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1 50. MENENDEZ is informed and believes and thereon alleges that,approximately one week after <br /> 2 <br /> the Culichi Town Incident,the non-police employee witness was contacted by at least two MET members, <br /> 3 <br /> 4 via telephone, and told, words to the effect: "Keep your mouth shut." <br /> 5 51. MENENDEZ is also informed and believes and thereon alleges that,during this time period, <br /> 6 MET members also threatened various patrol officers to "keep their mouths shut"about the Culichi Town <br /> 7 <br /> Incident and that, if they did not do so, their careers would be "over". <br /> 8 <br /> 9 52. Since the Culichi Town Incident, almost all of the involved officers have been"rewarded" <br /> 10 by Chief Valentin(and those acting on his behalf) for staying quiet by being promoted and/or placed into <br /> 11 special details. <br /> 12 <br /> I. Let's Skip Ahead and Look at Commander Moreno's Recent Complaint. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 53. The Culichi Town Incident has been an"open secret" at CITY since August of 2020. <br /> 15 54. On May 9,2022,Chief Valentin released a video in which he described how"a blog"[written <br /> 16 by the above-referenced investigative journalist Camacho]that had been"shared on social media"contained <br /> 17 <br /> "serious misinformation" and"baseless attacks on the integrity of some of the most dedicated members of <br /> 18 <br /> 19 our police department." <br /> 20 55. In the video, Chief Valentin also stated that he wished to "assure the community my <br /> 21 command staff and I hold our officers to the highest standards" and that"we investigate any allegations of <br /> 22 <br /> wrongdoing and hold officers accountable to our department policies and the law." <br /> 23 <br /> 24 56. Chief Valentin then described how an"anonymous complaint"was received"seven months" <br /> 25 after the Culichi Town Incident and then stated: <br /> 26 "Upon receiving the initial complaint, an internal affairs investigation was opened." <br /> 27 <br /> 57. However, as: (1) the "initial complaint[s]" were made in August of 2020; and (2) no <br /> 28 <br /> investigation was admittedly opened until (at the earliest) seven months later, this statement was false. <br /> io <br /> MENENDEZ V. CITY OF SANTA ANA CASENO. <br /> COMPLAINT <br />