Recently, CalMatters published an article that attempted to cast doubt on my record as a reserve police officer in Maywood, California, a position I held proudly 35 years ago. I feel compelled to respond to set the record straight and address misleading insinuations made about my integrity and service in this hit piece.
First and foremost, I have never hidden the fact that I was a reserve police officer. I explicitly shared with the reporter an article from years ago where I openly discussed my simultaneous roles as a small business owner and reserve police officer. Additionally, I provided multiple examples demonstrating that my work in law enforcement has always been public knowledge. Any suggestion that I’ve been anything other than forthcoming about this aspect of my life is simply false.
Let me be clear: when I served the community of Maywood, I wore a uniform and a badge, and carried a gun. I graduated from the police academy just like every other officer, and when I patrolled the streets, my status as a reserve officer did not diminish the risks I faced or my commitment to public safety. Every day I put on that uniform, I risked my life to serve my community, just as my full-time colleagues did.
The article also misleadingly questions my partnership with Officer John Hoglund. In policing, if you ride together, that is your partner. I rode with John Hoglund and he served as an invaluable mentor to me and many others. He was tragically killed, an event that remains one of the most devastating experiences of my life.
Moreover, the reporter informed me directly that he believes one of the officers he spoke with who allegedly contradicted my partnership with Hoglund is now suffering from dementia—and another officer who he did not name said he never remembered me working there. A fact curiously and conveniently omitted from the published piece. It is beyond comprehension why the article chose to lend more credibility to the recollections of a man allegedly suffering from dementia over my own experiences, regarding a job I held over three decades ago.
Additionally, the piece contradicts itself by mentioning that the late great Congressman Mervyn Dymally referred to me as Hoglund’s partner in a speech on the floor of the U.S. House shortly after Hoglund’s death in 1992.
Another baffling claim suggests I wasn’t a legitimate part of the team because I didn’t socialize by drinking with fellow officers. The truth is simple and straightforward: at that point in my life, I had never consumed alcohol, so naturally, I did not frequent bars.
It is unfair, and frankly absurd, to be criticized for not having a perfect memory of every detail or nickname from 35 years ago. I challenge anyone reading this to recall every close friend or coworker’s nickname from that far back. This is not journalism; it is a disingenuous attempt to undermine my character much like when JD Vance and MAGA Republicans shamefully attacked Governor Tim Walz by attempting to dismiss his National Guard service simply due to that service being in the reserves.
Lastly, and most importantly, my experiences in law enforcement, particularly the loss of John Hoglund, profoundly shaped my passion for gun violence prevention. That tragedy galvanized me to champion groundbreaking legislation against gun violence, including laws strengthening background checks and restricting the spread of dangerous 3-D printed “ghost guns.” To diminish my relationship with John Hoglund and the deeply personal impact his death had on me, simply because of imprecise language, is out of line.
The intentions behind this hit piece are transparent. The author and his sources seek to undermine my credibility as I pursue policy changes that will keep our communities safe. Californians deserve better than attempts to tarnish public servants through selective omissions and misleading innuendos. My record, my service, and my motivations remain clear and unwavering, driven by a lifelong commitment to public safety and justice.
It was an honor for me to serve the city of Maywood as a sworn peace officer. I will continue to hold my head up high for the work and the opportunity that I had to serve that city. And no article or reporter will take away that privilege and blessing that I had.
During my time on patrol, I rode with everyone except the chief of police and the captain and lieutenant.
To put on the uniform and the badge and everything that went with that job means something, and if you have experienced it before, you know that nobody you pass cares what classification of officer you are – they know that when that uniform is on, it’s your job to keep them safe.
