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POST revokes Oroville officer’s certification after finding he left an arrestee on a remote road; city settled civil suit for $3 million
Summary
The commission unanimously voted to revoke Officer Robert Sasek’s POST certification after a Division review concluded Sasek abandoned an arrestee on a dark rural road; the complainant later was struck by a vehicle, suffered major injuries and the city settled a federal lawsuit for $3 million.
The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training voted on Sept. 10 to revoke the POST certification of former Oroville Police Department Officer Robert Sasek after the Division presented evidence that it said met the clear‑and‑convincing standard for ‘‘abuse of power.’’
Scott Bayland, a law enforcement consultant with POST’s Northern Professional Conduct Bureau, and attorney Brian Hoffman described a September 2022 incident the Division said involved Sasek arresting a woman for trespass at a Dollar General, transporting her in a caged patrol vehicle, stopping on rural Veil/Neil Road and letting the arrestee out on a dark, desolate stretch with no shoes, no phone and no means of assistance. The Division said Sasek did not activate his body‑worn camera, did not seek medical clearance for the arrestee at the hospital after Butte County jail staff initially refused booking for medical reasons, and did not call his sergeant or dispatch before leaving the scene.
The complainant’s account — and subsequent hospital records — were presented in the Division’s summary. The complainant said she was later struck by an unknown vehicle after leaving the patrol vehicle; she suffered multiple internal injuries, required removal of portions of her intestine and later had two toes amputated. The Division said Sasek’s actions ‘‘displayed a wanton disregard for public safety’’ and that he deliberately failed to use safeguards (BWC, radio, phone) and did not document the incident in an incident report. The city of Oroville settled a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by the complainant for $3,000,000.
Sasek, appearing by phone, told the commission he takes responsibility for his part in the incident and said he did not act with malice; he said he believed the encounter to be consensual once the complainant asked to get out of the vehicle and said he ‘‘stopped in a dirt lot with a light’’ rather than leaving her in a hazardous, unlit location. Sasek acknowledged he should have contacted his supervisor and said he had limited training in responding to persons under the influence.
Public commenters described the incident as a stark example of indifference that can produce life‑altering harm. ‘‘This was not a throwaway person,’’ one commenter said. Community advocates urged permanent decertification.
After closed session deliberations, a motion to revoke Sasek’s POST certificate carried on roll call with 13 aye votes. The Division had previously presented the case to the advisory board, which recommended revocation unanimously.
Why this matters: The case centers on officer duties to ensure safety of persons taken into custody or custody‑like situations and on the disciplinary standard for ‘‘abuse of power’’ in state peace‑officer certification rules. The settlement and severe injuries underline the human consequences referenced by the Division.
What’s next: POST will record the revocation and prepare the administrative record; civil‑litigation and criminal avenues remain separate and may continue outside POST’s administrative process.
