Officer's termination upheld, new fire chief, budget woes

This week the Vallejo Sun reported on an arbitrator's report that upheld the termination of a police officer fired for his actions during the 2019 shooting of Willie McCoy. We also reported on the city's new interim fire chief and where the city will be making cuts in response to a projected revenue shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.

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Arbitrator upholds termination of former Vallejo officer for Willie McCoy shooting

A former Vallejo police officer who was fired in 2020 for endangering another officer during the 2019 shooting of Willie McCoy lost an appeal to try and win his job with the city back, according to documents released by the city on Monday.

Ryan McMahon was the only officer disciplined for the shooting of McCoy, who was found unresponsive behind the wheel of his car in a Taco Bell drive-thru on Feb. 9, 2019. Six officers fired 55 shots at McCoy, including McMahon, who arrived last and fired a single shot as he was running toward the shooting scene from behind Officer Bryan Glick, just before Glick stepped in front of his muzzle.

The May 13 decision by arbitrator Stephen Biersmith released by the city was heavily redacted as it referenced prior investigations into McMahon unrelated to the McCoy shooting. California law seals police personnel records with some exceptions, including investigations into police shootings.

Biersmith upheld the decision by then-police Chief Shawny Williams to terminate McMahon for violations of department policies, including its safety policy and unsafe weapons handling.

“It was unclear why [McMahon] did not make the other officers aware of his location right away upon his arrival,” Biersmith wrote. “This was not an unimportant consideration in this was a recognized prerequisite before an officer in the rear fires his weapon.”

McMahon’s involvement in the shooting eventually led to the discovery of the department’s badge bending scandal, in which officers bent the tips of their badges to mark shootings. Former police Capt. John Whitney alleged in a lawsuit that when McMahon turned his badge in, department superiors noticed two bent tips, representing McCoy and the 2018 shooting of Ronell Foster.

Vallejo appoints former Vacaville fire chief as interim fire chief

Vallejo city officials announced the appointment of former Vacaville fire Chief Frank Drayton as interim Vallejo fire chief on Monday and the veteran fire department leader began serving in the role that same day.

Interim police Chief Jason Ta had been directing both departments since April 4 in the absence of Vallejo fire Chief Kyle Long, who went on leave in April without explanation.

Vallejo spokesperson Christina Lee declined to comment on whether the city is currently searching for a new permanent fire chief or if they expect Long to return.

Drayton has over 30 years of experience in fire protection services. He recently served as deputy chief for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. From 2011 to 2015 he was chief of the Vacaville Fire Department, where he had served as a division chief since 2007.

Drayton also served in the military for over 20 years. He was fire chief for 349th Air Mobility Wing Reserve at Travis Air Force Base and he served as a firefighter in the U.S. Navy. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Dixon and returned to the Dixon department after his Navy service. He left Dixon as interim chief to take the deputy chief position with Vacaville in 2007.

He retired from the Vacaville department in 2015 but continued as interim chief while the department searched for his replacement. In 2017 he took up the deputy chief role in San Ramon and retired from that position in 2023.

Vallejo City Council mulls budget proposal that would cut 10% for services and supplies citywide

The city of Vallejo’s finance department proposed a 10% cut to services and supplies across all departments to help close a $3.3 million funding gap in the upcoming fiscal year budget.

The city’s finance department estimates that the city’s general fund revenue for the upcoming fiscal year will be $134 million, excluding Measure P sales tax revenue. Although the department’s predictions show a $1.5 million increase in revenue from the previous year, the city estimates expenditures for the 2024-25 fiscal year to be $137.6 million. 

To close the gap, the finance department asked the leaders of each department to make a 10% cut at their own discretion to their services and supplies budget allocation. Services and supplies is an allocation in each department budget that accounts for operating costs separate from salaries and benefits. 

During a budget workshop meeting last week, Councilmember Mina Loera-Diaz expressed concern about where the cuts would come from in each department.

“I just want to make sure the cuts are not cuts that are affecting the residents directly,” Loera-Diaz said. “So if we are going to eliminate some paper here or some copies there, it’s very different than [cutting] services that we are supposed to be providing.”

Mayor Robert McConnell also expressed interest aligning the budget more closely with council’s spending choices and public priorities, rather than making general cuts to each department.

“The weakness in that system,” McConnell said. “Is that it does not give recognition to the priorities of the citizens or what the council wishes to spend more or less money on. It comes in with an administrative approach to continue what has been done in the past. It does not give an opportunity for the citizens to say we want more roads or we want more festivals.”

In other news

• In order to preserve Cal Maritime’s nearly 100-year history in a time of declining enrollment, the California State University (CSU) announced a recommendation to integrate the Vallejo university with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, the Vallejo Times-Herald reports.
• The Solano Land Trust has officially announced opposition to California Forever’s East Solano Plan, following a vote of its Board of Directors, the Vallejo Times-Herald reports.
• California Forever has announced plans to design a community sports complex designed to house facilities for baseball and softball, football, basketball, rugby, soccer, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, gymnastics, swimming, and more, the Vallejo Times-Herald reports.
• A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday for the future Fairview at Northgate site, which will hold a new Costco and approximately 200 residential homes, the Vallejo Times-Herald reports.
• The three-year legal battle over the fate of a 1,200 unit housing project and the question of whether the noise of undergrads should be treated as an environmental pollutant under California law ended this morning when the state Supreme Court ruled the “lawsuit poses no obstacle to the development of the People’s Park housing project,” Calmatters reports.

Upcoming events

Friday, June 7

• Woofstock Dog Show: An annual four-day, tie-dye themed dog show, with a costume contest for humans on Saturday. Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Drive.
• Wild Things Inc. Come and see wild animals at the library! Join Wild Things as they delve into the world of wildlife while exploring the most intriguing and beautiful animals on the planet. All Ages. Fri, 10 a.m. to noon, Springstowne Library, 1003 Oakwood Ave.
• The Makery: Open Use Hours & Make it Fridays! The Makery! Equipment includes: 3D printer, vinyl cutter, digital production equipment, and much more! Drop-in and discover what we have, or make an appointment to use specific equipment. Fri, 2 to 4:45 p.m. John F. Kennedy Library, 505 Santa Clara St.
• First Fridays At The Museum - Dirty Cello: Led by vivacious cross-over cellist, Rebecca Roudman, Dirty Cello brings the world a high energy and unique spin on blues, rock, and Americana. Tickets $5.00 for museum members and $15.00 for nonmembers. Fri, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Museum of History Benicia, 900 E 2nd St.

Saturday, June 8

• Vallejo Run Club: Join the Vallejo Run Club on our weekly Saturday morning and Wednesday evening runs. Our group meets, rain or shine, next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. We run 1-3 easy miles. Beginners to ultra marathoners welcome! Sat, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Vallejo Ferry Terminal, 289 Mare Island Way.
• Woofstock Dog Show: An annual four-day, tie-dye themed dog show, with a costume contest for humans on Saturday. Sat, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Drive.
• Community Coffee Tasting, Sample coffees from around the world and discover coffees you love that you never knew existed. Browse crafts and confections by local vendors, or enjoy made-to order crêpes. Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Moschetti Coffee, 11 Sixth St. (Curtola Pkwy. & Solano Ave.)
• Farmers' Market: Shop here for a great selection of California-grown greens, fruits & veggies, as well as some nice specialty booths with baked goods at down-to-earth prices. Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Downtown Vallejo, Georgia and Marin Streets.
• Multi House Vintage Yard Sale: Seven friends with loads of vintage stuff need to clean out and make room for more. Saturday and Sunday. No early birds. Sat, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Amador between Nebraska and Illinois Streets.
• 2nd Saturday’s Vallejo "Roll & Stroll Makers Market" Shop small, support local and come check out everything from new food and drinks, treats, trends, designers, craft makers, artists, collectors, live music, guest DJs and more! Co-Poet Laureate Jacalyn Eyvonne will have a Youth Poetry Letters Project booth, with poetry writing and drawing activities for young people. Participants’ poems may be considered for publication in the Youth Poetry Letters Anthology project. Sat, noon to 5 p.m., Barbara Kondylis Waterfront Park, 301 Mare Island Way.
• Brushstrokes for Earth: The Vallejo Center for the Arts (VCA) and Arts Benicia are excited to unveil the collaborative exhibition, Brushstrokes for Earth and Solano Water Stories: Artists Voices. This unique project aims to shed light on critical environmental issues and spark conversations about sustainability and social justice, showcasing a vibrant collection of new works by artists from the Vallejo and Benicia area. Sat, noon to 4 p.m., Temple Art Lofts Gallery, 340 Virginia St.
• Kitty Meet and Greet - pet adoptions: Come meet your next best friend! Evening appointments also available. All cats and kittens who are adopted out through Community Cat Advocates have been tested, vaccinated to age appropriate levels, microchipped and spayed or neutered. Sat, noon to 3 p.m., PetSmart, 952 Admiral Callaghan Lane.
• MyLuckyEars - Priscila Soares Solo Art Show Opening Reception: Soars said she has poured her heart into a collection of paintings, sculptures, and illustrations centered around the theme of deafness and hearing loss. The show will feature the launch of her illustrated children’s book titled “Cesaria Feels the Beat.” Sat, noon to 4 p.m., Mare Island Art Studios, 110 Pintado St.
• D'Groove Band: D'Groove's simple concept of playing the latest dance tunes, classic old school, and favorite standards assures a good time for all on the dance floor! Minors welcome, kids 12 and under are free. Well mannered and managed puppy dogs allowed in our outdoor venue. Gate opens at noon. Sat, 1 to 4 p.m., Vino Godfather, 1005 Walnut Ave.
• Re:Sound SUN: Re:Sound is an experimental audio-visual series that explores the relationship between forgotten spaces, the natural environment, and sound abstraction. An afternoon of sound, vision, and space with performances by artists Yann Novak, G. Brenner, CGRSM, Christopher Robin Duncan, Yasi Poursamad and Ami Radunskaya. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. $15-20 donation. Sat, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Building 34, Mare Island, 1024 Nimitz Ave.
• Bryan Girard Jazz Trio: Saxophonist Bryan Girard will be joined musicians Greg Sankovich and Greg German. Buy dinner and get listen to a live jazz show free! Manny’s has great views and a full bar. Advance dinner reservation recommended. Sat, 5 to 8 p.m., Manny’s Steakhouse, 295 Mare Island Way.
• Live Music with Groovy Judy: Enjoy an evening of great food, drinks and atmosphere while listening to the love-infused rock music brought by Groovy Judy and her band. Sat, 6 to 9 p.m., Bambino’s, 301 Georgia St. #122.
• Live Music with Hattie Craven: Hattie Craven is a multidimensional artist whose fan base transcends age and genre. Sat, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Mare Island Brewing Co. Ferry Taproom, 289 Mare Island Way.
• Gud Tymez at Gentleman Jim's: Gud Tymez dance band and special guests "Starlight" featuring Gordon Frazier and "Lady" from the Night Owls band will entertain you and keep you on the dance floor. Also, DJ Tron will play your favorite dance music during the band breaks! $10 Cover after 10 p.m. Sat, 9 to midnight, Gentleman Jim’s, 1324 Lincoln Road E.
• Townhouse Divas Drag Show: Come join Vicodonia Knightingale, Charity Kase and Holotta Tymes every 2nd and 4th Saturday night at the Townhouse Cocktail Lounge! These are the Divas you want to see! Sat, 10:30 to 11:59 p.m., Townhouse Cocktail Lounge, 401A Georgia St.

Sunday, June 9

• Woofstock Dog Show: An annual four-day, tie-dye themed dog show, with a costume contest for humans on Saturday. Sun, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Drive.
• Multi House Vintage Yard Sale: Seven friends with loads of vintage stuff need to clean out and make room for more. Saturday and Sunday. No early birds. Sun, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Amador between Nebraska and Illinois Streets.
• Kayak Practice and Fun: Paddle around Lake Chabot, an easy, fun kayaking site that’s safe for beginners. Kayak provided if you don’t have one. $10 suggested donation. Check the Facebook Kayaking Biking group for updates - dates and times may vary because of weather or volunteer availability. Sun, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lake Chabot, Dan Foley Park, 1461 N Camino Alto.
• Brushstrokes for Earth: The Vallejo Center for the Arts (VCA) and Arts Benicia are excited to unveil the collaborative exhibition, Brushstrokes for Earth and Solano Water Stories: Artists Voices. This unique project aims to shed light on critical environmental issues and spark conversations about sustainability and social justice, showcasing a vibrant collection of new works by artists from the Vallejo and Benicia area. Sun, noon to 4 p.m., Temple Art Lofts Gallery, 340 Virginia St.
• MyLuckyEars - Priscila Soares Solo Art Show: Soars said she has poured her heart into a collection of paintings, sculptures, and illustrations centered around the theme of deafness and hearing loss. The show will feature the launch of her illustrated children’s book titled “Cesaria Feels the Beat.” Sat, noon to 4 p.m., Mare Island Art Studios, 110 Pintado St.
• Jazz Sunday with vocalist Carmen Lauren: This month's Jazz Sunday features vocalist Carmen Lauren, Bryan Girard, Greg Sankovich and Gerry Kennett. Buy brunch and get listen to a live jazz show free! Sun, noon to 3 p.m., Bambino’s, 301 Georgia St. #122.
• Solano County Pride Picnic by VGN: Join your community at Alden Park on Mare Island for our annual Pride Picnic Potluck! Bring a dish to share, an umbrella if you need it, and a chair or blanket. We will have music, entertainment and communal fun while enjoying this historic park. Plates, cutlery, and napkins will be supplied by the organizers. Sun, noon to 5 p.m., Alden Park, 8^th Street between Railroad and Walnut Ave., Mare Island.
• Tea House Poetry Open Mic: Join Co-Poets Laureate Jacalyn Yvonne and Kathleen Herrmann for a poetry open mice every second Sunday at the Integrity Cafe. Sun, 2 to 4 p.m., IntegriTea, 717 Marin St.

As always keep up on VallejoSun.com for the latest news.

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