Walnut Creek interim police chief named

By Elisabeth Nardi
Contra Costa Times

Posted:   05/10/2013 11:00:08 AM PDT

Updated:   05/10/2013 11:00:08 AM PDT

WALNUT CREEK -- City Manager Ken Nordhoff has named longtime Capt. Steve Skinner to become acting police chief upon Joel Bryden's retirement in two weeks.

Skinner's chief job is effective May 24. Skinner, a 25-year Walnut Creek police veteran, will serve until a new chief is in place. Interviews for the chief position took place in March and April after panel interviews and a preferred candidate has been identified, Nordhoff said.
Before coming to Walnut Creek, Skinner worked for the Washoe County Sheriff's Office in Reno while attending University of Nevada, Reno, where he got his bachelor's degree. He also has a master's degree from Cal State Hayward and has a total of 28 years of law enforcement experience.
Skinner grew up in Contra Costa County, attending Miramonte High School in Orinda He has been a police captain for three years, had been a lieutenant for 10 years and before that was sergeant and an officer/detective, all in Walnut Creek.

"I am very honored and excited to be given the opportunity to help transition our police department into the next generation of leadership and I am looking forward to working with both members of our department and the community as we move the (department) into the future," Skinner said in an e-mail.
He takes the reins from Bryden, who has been the city's police chief since June 2008. Bryden leaves with exactly five years on the job in Walnut Creek. He gave about six months notice, letting city officials know in December of his plans to retire.

Before coming to Walnut Creek, Bryden had been assistant police chief in San Diego, where he worked for 28 years, starting as a patrol officer. Bryden has been chief during some of the worst city budget cuts in the city's history, which caused fewer officers and led to the ending of school resource and motorcycle traffic officers.

Last month, Bryden said the department was on track to have around five new officers joining the ranks by the end of year. Bryden retires with a salary around $200,000 a year.

Contact Elisabeth Nardi at 925-952-2617. Follow her at Twitter.com/enardi10.

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Inmate Norman Wielsch

Disgraced former Contra Costa drug cop apologizes for 'tarnishing the badge'

By Katie Nelson

Contra Costa Times

Posted:   05/09/2013 06:22:47 PM PDT

Updated:   05/09/2013 06:22:48 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Former Contra Costa Narcotics Enforcement Team Commander, Norman Wielsch,... ( JIM STEVENS

MARTINEZ -- Disgraced former police officer Norman Wielsch apologized to a federal court Wednesday, saying just days before he'll be sentenced for conspiring to sell seized drugs that he had "tarnish(ed) the badge."

Wielsch, the former head of the Central Contra Costa Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), pleaded guilty in December to charges that he had sold drugs that had been seized by CNET agents, robbed prostitutes and made phony arrests.
Wielsch, who is scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge May 20, said in his apology note that he resisted help from doctors and family for treatment of depression and post-traumatic stress. He said he was hesitant because of a belief among some law enforcement officers that admitting weakness means an officer cannot adequately perform his duties.
"I was a big macho cop," he said in the note. "I didn't need help."
But Wielsch admitted he was wrong, and that his destructive behavior has hurt many. He said while he gave 24 years of honest work, he realized he had made gross errors in judgment.
"I have seen things and been through things that would make a normal person go crazy after one incident," he said. "Please have mercy on me."
Federal sentencing guidelines call for between 14 and 17.5 years in federal prison. Wielsch's attorney, Michael Cardoza, has previously said that he's forbidden from arguing for fewer than 10 years.
Former Concord private investigator Christopher

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Butler, who was also implicated in the criminal scheme, pleaded guilty last year to seven felony counts covering methamphetamine and marijuana distribution, theft, conspiracy, extortion, robbery and illegal wiretapping. He was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.Former CNET agent and San Ramon police officer Louis Lombardi, 40, of Discovery Bay, pleaded guilty to stealing drugs in the case and was sentenced to three years in prison. Former Danville officer Stephen Tanabe, 48, of Alamo, is awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with Butler to set up the estranged husbands of Butler's private investigation firm clients for DUI arrests.

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OBIT: David Kristopher Schafer

Job Title: Bouncer
Location: Round Up Lafayette CA
Accident: Solo Motorcycle accident, no witness 

On the night of his death he was at Round Up.  We often chatted between songs when I would sing Karaoke.  That night we chatted - nothing important but do remember him getting on his bike and 20 minutes later he was found deceased a few miles west of Round Up

David Kristopher Schafer

David Kristopher Schafer April 8, 1990 - August 2, 2012 Oakland, CA David Kristopher Schafer, age 22, died in a tragic motorcycle accident on Highway 24 in Orinda, CA. He is survived by his loving mother, Kristina (Tina) Fort of Oakland; devoted father and stepmother, Rudi and Kimberly Schafer of Oakland; paternal grandmother Hildegard Schafer of San Leandro; maternal grandmother Inez Fort of Oakland and many adoring aunts, uncles and cousins. In addition to family members, David leaves behind many close, loving friends who will miss him dearly. David graduated from Calaveras High School in June, 2008. During high school, he participated in Future Farmers of America and volunteered for the West Point Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad. After high school, David worked for his father, Rudi Schafer, at his construction company Schafer Construct-ion/Times Up Termite where he proved to be a skilled carpenter. From age 12, David volunteered for Christmas in April/Rebuilding Together, and later joined BAYEAST and PCOC. David lived at his grandmother's property in the Oakland Hills, where he constantly contributed to the significant work load and cared for the animals. David became a skilled welder, automotive mechanic and fixer of all things! David left us all too soon. His infectious smile, abundant energy and belief in the good we all possess was an inspiration. He chose a path of happiness and would want all his loved ones to follow suit. In honor of David, seek peace, happiness and forgiveness for yourself and your loved ones. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to David K. Schafer Memorial, write check to Rudi Schafer, 849 Wallavista Ave Oakland CA 94610. A foundation is being formed to honor David's memory that will support kids who find school challenging obtain access to trade skills as they launch into adulthood. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 17 @ 1pm at the Chapel of Chimes 4499 Piedmont Avenue Oakland, CA.

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CNET: Officer Lombardi

Date:

Former San Ramon Officer Gets Three Years in Prison for CNET Scandal

TAGX:CNET101

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CNET: Danville Officer Stephen Tanabe

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WCPD - Banta Shooting - another failure

My personal story leads into the Banta Shooting via events leading to the shooting.  My very strong opinion is the city could have taken my strong advice and made changes.  Instead months later I'm being setup while in custody by former Danville Deputies who placed a Berserker in my cell on March 30th 2012 - shortly after that after making a call to post bail my friend was murdered in Concord.  Of Course I filed a police report that my brakes were sabotaged a few days later.

Sorry Pete you can't have your police reports - we don't do them for attempted murder.   

Chronological Events

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CNET: Commander Norman Wielsch

Ex-narcotics squad commander pleads guilty to stealing and selling drug evidence, robbing prostitutes

By Malaika Fraley

Contra Costa Times

© Copyright 2012, Bay Area News Group

Posted:   12/05/2012 01:05:54 PM PST

Updated:   12/05/2012 04:39:52 PM PST

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_22130934/ex-narcotics-cop-pleads-guilty-stealing-drug-evidence

OAKLAND -- The ousted head of an elite Contra Costa County vice squad pleaded guilty to five felonies in federal court Wednesday, nearly two years after his state Department of Justice colleagues caught him selling stolen drug evidence.

Former Central Contra Costa Narcotics Enforcement (CNET) Cmdr. Norman Wielsch, 51, of Antioch, kissed his father before he stood in front of the judge and admitted to selling drugs that had been seized by CNET agents, robbing prostitutes and making phony arrests.

He was taken into custody after, in a barely audible tone, he said he was "guilty" of crimes dating back to 2009. His plea was part of a deal he made with federal prosecutors.

Wielsch, a law enforcement officer for 25 years, apologized for the shame he brought to the badge, and particularly the members of CNET, a Department of Justice operation that was shut down after Wielsch's arrest.

"We (at CNET) did a lot a lot of good things before I did all these stupid things," Wielsch said.

"Most of all, I want to say sorry to my dad, who I let down and brought disgrace to my family name," he said, breaking down in tears. "I'm very sorry."

A judge will decide how much prison time Wielsch receives at his sentencing hearing scheduled for Feb. 19.

The federal sentencing guidelines call for between 14 and 17.5 years in federal prison. Wielsch's attorney, Michael Cardoza, says he's forbidden from arguing for fewer than 10.

Wielsch

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pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, theft from programs receiving government funds, robbery, and two counts of conspiracy against civil rights. Another six felony charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Describing to the judge how he and former Concord private investigator Christopher Butler would make dates with prostitutes they found on the Internet and then rob them, Wielsch stopped himself and said, "I'm sorry, I really can't believe we did this."

Butler and Wielsch, friends since they were on the Antioch police force together in the 1990s, were arrested in a state Department of Justice sting in February 2011, prompting a countywide police-corruption probe that expanded to include allegations that the pair ran a Pleasant Hill brothel and led to more arrests.

Former CNET agent and San Ramon police officer Louis Lombardi, 40, of Discovery Bay, pleaded guilty to stealing drugs in the case and was sentenced in January to three years. Former Danville officer Stephen Tanabe, 48, of Alamo, is awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with Butler to set up the estranged husbands of Butler's P.I. firm clients for DUI arrests.

San Ramon attorney Mary Nolan, of Oakland, is among the defendants being sued in civil court for the so-called Dirty DUI scheme. She is also awaiting trial on charges that she and Butler used eavesdropping equipment on her clients' estranged spouses.

Butler, 51, of Concord, also took a plea deal and was sentenced in September to eight years in federal prison. His attorney said Butler was motivated by a need for cash when his business suffered at the expense of his failed attempt to launch his own reality TV show.

Cardoza said Wednesday that it's unclear why Wielsch "went bad" after serving "the public honorably for a number of years."

"I don't think even Norm knows the answer to that," Cardoza said.

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Agencies

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Arson Fires

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