Crime & Safety
Petaluma Officials Remain Mum on Sears Probe
The police lieutenant remains on administrative leave.
Petaluma Police Lt. Dave Sears remains on administrative leave as he awaits the findings of an internal probe that nobody's talking about, the Petaluma Argus-Courier reports.
Sears was placed on paid administrative leave about six weeks ago as a result of an unspecified complaint.
It is not clear if the complaint was initiated from within the Petaluma Police Department or from the public.
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Police Chief Patrick Williams and Sears himself declined interview requests on the pending matter from the Argus-Courier. City Manager John Brown confirmed that Sears remains on leave would declined to share any substantive details of the probe with the Petaluma publication.
Sears was hired by the Petaluma Police Department in 1999 after serving 12 years on the Benecia force. He has worked in patrol, criminal investigations, SWAT, Field Training Program, and Administrative Services.
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His current responsibilities as Administrative Services Lieutenant includes supervising the Communication Center and Records Department. He is also responsible for the police budget and evaluating claims and risk management.
Sears was a former captain and a candidate to succeed former Chief Steve Hood after his 2009 retirement. He was demoted to lieutenant in a move that cost him $35,000 in annual salary.