POST panel fails to revoke former Riverside sergeant’s certification over rat-flyer dishonesty allegations

The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training on Nov. 17 reviewed evidence that former Riverside Police Department Sergeant James Matuku lied to internal affairs about creating and placing flyers depicting a crossed-out rat and the words “rat busters” in a department locker room. A motion at the commission to revoke Matuku’s POST certification failed, 3–10.

POST law enforcement consultant David Paletta told commissioners the division’s investigative summary and findings showed a “high probability” Matuku was responsible for creating, printing and posting the flyers and that he repeatedly denied involvement during two internal-interrogation sessions on Jan. 19, 2023, and Feb. 21, 2023. Paletta said investigators located Matuku on station surveillance footage walking toward the building…