Officer Lucas Woodward Motion For Summary Judgment

PRELIMINARY COMMENTS

Subject: Defendants Stockton Police Department, Chief Eric Jones, Sgt. Mathew Garlick, and Officer Lucas Woodward Motion for Summary Judgment

Defendants Stockton Police Department, Chief Eric Jones, Sgt. Mathew Garlick and Officer Lucas Woodward Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

FACTS

A. Hiring of Officer Woodward by Chief Eric Jones

On January 31, 2012, Sergeant Meyers told the San Diego Police Department that Officer Woodward conducted a probation search and misled him. (Record (R) at 1) After Sergeant Meyers informed the San Diego Police Department of Officer Woodward, he again instructed him to not conduct a probation search on January 31, 2012. (R at 1.)

On February 11, 2012, Sergeant Meyers requested the San Diego Police Department to conduct an investigation on Officer Woodward’s dishonesty because he had engaged in a probation search. (R at 1) Sergeant Meyers had told Officer Woodward that his primary function was to respond to calls for service and he ordered Officer Woodward not to perform probation or parole services. (R at 1) The investigation by the San Diego Police Department concluded that Officer Woodward (1) willfully disobeyed a direct order from Sergeant

Masterson under a traffic stop. (R at 2.) Mr. Masterson told Officer Woodward that he did not have his identification but that he did have his driver’s license back at his motel. (R at 2.) Officer Woodward followed Mr. Masterson into his motel and searched the motel room. (R at 3.) Officer Woodward told Mr. Masterson to open up a nightstand. (R at 3.) When Mr. Masterson opened the nightstand, Officer Woodward notices drug paraphilia and arrested Mr. Masterson. (R at 3.) An independent investigator hired by the Sherriff’s Department found that Officer Woodward engaged in an unlawful search and invasion of privacy at the time he entered and searched Mr. Masterson motel room. (R at