It felt like witnessing a public execution without knowing what the condemned man did.
The sudden downfall this past week of popular Ukiah Police Chief Noble Waidelich rocked the community and local law enforcement. Waidelich was first placed on paid administrative leave, but just three days later he was fired without any public explanation of his alleged misconduct.
There are still no official reasons given other than a vague pending “criminal investigation” by Sonoma County authorities, and unspecified department “policy violations” that were cited by city officials in their sudden announcement Friday that Waidelich had been stripped of his weapon, vehicle, and badge.
It was a stomach-churning end to the career of a Police Chief who less than a year ago was touted as a personable young guy who could lead the 18-officer department out of a troubled stretch.
“Nobey” is a local boy from Potter Valley who started his law enforcement career in 2005 with Ukiah police and rose through the ranks before being named Chief last Fall. He was earning $187,000 per year in his new post.
Why Waidelich was abruptly fired Friday is still unknown. Facts are few. Questions are many.
Little is known about the “criminal investigation” Sonoma County authorities are conducting into Waidelich’s conduct, nor what “policy violations” city officials claim are unrelated to the probe but were enough to warrant the police chief’s abrupt termination on Friday.
Ukiah City Manager Sage Sangiacomo said in a bombshell announcement that “recent events” show that “this individual is not a good fit for the City.”
Without any elaboration, Sangiacomo declared, “Our community deserves better; the good men and women who do this work every day with integrity deserve better.”
Later, city officials insisted unspecified ‘policy violations’ were enough to fire Waidelich unceremoniously without them knowing any results of the pending criminal probe by Sonoma County authorities. That investigation was triggered on Monday last week when a complaint was made to Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall, who because of his department’s close ties with Ukiah police, asked for an outside review.
Just like that, after a stellar career in local law enforcement, Waidelich was dismissed as “not a good fit for our city.”
When city officials named Waidelich to the chief’s position in November, he was touted as the guy who could turn around the troubles the department has experienced in recent months: the arrest of a recently promoted police sergeant in a sex and drug case, and the beating of a naked mentally ill man.
In Waidelich’s background, however, lurked a past run in with domestic abuse allegations. City and county law enforcement leaders were aware of them even if the public in general was not.
The abuse accusations surfaced in 2015 from a former county probation officer, Amanda Carley. She was at the time Waidelich’s live-in partner in a home they had bought together.
Despite the abuse allegations, Waidelich’s law enforcement career continued to flourish. He emerged cleared of any suspected charges and continued to rise in the ranks until his appointment as police chief.
Former girlfriend Carley suffered a sharply different fate. She was stripped of her law enforcement duties, her abuse claims were dismissed as impossible to prove, and, worst, she was branded a liar.
District Attorney David Eyster, who sees himself as the county’s chief law enforcement officer, declined to file any charges in the Carley case, and he openly castigated Carley for her changing stories to investigators over an extended period. Eyster eventually took the draconian step of listing Carley on the so-called ‘Brady List,’ a roster of unreliable law enforcement officers who are blocked from testifying as witnesses in court cases.
Carley’s career collapsed. Unable to continue as a probation officer, she left town. But Carley clings to her hopes that a civil lawsuit accusing county officials of retaliating against her for making her abuse claims will still prevail despite setbacks. It is now scheduled for trial in late September. Through a legal technicality, Eyster has been dismissed from the lawsuit because he successfully argued on appeal that his actions as District Attorney were protected under law.
Waidelich in the meantime moved on to a new marriage, and family, and for several months enjoyed the prominence of his new position as the Ukiah community’s Police Chief.
Now his life too is in disarray. His career is seemingly over.
Sonoma County authorities say it may be two weeks before the outcome of the investigation into Waidelich’s alleged misconduct is known. In the meantime, Police Captain Cedric Cook is the interim police chief.
Sonoma County authorities say the results of their investigation will be referred to DA Eyster for review, and possible prosecution.
Eyster, given his past ties to the tangled abuse case involving Waidelich and Carley, should consider turning results of the Sonoma investigation over to an independent agency for review and a decision whether prosecution is warranted.
A public trust needs to be met, not just internal City Hall and law enforcement procedural requirements.
About time someone reported on the life long lying. She isn’t known for telling the truth even before 2015 and the Brady list. Those who have known her know that she has, and always will, be a liar.
Funny. You obviously did not do any research on this nor did you even read this article, if you even know how to read. Think before posting. How embarrassing of you to victim shame and say a victim is lying who has proof of videos and pictures (if you actually researched, you would find those stuff). What I’m reading, is that the county and DA covered up a domestic violence allegation and this lady did not get justice. On top of that, this “police chief” has a CRIMINAL investigation going on that has nothing to do with this lady’s case. This county and city is going downhill and all of the California is watching it.
So if the City had solid grounds to fire the “Chief” why has it taken so long for the City and our over paid City Manger to share the “policy violations” they claim were enough to warrant the police chief’s abrupt termination over 4 weeks ago?
And if the City did have the “goods” on the Chief why did he keep moving up the ladder?
Sounds like this could end up costing the City even more attorney fees and settlements as did the Sewer District debacle and other missteps by our illustrious City Leaders.
Ridiculous, so MUCH money spent for City Leadership and so little in return….
When does this madness stop?