A veteran Livermore police officer who was under investigation for allegedly being tied to a growing sex abuse scandal has resigned from the department, Livermore Police Chief Michael Harris said Thursday. Jodi Hernandez reports.
A veteran Livermore police officer who was under investigation for allegedly being tied to a growing sex abuse scandal has resigned from the department, Livermore Police Chief Michael Harris said Thursday.
The sex abuse scandal involves more than a dozen officers throughout the Bay Area.
The Livermore Police Department's investigation concluded last week, Harris said, who would not discuss further details of the investigation.
"This incident does not accurately reflect the professionalism of the men and women of the Livermore Police Department who protect our community every day," Harris said in a statement. "Now that this matter has reached a conclusion, we will move forward and continue to serve with honor and protect with purpose. I would like to thank our community for their continued support and patience as we completed this investigation."
#BREAKING Livermore police Chief says investigation of veteran officer tied to Celeste Guap sex scandal concluded. The officer has resigned
— Jodi Hernandez (@JodiHernandezTV) September 8, 2016
Livermore Police Officer Resigns https://t.co/ZTOTMW5S5v
— Livermore PD (@LivermorePolice) September 8, 2016
The officer, who was placed on administrative leave on June 14, was notified of the investigation's findings last week and submitted his resignation this week, Harris said.
The 19-year-old woman at the center of the sex abuse scandal, Celeste Guap, said she has had sex with more than a dozen police officers throughout the Bay Area, which prompted the investigation. She has said some of those encounters took place when she was underage.
On Wednesday, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced four Oakland police officers have been fired following a nearly year-long investigation into the sex abuse scandal. Seven other officers will be suspended without pay and an additional cop will receive counseling and training, Schaaf said.
Over the summer, three Oakland police chiefs stepped down, or were told to step down from their posts, amid the sex abuse scandal.
The sex abuse scandal started to unfold last September when Oakland police began investigating the suicide of one of its officers.
The scandal has also touched the sheriff's offices in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, San Francisco police, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and the Defense Logistics Agency, a branch of the Department of Defense.
Investigators are looking into whether the law enforcement officers had sexual relationships with Guap.
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The San Francisco Police Department on Thursday said its investigations is still active and ongoing.
Last week, Guap was arrested for aggravated battery after she allegedly attacked a security officer at a voluntary rehab facility in Florida, according to an arrest report.
Two well-known civil rights attorneys from the Bay Area are in Florida trying to secure her release.
The Alameda County District Attorney is expected to announce a decision Friday afternoon on possible charges in the sex abuse scandal.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
