOW: Monday, March 3, 1986 Cause: Gunfire
Rialto Police Department, CaliforniaSergeant Darrell Keith Lee Rialto Police Department EOW: Friday, July 24, 1970 Cause: Assault