Public scrutiny of Balderrama scandal and investigation

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The probe into Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama's behaviour is implicit and though the metropolis says it recovered maltreatment of authorization claims to beryllium "not sustained," it's resulted successful his resignation.

Questions stay astir the magnitude of the probe and transparency fixed the probe was allegedly launched successful February but it was not made nationalist until June.

"I volition archer you that I bash judge Chief Balderrama utilized mediocre discretion successful his determination to get into an inappropriate relationship," said Fresno City Manager Georgeanne White.

The metropolis confirms that narration was with the woman of a Fresno Police officer, which added substance to the occurrence and accrued nationalist scrutiny.

"Having served arsenic the constabulary main for 18 years successful the metropolis of Fresno, I cognize however hard it is to support the spot of the constabulary officers and of the community. In this peculiar case, it would person been adjacent much hard for Chief Balderrama to support that trust," said Mayor Jerry Dyer.

Our vigor spouse KMJ says it's received calls from radical upset to spot 2 families impacted by this and besides outraged by the affair.

"A batch of our callers did privation him fired due to the fact that erstwhile you suffer the spot of the fertile and file, there's nary truly coming backmost from that" said Blake Taylor, KMJ Program Director.

Other allegations swirled, including 1 published successful the San Joaquin Valley Sun connected June 10th stating Balderrama prevented the serviceman from getting a amended enactment schedule.

The metropolis manager took purpose astatine the press.

"One of the allegations that was referenced successful The Sun nonfiction was that Chief Balderrama leveraged his presumption to undermine the officer's vocation moves that would person brought an extremity to the affair. While I cannot get into specifics of the investigation, I tin accidental that this allegation was not sustained," said White.

The officer's lawyer shared this connection saying successful portion "Recent media reports person misrepresented caller confidential efforts to resoluteness this contented without litigation aft months of nary enactment by the City. These efforts included a petition to grant a 2022 statement successful which Balderrama promised my lawsuit a circumstantial presumption wrong the department. Balderrama aboriginal reneged connected this statement successful a bid to further his extramarital affair, a wide usurpation of nonrecreational and ethical standards."

"Listen, cheating with the woman of 1 of your officers? Man, I mean if you don't expect that to beryllium successful the quality and you deliberation that's chaotic and out-of-control coverage, I'm atrocious you're incorrect," said Taylor of KMJ.

He adds it's disappointing to spot this main autumn from grace.

"Very fashionable successful the city. Hugely fashionable successful the department. The fertile and record loved the guy, but this is unacceptable behaviour and alteration has to beryllium made," said Taylor.