POST revokes Torrance officer Joshua Satterfield's certification over racist messages

The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training voted unanimously March 6, 2025, to adopt the Peace Officer Standards Accountability Advisory Board’s recommendation to revoke the certification of former Torrance Police Department officer Joshua Satterfield.

The commission’s action followed a presentation by an investigator who said the division found “reasonable grounds to believe” Satterfield engaged in “serious misconduct” under the statute and regulation that prohibit demonstrations of bias by peace officers.

Robbie Bringoff, an investigator assigned to the Los Angeles County Professional Conduct Bureau, told the commission the division reviewed multiple WhatsApp and text‑message exchanges involving Satterfield and other Torrance officers. Bringoff said the division concluded some messages showed “prejudice, intolerance, contempt or hatred toward a protected class of persons” and that a reasonable person would conclude the officer would not “fairly and impartially perform his law enforcement duties.” He cited examples including Satterfield’s reply “What’s the crime?” to a message about an alleged attack on a Black child and a separate message referring to a Torrance community member using a racial epithet and saying, “you failed to kill.”

Bringoff said the messages violated Torrance Police Department policies, including anti‑harassment rules, and that the division applied the statutory/regulatory test for demonstrating bias when deciding to recommend revocation. “The division recommends that Joshua Satterfield’s POST certification be revoked,” he said.

Public commenters urged the commission to affirm the recommendation. Tasha Williamson, identified in the record as a civil‑rights activist, read a community impact statement and said the messages and department culture warranted permanent decertification: “Giving either of these individuals their certification back represents a real harm to community,” she said. Yousef Miller of the North County Equity and Justice Coalition called for more community advisory roles and broader outreach by POST so impacted communities can participate.

Commissioners asked staff why the officer’s background checks and psychological screening had not earlier revealed the conduct. Bringoff and other staff said the division would consider deeper background reviews going forward but did not provide a definitive cause for the screening gaps.

No public comment from Satterfield or his counsel appeared in person; counsel Tom Yu notified POST by email that he and his client would not make public statements. After discussion, Commissioner Cooper moved to adopt the advisory board’s recommendation; Commissioner Brown seconded. The roll call produced 13 votes in favor; the motion passed unanimously.

The revocation vote is a preliminary, non‑evidentiary determination under the statute: the commission considered whether the division’s factual presentation, if proven at a later administrative evidentiary hearing, would demonstrate a high probability of serious misconduct. If the commission’s finding is sustained through subsequent procedures, Satterfield’s POST certificate will be revoked.