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Posts published by “Mike Geniella”

An Ugly End To A Stellar Law Enforcement Career

Chris Awad’s career as a Mendocino Coast police officer was stellar before his errors in judgment crashed in on him. By the time he turned 30, Awad was twice honored as “Officer of the Year”…

As Waidelich Twists In The Wind, the DA Sits On His Case

A federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Eureka accuses former Ukiah Police Chief Noble Waidelich of sexually assaulting a Mendocino County woman in her home last summer. The woman is identified only as…

Cedric Crook Appointed New Ukiah Police Chief

Cedric Crook, a 25-year local law enforcement veteran, is the new Ukiah Police Chief. The announcement Friday ended months of speculation about who would lead a department struggling with internal turmoil and external scrutiny since…

Thank You, Richie!

Richie Henderson, an iconic Ukiah native son, is having his 15 minutes of fame. Richie’s sweet face is emblazoned on a big billboard along the northbound lanes of Highway 101, garnering the attention of locals…

Mendo’s Police Misconduct Controversies 

An emerging pattern of police misconduct involving alleged sexual assaults is dogging Mendocino County prosecutors who remain stubbornly silent in the face of growing public scrutiny. No doubt a string of local police misconduct cases…

New Mendocino County Courthouse On Track

Plans for a new Mendocino County Courthouse cleared a critical hurdle last Friday after winning approval from the state Department of Finance. There are, however, months more of regulatory review before any construction work can…

Holding Back The Water

For now, federal officials are planning to hold back releases from the rapidly filling Lake Mendocino because of continuing high waterflow downstream on the Russian River. High river flows are still threatening to flood areas…

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