Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 08/08/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Hilary Moores - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

NO CRIMINAL CONDUCT ON THE PART
OF THE SANTA ROSA CITY ATTORNEY

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Santa Rosa City Attorney designee Caroline Fowler committed no criminal acts in the release of records related to former Santa Rosa Police Department Captain Jamie Mitchell. 

District Attorney Passalacqua stated that “Ms. Fowler’s actions simply do not meet the elements to support the filing of any criminal charges.”

The limited release of documents relating to a Santa Rosa Police departmental investigation into employment discrimination claims was made under a confidentiality agreement during the course of litigation settlement negotiations.  The District Attorney found that Ms. Fowler did not violate Government Code Section 1222 by disclosing alleged peace officer personnel records, which disclosure is governed by Penal Code section 832.7.  The release of these documents is now the subject of a civil lawsuit filed by Mitchell.