TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

Per Public Information Officer (aka, City Propaganda Minister) for the City of Riverside, Phil Pitchford:  Larry Gonzalez, a 27-year law enforcement veteran who has spent the past 15 years working his way through the management ranks of the Riverside Police Department, has been named Chief of Police by City Manager Al Zelinka.

“I believe in Larry as Riverside’s Police Chief because of his demonstrated performance to address important matters in the city and his trusted relationships throughout the community, department, and law enforcement agencies,” Zelinka said. “As Chief of Police, Larry has committed to me that he will implement the pillars of 21st Century Policing, evolve the Riverside Police Department to reflect Riverside’s diversity, and carry out organizational refinements around efficiency and effectiveness.”

Gonzalez was chosen after a comprehensive search and an unprecedented amount of community input and a series of interview panels with law enforcement professionals, community leaders and neighborhood groups. The multiple community meetings asked Riversiders what they wanted in their next Police Chief, and their responses were used as criteria for evaluating candidates. The responses also were documented and shared online for the public.

“I appreciate the meaningful input by the community this past fall to define the desired attributes for Riverside’s next police chief,” Zelinka said. “That input framed the whole recruitment effort and was reflected in the composition of the interview panels and the questions asked of the candidates. When making my selection, I took to heart the complete record of information contributed by the community and all participants, as well as the input provided by the candidates themselves.”

Gonzalez has served as Interim Police Chief since mid-September, following the retirement of Chief Sergio Diaz. In that role, he had daily responsibility for 576 employees, including 372 sworn police officers, as well as management of a $135 million budget. His promotion to Chief takes effect Feb. 7.

According to the Press Enterprise, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of drunken driving in 2013, when he was a police lieutenant. He was sentenced to three years’ probation, in addition to other punishments, after he crashed a city-owned Ford Explorer into a mailbox and retaining wall and recorded a .15 percent blood-alcohol level.  At least we believe in carrying on tradition here in the ole’ River City…

TMC remembers the hi-jinks of Russell Leach, the O.G. of driving while under the influence.  Back in 2010 while intoxicated, Leach hit what appeared to be a city light fixture. When he was finally stopped by RPD, it was noticed that the city owned vehicle he was driving had no tires, and he was driving on just the rims.  According to the charges, Leach consumed 2 tabs of Vicodin (hydrocodone-pain pills), 2 tabs Xanax (alprazolam-anti-anxiety), 2 tabs Ambien (zolpidem-sleeping pills), 1 tab of Flexeril (cyclobenaprine-muscle relaxant), 1 tab Atarax (hydroxyzine-anti-histamine used with opioid analgesics to increase the pain killing ability), 4 cans of Miller Lite and 7 doubles of Chivas Regal Scotch.  Wow!  We’d hate to be his liver! We do have some sympathy for Leach though: we’d probably hit the bottle every night dealing with the likes of Loveridge, Hudson, DeSantis, Priamos, etc., etc. ad infinitum.

And who can forget the topless dancer Leach was embroiled with according to the Press Enterprise.  It all stunk to high heaven with typical Riverside City politics when former City Councilman Frank Schiavone decided to record a tape conversation with the topless dancer.  Then there was the local attempted RPD coverup of the whole fiasco, because as we know all too well: there’s rules for them, and different rules for you.

After Leach was put out to pasture (with his luxurious pension paid for by us), in came Police Chief Sergio Diaz, who turned out to be another nut.  He threatened a city council candidate by the name of John Brandriff and was a central figure in the St. Valentine’s Day blunder. What gives with these guys?  Some heroes!

Well the best of luck Larry, congratulations, and I know we look forward to your leadership in the coming year.  And of course, you have our support.

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com