WOODLAND DAILY DEMOCRAT

Al Rojas speaks to supporters following his demand that the Woodland City Council seek an independent investigation into the shooting death of Luis Gutierrez in April by Yolo sheriff's deputies. (Jim Smith/Democrat)

Woodland police chief iritated by 'hypocritical' 

statements on shooting

By JIM SMITH/News@Dailydemocrat.Com

Created: 06/17/2009

Speaking publicly for the first time, Woodland Police Chief Carey Sullivan called "hypocritical" statements from those calling for an independent investigation into the April shooting death of a resident by members of the Sheriff's Department anti-gang task force.

Sullivan's response came after Al Rojas, a member of the Labor council for Latin American Advancement, accompanied by about 20 supporters, called for the probe at Tuesday's City Council meeting during the public comment session.

Additionally, Woodland Mayor Skip Davies said Vice Mayor Art Pimentel had already scheduled a meeting with District Attorney Jeff Reisig for June 22 to seek an independent probe. However, Davies also expressed his full confidence in the police investigation.

The council is prohibited by law from taking action on matters brought up during public comment.

Luis Gutierrez, 26, was shot by members of the undercover gang suppression unit on April 30, after allegedly attacking them with a knife on the Gum Avenue overcrossing. Subsequent County Coroner's reports stated Gutierrez he had gang tattoos and was on methamphetamine. 

The Woodland Police Department has been investigating the shooting and is forwarding its results to the District Attorney's Office for action.

After Rojas and several other people spoke about the shooting their feelings of being profiled in the community as well as implied whether it was safe for Latinos to walk the streets, an annoyed Sullivan spoke out.

"The men and women in the Woodland Police Department have been working many long and hard hours to complete this investigation. 

They have been collecting evidence and doing so objectively and fairly," he said. 

"We have not engaged in a public this discussion of this issue in order not to taint this investigation. The integrity of this investigation is of utmost importance to us.

"I would like to say that it angers me when a person insults the integrity of this organization and this community by on one hand calling for a fair and objective investigation and on the other hand calling the Woodland Police Department complicit with the Sheriff's Department," Sullivan said. 

"This is totally hypocritical statement. These officers are upholding the law and are dedicated to protecting the citizens of the city of Woodland, and they work long and hard at doing so."