ACLU calling for independent investigation on Vallejo city attorney over policing issues

VALLEJO, Calif. (KGO) -- The ACLU sent a letter to the city of Vallejo asking that it conduct an independent investigation into a list of accusations.

This includes destroying records and hiring officers who didn't meet department standards.

There are growing concerns over allegations of misconduct at Vallejo City Hall. And now, the ACLU is getting involved.

"(I) think some of the more recent ones that have come to light, that are alleging that there are dual filing systems for police records, that may now implicate an unknown number of criminal and civil cases. Again, these are alarming. These have caused us to pause and say these are serious allegations," said Allyssa Victory, a senior attorney at the ACLU.

On Thursday, Victory sent a letter to the Vallejo City Council, calling for an independent investigation into the city attorney's office. The ACLU alleges that City Attorney Veronica Nebb and her staff have engaged in "a disturbing pattern of misconduct."

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The ACLU says that includes destroying records from multiple police shootings, supporting the police department in suppressing records of misconduct from public disclosure, failing to investigate allegations and retaliating against officers who speak up. And, covering up the police department's hiring of officers who did not meet hiring standards.

"Again, these are new allegations that are continuing, that are mounting. If any of them are true, it can have serious liability for the entire city -- implications for civil and criminal cases," Victory said.

The implications for civil and criminal cases are potential lawsuits against the city and by people being released from jail, says civil rights attorney Melissa Nold.

"The implications are that there have been felonies, federal crimes that have occurred. Not turning over record to judges in criminal cases, to plaintiffs in civil rights cases. Those are crimes. Those are conspiracies. So, we have got things on the record saying that this was a scheme that they were engaging in," Nold said.

Nold is litigating case from 2019, which includes several whistle blowers, such a former Vallejo police captain and a police recruiter. She hopes pressure from the ACLU will get city council to act.

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"Hopefully this will be the thing that will kind of shake them into understanding this isn't one family, one thing that happened a long time ago. There are officers that are on the streets right now that the city knows shouldn't be there and misconduct records that haven't been turned over as of this year," Nold said.

Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce has also called for an independent investigation.

But in a statement to ABC7 News, the City Attorney's Office responded by saying: "The ACLU's letter contains numerous statements and allegations relating to the City Attorney's Office which are not factual. The City Attorney's Office continues to be committed to serving the City of Vallejo with the utmost honesty and integrity."

The ACLU is asking the city to vote to investigate at its next meeting on Tuesday.