On October 17, Porterville Assistant Police Chief Dominic Barteau sent out a department wide memo saying, “Chief Castellow will be on medical leave for an undetermined period of time. To ensure continuity of operations I will be assuming the responsibilities of Chief of Police until his return.”
On November 4, Captain Joshua Maniss sent out another department memo saying, “Assistant Chief Barteau, who was acting in the capacity of Chief of Police, will be on medical leave for an undetermined amount of time. To ensure continuity of operations I will be assuming the responsibilities of Chief of Police until his return.”
Later that day, newly acting Police Chief Maniss, sent out a memo, “As many of you have heard, the rumor was that the city will be appointing an acting Chief of Police for the Police Department. I have spoken with the city manager and I am here to confirm this information is factual, which will be effective this month the 16 of November.”
Maniss continued, “The new acting Chief of Police will be Bobby [Rader], who currently serves as a captain with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.”
Two former Porterville Police Department employees, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, claimed that Castellow and Barteau have left the police department on stress leave and that a department wide meeting was held today, November 7, to confirm the details.
Both sources speculated that a September 19 Valley Voice article detailing sexual harassment, retaliation, and racial discrimination, contributed to Barteau and Castellow’s decision to take leave.
One source, who referred to themselves as Sandy, said that Barteau and Castellow are at-will employees, and a source close to the city administration allegedly said there won’t be a job waiting for either of them when they are ready to come back.
According to Sandy, both men will most likely have to medically retire.
The other former officer, who refers to themselves as Rowan, said they were doubtful about whether Castellow’s or Barteau’s medical conditions were legitimate.
“The administration will probably let Jake retire because they don’t want more controversy with all the other stuff going on in the city.”
Rowen added that Lieutenant Mark Acevedo was promoted to Captain within the last few months, but when Barteau and Castellow got wind of changes happening inside the city, Acevedo was demoted back to Lieutenant. Captains are also at-will employees that can be let go for any reason.
Acevedo was part of the “Old Boys” club described in the September 19 Valley Voice article.
Sandy said, “I was blown away when I heard they were taking stress leave. It’s laughable because when anyone else wanted to take medical or stress leave, Barteau and Castellow made their lives miserable.”
Rowen agreed, “be very careful if you want to take sick time because Jake and Dominic will make your life a living hell.”
At one point, Castellow and Barteau allegedly didn’t approve of who Rowen was dating and “launched an investigation into his misuse of sick time,” even though Rowen was under a doctor’s care.
Sandy said, “They made it impossible to leave, then impossible to come back to work if that makes any sense.”
Sandy claimed that even when a fellow police officer was injured in a car crash, Barteau and Castellow made it almost impossible for that officer to go on medical leave. Then, when the injured officer came back, they allegedly had a full work load “and from then on that officer’s had a target on their back.”
Barteau and Castellow’s tactic after an officer managed to go on medical leave was then to hype up a policy violation and get that officer fired, Sandy claimed.
“That’s why it’s so mind blowing that now both of them are on stress leave,” said Sandy.
Rowen said “I know by personal experience that they were doing the same policy violations that they disciplined or fired other officers for.”
Rowen said that he believed Barteau and Castellow would put officers under surveillance when they were on medical leave.
“This happened to numerous officers. They are notorious. Barteau and Castellow will go after you,” said Rowen.
Porterville City Police Department is a Reflection of Porterville City Council!!!
So the city has been without its crooked Chief and it’s crooked Assistant Chief for weeks now and the citizens of Porterville were not made aware? Great leadership Dictator/Mayor Greg Meister. There has been a recent city counsel meeting too so way to be transparent with your community. SECRETS AND LIES. Typical PPD and City of Porterville behavior 👏
The city counsel has broken all trust with the police department. We supported Meister and the others and now I’d rather appoint some transients because at least they don’t hide their intentions. I already predict a mass exodus to new agencies and Porterville will have no more good officers to protect the streets. GREAT JOB and I hope the new Chief is just as a douche with pd as he is with Tcso. Embarrassing
I see a lot of talking, but are they being paid while on this leave?
Is it normal for a Sheriff to take over a Police Dept? Why not a third in line? I think Josh Maniss or even Orlando Ortiz are more qualified than someone from the outside. I think the Sheriff are overstepping their jurisdiction and PPD and the City are both too weak to see and understand it. How much is this other person being compensated, is he double dipping now? Please follow up Catherine if possible, thank you.
Mr Flores, I’m assuming they are being paid and getting treatment for work related injuries. You might want to look into the cause. Sounds like illegal/unethical actions by city council and city manager Tree. Tree has priors for running businesses into the ground like at the county.
Yes, he does. Tree is not even close to being qualified. Hes there as a puppet for Meister, clearly. What a mess they have created.
McKervey is trees master, moister is only mayor by title, he does what Daddy McKervey wants
Maniss is good, you just have to keep him away from the nurses and Ortiz… well… he can barely stay awake and has some weird kinks. Maniss covered up the Officer Garcia from TPD where he was drunk on duty, Garcia used to work for PPD but gave him the option to immediately resign instead of having him arrested the night he quit. Then they buried the internal investigation which allowed him to be hired at Woodlake PD then onto TPD where he was eventually caught.
It’s sad, I agree….and that shows that the city doesn’t trust the PD at all. Another sad point. For them to bring someone from a completely new world is crazy, but understandable. I’m sure there are a few good people there, I just hope they are given an opportunity
Such an interesting article and comments. It’s funny how when people talk about their experiences we as a society often times ridicule them for their trauma. Just last week I talked to a someone who shed light on the stuff that’s went on. It just seems like the administration needs to be replaced. Everything from former captains having affairs with their brothers wife, to an officer who was fired for buying beer and partying in his take home patrol car (now is part of the administration) to another administration officer being promoted after using deadly force r on a kid riding a bicycle.
Weird that the anonymous sources named in the article sound a lot like two disgruntled PPD employees who were terminated for lying. These two men are not only honorable and respectable, but the loves their employees and the City of Porterville. The City council needs to look into the mirror and their own unethical actions.
Yeah, one sounds like a former officer who got fired after having an affair with another officer and lying about it She called in sick to meet up with him so they could continue their affair without his wife knowing. Those two ruined my friend’s family. It sounds like admin was doing the right thing in firing them, but now they’re stirring the pot!
The same female officer that Corporal Michael Benas IMPREGNATED while she was on Field Training with him? The same female officer that Michael Benas was out drinking with when she got in a DUI car accident after and he went and picked her up from the hospital after she was cited and released by CHP? Oh yeah, that one. They shouldn’t have let her go and hired her back then. She was technically a victim too… by MICHAEL BENAS! Jake Castellow and Dominic Barteau were high fiving it behind closed doors as they do other misconduct. Thinking its funny when its directly affecting lives. Jake and Dom were just as bad and had their share of affairs. Jakes most recent being with the interim City Manager Patrice Hildreth when she was the City Attorney and the acting City Manager…just so he could get what he wanted. Not to mention Mark Acevedo’s affairs when he was with his wife who dispatched at the same department. HYPOCRISY at its finest.
No, I’m not going to name the officer here because I’m not as petty but it wasn’t that guy. I don’t know that guy. Both the male and female officers names start with the letter T.
If you’re talking about who I think you’re talking about, it was actually the wife who ruined that family. You should ask her about her numerous affairs as well has her issues with drugs and alcohol.
James, I find it interesting that you would be so quick to assume things. I don’t see your name associated to a badge number. Jake is a coward, as is Dominic. I seen investigations go untouched or minimized because of Barteau and other admin with criminal investigations where they had direct connection to criminal organizations . People like you sit there and grandstand and gaslight those who speak the truth from actually living the nightmare. You have no idea what it’s like when agencies go after employees who have legitimate injuries that require multiple surgeries and deal with the trauma associated to them or the life changes that came with being permanently disabled.
What happened to the school Sargent, he was there one day, then demoted without any explanation, now there is a new one running it. This was like 2 months ago, does rich tree even know what’s going on or is he oblivious on how to run a city PUSD must be on the take too I wonder why this Sargent was demoted so suddenly what did he do with the teenagers or worse younger kids
That school sergeant you speak of was actually recently WRONGFULLY demoted. Why!? Because he’s actually a good cop that actually does his job and stands up for what’s right. And in typical PPD fashion, that’s frowned upon. Incompetent Lieutenant Orlando Ortiz played part in that sergeants demotion. Orlando does what he’s told and he is one of Jake and Doms pawns. He’s done what he needs to to
Get to where he’s at. Meanwhile, all he does is sleep when the city is committing crime.
This school sergeants is one of the best cops/sergeants PPD has ever had. He is one that should have been allowed to medically retire after his car accident YEARS ago but they refused to let him. Just as they do anyone else who has a legitimate injury. It’s only the crooked ones they let medically retire to save another lawsuit. Hopefully the new administration does the right thing and gives him his stripes back because there is no one more deserving. He’s done his time and proved his loyalty. Stop punishing the good ones.
Why did the city pay them out if it wasn’t true?
Not surprised with Castellow. That guy bullied and also harrassed fellow students in high school with his friends. It was sickening.
Probably how he got that crooked jaw…. He just never learned…
Lol. I agree. I thought he was a couch bag in HS.
** douchebag
These are all John Lollis proteges, right?
Stay on this story!
I can’t help but laugh at all the hot goss going on in the comment section. But what’s even more funny is none of it is factual. Rumors are a hellova thing, aren’t they?
The facts here in this article are that Jake and Dominic have been proven to be corrupt and dirty as hell. Which is why they are being “dethroned”. Which is also why no one from the PD is being promoted to chief. They are all tainted and apart of the same corruption.
Jake and Dominic laughing and high fiving over one of their own having an alleged affair with an officer in training is a great example of why they are being removed. They were supposed to be leaders. And they managed to lead their department straight into the ground.
The issues relayed in the article and the alleged issues in the comment section just go to show you that these two should not have been in a position of power. They have raised the next generation of potential leaders to think their behavior is right and even praised. Which, again, is why they cannot promote within.
I am another former officer who has gone through this. I was injured on duty and immediately was treated like garbage and accused of lying. It’s a miracle I was “allowed” to medically retire, as that’s not the case for all injured officers. They tried to terminate me but had nothing. They tried to make me resign but I didn’t give in. And now here I am, smiling today as I watch it all come crumbling down onto them from the sidelines.
For those of you standing up for these two “honorable” men, you are apart of the problem. Getting drunk with them of Saturday doesn’t mean you know what they’re up to Monday through Friday. And for those of you shaming the female victims of these men, shame on you.
Today is a glorious day.
Good for you speaking the truth.
Ex wife of a police officer here
Yes same here my employer too go about it the same way…my heart goes out to you and the others that had to go thru that in that fashion 💔 there is no mercy..damned if you do damned if you don’t..
That is cald psychological abuse and BS
BUT……there’s always a but ….lol…I too am smiling, regardless of my injuries…and i don’t have to show up there AGAIN praise God..prayer for the TCS IT HAPPENS this too shall pass
James Conklin ….. Jesus… what happened to your morals and ethics. There is evidence both shouldn’t be in office, Azevedo covered up Barteau’s DUI and then they got rid of McMillan. Jake was part of that as well. It’s funny that you’re attacking the officers and or former officers who came forward.
Get your facts straight. There was no cover up. Someone said a few posts ago, “these are thr facts” BS. The fact is all of these people spewing out all this hate and judging, im sure your houses are clean right? So you can throw stones? Not any of you have lied to your spouse or called in sick when you were fine, or cheated, right? I know none of those things are ok. But come on… if you’re perfect, spet forward and be the first to cast the stone.
Perfect citizen, I find it interesting you say there was no cover up, considering that there was an article in the paper. Both officers were demoted and one was almost immediately began promoting again. As a business owner, I could not imagine treating my employees the way the PD has, and does. Have you read the lawsuits that are ongoing? Are you blind to what is the topic of this article? As a former government employee I never had my bosses ever do or say some of the things I’ve heard being said. The way women are looked at from the administration and within the department and you’re saying about the facts. Your loyalty is impressive and it seems as if you’re very close to what’s going on. You bring up cheating, but there is plenty of posts talking about that within this article and regarding it within law enforcement as a whole. Called in sick when not sick… No, but from what it sounds like, Barteau and Castellow conducted investigations into employees, some of them (from what it appears were injured). I don’t see a doctorate degree in medical practice next to either of their names when I search them? Instead of minimizing what they have done and are doing, maybe you should brush aside your involvement and maybe look at it from a different perspective, maybe look at it from a whole perspective, like the number of suicides of police officers, I can think of two that went through similar stuff and took their lives. Have you looked at the statistics? You don’t need to look far, our own military and veterans numbers are really high because of things like PTSD. It sounds to me that what is going on, is deflection and minimization so that two individuals who are responsible for the demise several officers careers and mental health (which the have done because their are lawsuits that prove it) can not be held accountable. When are you perfect citizen going to stand up for your officers instead of taking sides with corruption? When are you going to brush aside your loyalty and stand up for what is right, because from the way you make it sound, you are part of the problem.
May god continue to bless you for standing up for what’s right and being supportive of the truth. The amount of support we have all received is unbelievable. We wish we had this 6 years ago when we started this advocacy but better late than never. We are not done yet and we won’t stop here. There is more justice to be served for ALL of the victims.
this has been going on for a long time every allegation is the way they have been running this department for a long time and it seems to me that the truth about our department is finally coming out Let’s get rid of these people and make Porterville Safe again…..
The victims can’t thank the Valley Voice enough for exposing this crooked city and bringing this to light. It starts at the top and the previous City Manger, John Lollis, DID contribute to this corruption. He chose to turn a blind eye and let Jake and Dom run the show. Let’s not forget PPD’s Former Chief Eric Kroutil. He was part of the problem as well. You don’t just have a mass exodus of GOOD officers in the last 5 years for no reason. Eric Kroutil, Brian Nix, Rich Standridge, Gary Miller and Michael Benas saw the writing on the wall once the lawsuits started getting filed and RAN. Of course they made up some BS excuse to “retire early” or “Medcial out” which again, the ppd never let anyone do. It was simply forbidden unless you were a “good ol boy” like Michael Benas. Then they took care of you and made the accommodation. Meanwhile, others are actually suffering and being refused the medical benefits/retirement they deserve. Even after the mass exodus, Jake and Dom still continued to laugh behind closed doors and think they were untouchable. Like little punks who were bullied in Highschool, they gained rank so they could bully others. I feel sorry for all of the victims involved. It should have never been this way but everyone tried to believe it wouldn’t happen to them… until it did. Praying for change and for courage. Anyone who was wronged by this department over the years, this is your time to tell your story. Let it out, and let it go! Be at peace. Show these male chauvinists who think this is all made up, that it’s all true. God forbid anyone in their family will ever have to go through and endure the things everyone went through…not just officers but support staff too. Do better Porterville
Thank you to the Valley Voice for such a well written article giving all of us a voice. The corruption at Porterville PD is rampant. It is humorous that Maniss was the acting chief considering how dirty he is. For example an officer came to work intoxicated and was allowed to resign instead of being arrested after driving a city vehicle to work. That same officer who should have never been allowed to wear the uniform again went to another agency and was eventually caught doing the same thing. Dominic set the bar with drinking and driving, and Azevedo covered it up, he to was not arrested. Then you have Jake, who from what I understand was having an affair with Patrice Hildreath, all the while the two conspired to go after officers who were legitimately injured so that the city wouldn’t have to pay out for the injuries. The city of Porterville is self insured which means the “good old boys” have to protect the city by not allowing them to payout or care for their employees and or let them medically retire.
Castellow and Barteau, have been at it for years, the city doesn’t know the half of it. Don’t even talk about bringing back idiot Standridge. Where do they think corruption starts from and how long did this take. Do you think Rader will operate any different? Police departments who police themselves = corruption, disaster. I strongly recommend the city institute some type of citizen oversite of the department, just like 90% of the police departments a across this country, and not the retired police idiots either. The DAs office been involved too. I hope this breaks the city’s bank. But I’m sure not, as the status quo corruption must carry on! Perception people, perception
As a former employee of Orange Cove PD this has been happening there for years that place is falling apart and all senior staff that had been there for years left in late 2023-2024 and others have been put on leave and not returned. Something needs to give there the whole city of a mess
Barteau shouldn’t even be an officer. The fact he’s been promoted after being found drunk driving by being passed out drunk in the middle of a intersection shows the standard of this police department. The standard is all about who you know, not your character.
I see blame for all these endless people but you have to ask yourself who does the “buck” stop with? How high does responsibility go? I don’t see one mention of Julia Lew the city attorney. I think she is the failure of Porterville personified same with Meister, Donnie Moore and also the Tree family. These people all make the town much more poor than it already is. PUSD is the ultimate failure for raising town so disabled and disenfranchised.
I guess they both will become ice agents now. The current Porterville city council and city manager is no better than the last council. How much is the People of Porterville paying for this lawsuit let along for them being out on stress leave.
Does it make a difference since we are paying the following will needed items.
600,000.00 for a playground battle ship. 100,000.00 for a monument to George Washington. The parks are run down and nasty. Talking about safety.
Will I get when the council finishes approving all the charter amendments, we will be paying for all of the council lawsuits!!!!
Check out what they are doing.
I guess they both will become ice agents now. The current Porterville city council and city manager is no better than the last council. How much is the People of Porterville paying for this lawsuit let along for them being out on stress leave?
Does it make a difference since we are paying the following will needed items.
600,000.00 for a playground battle ship. 100,000.00 for a monument to George Washington. The parks are run down and nasty. Talking about safety.
What will we get when the council finishes approving all the charter amendments,I guess we will be paying for all of the council lawsuits!!!!
Check out what they are doing.
The corruption doesn’t stop with the police who have a history that continues today with current married officers sleeping together and the fire is no different secretary’s sleeping with married men and men bringing there girlfriend not wives to sleep with them when they work and what did we get with this new council just more of the same corruption with special friends getting benefits I guess what’s new is the disrespectful lectures
People on here are straight triggered. Perhaps we need to get you guys all hugs and counseling. It’s crazy how most of you here cast the first stone but yet don’t see what’s going on in your own glass house. Always remember 3 sides to a story you’re side my side and somewhere in between the truth.
Your side is riddled with lies and corruption. Kinda like investigations sitting on your desk that could affect change for the better for the community. Yet, they stayed on your desk because you were having a relationship with one of the participants…
Wrong John Doe, this is why we have public meetings and why we record stuff. There is actual truth that has nothing to do with your little feelings and opinions. This is why City Attorney has advised and is trying to enforce the city to delete emails within 120 days. This is why the city banned online zoom participation because they know people like me do homework all day and have real opinions and things to say to them. They don’t want any accountability at all, they dont follow their own charter and rules anyways either so why act like any of it is real? Its adults playing kitchen and cowboy & indians… Do you know they are likely trying to privatize and control the library like Huntington Beach tried to? These people from Huntington to Redding who fall for these morons are not bright at all. Do you know that all 31 moms for liberty candidates lost?
These aren’t just quippy one liner zingers my friend. Put me in all the glass houses I will be the first to destroy a glass city.
It sounds to me, you ARE PART of the problem. You are trying so hard to discredit the reality of the situation at hand. So many officers and families affected by the tyrant Castellow, who is the mastermind of all of this corruption. Him and his old buddy, Chucky McMillan, who thankfully saw his own demise years ago, after stealing thousands of dollars from the explorer funds, and cheating on his spouse multiple times. The corruption has been going on for too long. It catches up to you in the end.
But I realize these men are most likely your friends, so continue and enjoy hanging out with snakes .
So when will this happen with Boudreaux and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department?
It wasn’t easy getting here. It really wasn’t. We had no voice. No fight. Everything went unheard. Media, newspapers and even the Attorney Generals office wouldn’t touch it when we started this journey. Everyone said it was “too political” and they wouldn’t touch it. It took a lot of fight, lawsuits and a collaborative effort from a lot of the victims involved. Many gave up in this process, but those of us who continued to fight, finally got through. No one started listening until lawsuits were filed. It was never about the money. It was about making them finally listen. Once checks started being written, they finally started listing (just a-little). But they still called the victims liars as they were writing the checks because they’re all corrupt and take care of their own. They didn’t have to live it. We did. And will for the rest of our lives. None of it was easy. Then they still thought they could brush it under the rug and not make it known to their citizens who should have been aware of the corruption and lawsuits (plural) years ago. Just as they should have been transparent with their citizens that they’ve been without a Police Chief since Oct 17th. The only reason they were forced to put something out was because they were exposed! Typical City of Porterville behavior. Secrets and lies. Anyways, I encourage all of you from the Tualre County Sheriff’s Office and any other crooked department to not give up. File lawsuits. Expose those private messages being sent in your social media inboxes, (I’ve seen them) and continue to make phone calls to the Attorney Generals Office, The Governor, his assistants, Senators and anyone else who may listen. You never know when you might actually be heard. The Attorney Generals Office will probably brush it under the rug like they tried to do with us but don’t give up. It’s emotionally draining to say the least but this is for future generations to come. Do it for Your kids, grandkids or anyone else’s that may ever want to get into this profession. God forbid they ever have to go through and endure the BS we went through. It’s about doing what’s right and having a voice. Get these crooked f^*%s OUT! Expose them. That’s all we can do. You’re not in this fight alone. I know many victims from there. Keep fighting and be the change. May God be with you
I will NEVER stop fighting for the justice that is due. Never
201 and 243 got railroaded typical male dominated field they should have been reinstated good cops lose when bad cops are promoted
The city council was informed of their behavior before they were promoted. I guess they chose to overlook it. That was a very bad decision.
Yes. They need to about their behavior before promoting them. That is the Culture of Porterville City Council. They are not for parental rights. They are for their right. What’s new in this town?
WHERE IS THE NEW LIBRARY???
Is that money paying for this lawsuit too?????
Goodness! I feel like I just read a gossip column! What the heck is going on there? I have no idea because there are no real sources or definitive answers. Ugh. Why not wait until you actually have a story with credible sources?
There’s plenty of evidence buried in the Porterville Police Departments Internal Investigations filing cabinet in what used to be Chief Castellow’s office apparently. But from the sounds of it, he probably did away with that evidence. They should release it to the public.
Valeri, as people have claimed within the comments there hasn’t been a chief or assistant of police possibly since Oct 17. Doesn’t that make you want to know more about why there isnt a Porterville Police Citizens Community Oversight Committee? I say do not wait on any news, these people are being corrupt just like their power has always corrupted them, and no one ever spends the time listening to victims and reporting their side of ANYTHING. This is why I created Porterville Fraud on Reddit and published every single piece of gossip or claim that came by my way and I also tied it into other facts that could be proven. I think the town has systemic issues and people like even Jerry Brassfield from NeoLife prove that Porterville is an epicenter of fraud and scammers. The blue wall of silence is just another form of that.
How do you feel as a taxpayer paying for their medical stress leave? Why don’t you go and interview the police and victims since you had a publication of newspaper yourself?
Where is the money for the new Library?????
With all this, and the city of Porterville and hires two from TCSO that are on the don’t hire list…? Who and how did they bypass that? Also to pay the interim chief at top pay!!!???? When the poor officers are out there covering two for the city (at times) and getting paid shit, aren’t allowed to put in for overtime, and getting treated like shit!?
I was also a personal victim of Barteau and the shit storm of the Porterville police department. Constantly degraded and alienated by the department and the Good old Boys club. In the 3.5 years employed there I was constantly ridiculed for being in the Armed Forces and when I would come back from deployment, I was pushed to the brink of wanting to quit because of the mind games and issues they would create trying to isolate me from my peers and also put me in situations of officer safety with little to no backup. Even after my resignation, after I tried to go after them for all their wrong doing – I was “blacklisted” from applying to any other police agencies in the area and Barteau and the PPD were sure to weigh in on any agency who called to get someone to sign off on my transfer. I’m glad someone is finally getting justice from all of this.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻@P218….. preach it 🔥🔥 #anumbernearyou#
Look at Porterville’s City Council. A true reflection of the Porterville City Police Department!
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Reading through the other lawsuit and a lot of these comments, what stands out to me is how emotional everything is and how little of it is tied to objective facts or legal standards.
A lot of the complaints boil down to officers being upset that their sick time, leave, and conduct were actually scrutinized. That isn’t “harassment” or “bullying” – that’s called management and accountability. Sick time isn’t meant to cover personal affairs, relationships, or side drama. It’s for legitimate medical needs. If someone tried to use it for something else and got called on it, that doesn’t automatically make them a victim.
The picture being painted is that enforcing standards, denying questionable leave, or holding people to policy somehow equals “a boys’ club” and “corruption.” But if this were truly corruption, we’d see hard evidence: sustained internal affairs findings, clear policy violations, documented criminal conduct, or public disciplinary actions. Instead, most of what’s been put forward looks and sounds like high-school-level drama repackaged as litigation and anonymous gossip.
Meanwhile, Chief Castellow has nearly 30 years of service and was recently recognized for his dedication to justice. Now, at the first moment where he is dealing with a medical issue, anonymous sources suddenly appear in local papers to push a narrative that conveniently clears the way for new political leadership.
It’s also telling that “sources” seemed to know what was going to happen to the Chief and Assistant Chief before they did. That doesn’t look like organic outrage from victims. That looks like a coordinated political move by a city administration that clearly wanted them gone and used stress leave and public opinion as tools to get there.
You can disagree with someone’s leadership style without rewriting history. Nothing about Chief Castellow’s nearly three decades of service suggests he suddenly became unfit. What changed wasn’t his record – it was the politics at City Hall.
Such an interesting take on it. Considering that former Chief Castellow has also a proven track record of misconduct. I mean, didn’t he have an affair on his former wife with his current wife? He targeted officers and it’s clear in the lawsuits and I’d imagine more to come which is documented. I also find it interesting that I don’t find a doctorate attached to his name or the assistant chief (who by all accounts seems to have an alcohol problem) that would show their expertise in medicine. But what is clear and from what I do know, he and his staff targeted officers who were awaiting surgery or treatment. By any account, that should never have happened, sick leave and or sick time is given to employees to use for medical or sickness, it should never be used to survey and or go after employees. It is clear that his cowardice acts as a leader and as a man, are all that anyone needs to hear. You also spoke of his “30 years” he’s a snake in the grass and is crooked as his jaw. Just because he lasted “30 years” doesn’t make him a leader or a good cop. It just means he played the politics and as far as I know, I have heard of stories of pure cowardice on his part where innocent people were hurt because of his behavior. Not only did he allow these things to happen, but he also fostered an environment that led to women being sexually harassed by an officer who should have been FIRED! Not allowed to retire. But because of their friendship that started at the sheriffs department, it was all swept under the rug. You talk about being held to a higher standard but when has he or the assistant chief been held to that same standard? That’s right, they weren’t until now. From the sounds of it, I hope the city treats them like they’ve done to others, hopefully they hire investigators to follow them, and document their every movement, and then when it’s all said and done, they should charge both of them with the same very policy violations they did others.
And it is interesting that I haven’t seen him pulling into the dump with his lawn gardening trailer with his city vehicle here lately. If I’d known the city of porterville allowed their employees to use the city vehicle for personal use, I’d of applied with them along time ago.
That’s an interesting statement you’ve made. This definitely former Chief Jake Castellow, or one of the “Good Ol Boys” you forgot to mention key parts, like how one of the officers got hurt and was waiting for surgery, and an investigation was launched. Then you harassed and dismissed complaints by said employee, that they were in pain. Instead you and or at the direction of you or Assistant Chief Dominic Barteau began giving direction to supervisors to document when said employee left or called in sick (again while waiting for surgery) or if it wasn’t that you put the employee on a schedule or light duty job that caused even more discomfort. Then you lied and told that same employee for over six months they were on Admin leave, and that they had to use vacation time and be available like a normal day job? To top it off you also informed them that admin leave trumped Workmans Comp? Then instead of doing what was right, dismissing the investigation (because there were clear violations of the employees medical rights and the fact there was no policy violations) you let the investigation sit for almost two years, meanwhile the employee has permanent injuries that has completely changed their life in a negative way? I am good friends with the former officer and I have seen and heard it all. Keep it up, keep spinning your web of lies, deceit and corruption. The truth will always prevail. (That same employee is also ready to release the recordings and evidence … I know they’d love for the first five minutes of the recording to be heard by the public and everyone else to see who you really are) I am also sure it would help the officers who are suing.
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