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Community members demand investigation after allegations of misconduct by HLP school police
Summary
Multiple public commenters accused Hacienda La Puente Unified School District police leadership of misconduct and called on the board to investigate; commenters cited a federal court ruling related to an arrest and asked that officers be added to the Brady list. Board members and staff described the complaint process and differing views were aired in public comments.
Several community members used the board’s public‑comment period to press for more transparency and investigation into allegations of misconduct by the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District School Police Department.
"Officer Sergio Martinez arrested community member Mark David Booth from the Los Altos area for battery on the school property and cruelty to a child," a public commenter said, later adding: "US federal court found that officer Martinez falsely attributed statements in his police report and that the arrest was an unreasonable seizure because it was based on a false police report. The court ruled that mister Booth was factually innocent of all charges."
That same commenter urged the board to add officers to the Brady list — the list of officers with credibility issues — and to remove Chief John Babbitt from service. Other speakers described alleged incidents in which officers or the chief behaved in an intimidating manner, and several audience members said they had filed complaints they believed had not been fully investigated.
District staff and trustees described the complaint intake process. The commenter reported that an initial filing on 08/25/2025 was acknowledged and the investigation was initiated, but later told him the allegations did not qualify as a Uniform Complaint Procedure matter; he asked staff to clarify the path and timeline for the district to investigate and resolve the allegations.
Board members also responded publicly to the accusations. One trustee said the district should follow complaint procedures and urged staff to provide a formal confirmation of the status; another trustee, during board member remarks, referenced past criminal convictions involving the public commenter and said the board needed to be mindful of source credibility. The exchange represents unresolved claims and counterclaims aired in a public forum.
Why it matters: Allegations of misconduct by school police implicate student safety, personnel discipline processes and public trust. The public asked for clarity on whether existing procedures had been followed and whether board action (or a formal investigation) was warranted.
What’s next: Complainants requested a clear written confirmation of complaint handling and next steps; trustees and staff committed to follow‑up and to clarifying whether the Uniform Complaint Procedure applies in the specific incidents described.
