By Emerson Drake
4/16/11
Suspended (OK, paid administrative leave) Riverbank City Manager Rich Holmer is being represented by attorney/investigator Bob Aaronson, who is currently being paid by the City of Modesto to investigate the MPD, especially in reference to the letters from a long time MPD employee and the retirement e-mail sent by Sgt. Craig Plante.Attorney Aaronson reminded everyone within earshot that he's represented over 500 Police Chiefs during his career which leaves us wondering about his impartiality when it comes to his findings.
After all, have you ever heard of someone who finds against police chiefs during investigations of their departments on a regular basis to be used to defend them?
Well we haven't.In a recent conversation with Modesto City Attorney Susan Acala Woods, the claim was made that he has found against cities that he has investigated. She offered to send the newspaper articles which delineated these results.
Now this was several weeks ago, and at this writing no such email has been received.A long time MPD employee has come forward with a series of letters making specific complaints against the MPD and Chief Hardin.Has Mr. Aaronson read these letters?Have they been offered to him?
Tomorrow we'll be following up on some of the recent revelations.
When Chief Hardin and investigator Aaronson were recently seen eating together at a fancy downtown eatery, were they laughing about the limited scope of the investigation? Or was the Chief getting contract advise?
