- Capt. Mike Denson
- Sgt. Ben Becchetti
- Sgt. Brian Philip
- Sgt. Curtiss Jackson
- Sgt. Wayne Benitez
- Agt. Max Nielepko
- Agt. Kelly Burger
- Agt. Robert Parham
- Agt. David Lee
- Ofc. Eric Bulatao
- Ofc. Dan Pojanamat
- Ofc. John Clum
- Ofc. Ken Dueker (communications)
- Ofc. Michael Kan
- Lt. April Wagner
- These were the names of the PAPD officers which were released by the city of Oakland through the California Public Records Request Act and through the efforts Shankar Ramamoorthy a concerned citizen and truth seeker.
Both Palo Alto Free Press and retired former Santa Clara County Public Defender Aram James made numerous requests for this very same information.
All of which were denied by both Palo Alto city attorneys Molly Stump and Donald Larkin.
Were completely dismayed at the total and complete lack of transparency and open government emanating out of the city’s attorney’s office and it would appear Molly Stump and Donald Larkin are “playing by their own set of rules” as stated by Aram James in the city’s compliance with the California Public Records Request Act.
Furthermore, this is clearly a case between The City of Palo Alto vs. The City of Oakland in terms of compliance.
We believe both attorney’s Molly Stump and Donald Larkin owe it to the citizens of Palo Alto to answer why they refused to comply with our initial request.
Both city’s have a complete legal understanding of the laws and yet only the city of Oakland recognized the scope of our joint request and put forth an honest answer rather than deceit.
In light of the following case sited below, it’s extremely important to note here, the need for maintaining public trust and in keeping all of us “fully informed of the activities of its peace officers.”
New York Times Co. v. Superior Court (Thomas) 1997, 52 Cal. App. 4th 97.
“[3c] We conclude that the public interest here outweighs the right of the deputies to have their names withheld. (New York Times Co. v. Superior Court, supra, 218 Cal.App.3d at p. 1586 [public disclosure of names of excessive users of water allowed]; see also City of Richmond v. Superior Court, supra, 32 Cal.App.4th at p. 1435; see also 78 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 103 (1995).)
Law enforcement officers carry upon their shoulders the cloak of authority to enforce the laws of the state. In order to maintain trust in its police department, the public must be kept fully informed of the activities of its [52 Cal.App.4th 105] peace officers.”
As noted above and in light of the foregoing, we further believe the city of Palo Alto and its chief attorney’s Molly Stump and Donald decisively set out to undermine this trust and should be held accountable for their actions.
Shankar Ramamoorthy-City of Oakland Public Records Request Form
October 25, 2011 CalEMA Mission#2011-Law-O338 Part 1
October 25, 2011 Officer Roster Part 2
Kamala Harris
California Attorney General
Dear Ms. Harris,
On October 25, 2011 Scott Olsen was shot in the head with a CS canister by law enforcement personnel at the “Oakland Occupy” protest, See Exhibit 88. Palo Alto Police were a part of the law enforcement crowd control contingent at the incident in which Scott Olsen was shot. For over a month Palo Alto Asst. City Attorney Don Larkin has refused to provide the names of the Palo Alto Police Officers involved or the equipment and or weapons used by the officers during the incident despite a Public Records Request made by former Public Defender Aram James, (415-370-5056/ abjpd1@gmail.com) and Palo Alto Free Press Editor Mark Petersen-Perez, (650-384-5077/ paloaltofreepress@gmail.com). On December 1, 2011 the City of Oakland revealed the names of he Palo Alto Officers to Shankar Ramamoorthy, See Exhibit 85.
What is really revealing about another possible City of Palo Alto cover-up is that the Palo Alto Police initially stated that they “fired” CS gas, See Exhibit 86. Then the Palo Alto Police followed it up by stating that they don’t use the kind of CS gas that is fired, that they only use the kind that is thrown by hand, See Exhibit 87.
Given that Mr. Larkin refuses to identify all of the equipment and weapons used by the Palo Alto Police I find the assertion that they do not have “CS canister launchers” completely lacking any credibility for the Palo Alto Police Department has a fully equipped SWAT team with all of the bells and whistles available including a new $700,000.00 Command Vehicle, See: http://palyvoice.com/node/27385.
It appears that Assistant City Attorney Don Larkin is covering up the unlawful actions of the Palo Alto Police once again.
It should be noted that Palo Alto Police Officer Kelly Burger is one of the officers involved with the Scott Olsen incident, Exhibit 85. Officer Burger shot me in the face without warning while my hands were in the air next to my head while I was not resisting or fleeing.
Now just imagine if the Officer who shot Scott Olsen is Officer Kelly Burger.
Lt. April Wagner, a known perjurer, was also a part of the Olsen incident, Exhibit 85.
Now imagine that Scott Oslen was your brother or your son, what actions would you take, would they be any different than what you are doing now?
We have the most sophisticated law enforcement agencies in the history of mankind with all kinds of forensic and investigative tools at our disposal, how come our California Law Enforcement Agencies including the California Attorney General’s Office are NOT CAPABLE of finding out who shot Scott Oslen?
I think it is self evident that finding out who shot Scott is not about not having the ability to do so, but it actually has to do with “want to,” and currently it appears that the Alameda District Attorney and the California Attorney General’s Office do not want to find out. Once thing is for certain, the City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Police do not want to reveal anything about what that their officers did during the October 25, 2011 incident including who fired/threw CS canisters. If you have done nothing wrong than you have nothing to hide, it is only those people who have done something wrong that have something to hide, so I have to conclude that the Palo Alto Police have done something wrong.
Please let me know if you intend to find out who shot Scott Olsen.
Tony Ciampi
650-248-1634
Tony,
City attorney Molly Stump and Donald Larkins behaviour is “Outrageous” they both knew beyond any reasonable doubt the information requested by Palo Alto Free Press and Aram James.
In our opinion, their both obstructionists. The California Public Records Request Act is very clear in terms of time, place and manner.
And by law, if in fact the request was not clear, they have a responsibility to seek clarification. Ms. Stumps response of, “We got a series of requests that were worded differently” as reported in the Daily Post today stinks of obfuscation.
Both attorney’s should face a judicial review to practice law in the State of California.
These appointed and elected officials have the public trust that they will make choices for the BENEFIT of the people. We all know the Occupy movement is voicing in public what most have expressed in private. That cities across the country ON THE SAME DAY expelled Occupy protesters makes it clear that mayors across the country were in conference to take action together against the Occupy movement. There was an agreed upon timeline.
Now in followup, the slippery slope of hiding information from the public by government officials causes a drift further into fascism. And here at home, in Palo Alto!