Michael F. Sellers, who was harshly criticized after the beating
death of transient Kelly Thomas by his officers, will officially
step down this month.
The businessman and blogger spent nearly $150,000 in apparently
successful effort to force a recall election. Meanwhile, police and
their supporters funded much of the opposition effort.
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The group received donations from 130 individuals in its
apparently unsuccessful campaign to block the recall vote against
three Fullerton City Council members.
The campaign in Fullerton, led by developer Tony Bushala, is
hoping to place the recall on the June ballot.
Although Kelly Thomas is no longer the focus, angry rhetoric
continues, and there are even “citizen’s arrests” in the final
weeks before the Feb. 16 signature deadline.
Dan Hughes, who took over as chief last week, met with reporters
and emphasized ethics and openness as part of an effort to rebuild
the department’s ruined reputation.
The preliminary hearing for Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli,
officers charged in the death of Kelly Thomas, is set for March
28.
Supervisor John Moorlach says the county might adopt a law for
mentally ill street people that is “better” than current state
law.
Bruce Whitaker said the internal information he has received
about the fatal beating by police has been “extremely
misleading.”
Investigating the fatal police beating of a mentally ill
transient is bound to uncover more problems, says independent
investigator.
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