Pomona Officers Acquitted Settle for $2.5M [Los Angeles, VA]

The City of Pomona has agreed to pay $2.5 million to resolve a wrongful-treatment lawsuit brought by two former police supervisors who were cleared of criminal misconduct but say their careers were effectively derailed upon reinstatement.

Background of the Case

In 2015, Pomona Police Department personnel became entangled in a publicized investigation into alleged excessive force and corruption following an encounter with 16-year-old Christian Aguilar at the Fairplex—retired Cpl. Chad Jensen, then 58, was accused of assaulting Aguilar, while his partner, Officer Prince Taylor Hutchinson, and retired Sgt. Michael Neaderbaomer, then 57, was charged with filing false reports and misleading statements to Aguilar’s family. All three faced federal civil rights indictments in October 2017.

Jensen and Hutchinson’s first trial ended in a hung jury, with jurors deadlocking 11–1 for conviction on all counts. In a subsequent retrial, both were acquitted. Neaderbaomer, tried separately in April 2019, was acquitted of making false statements, and prosecutors later dropped the remaining charges.

Allegations of Retaliation

Despite their acquittals, Jensen and Neaderbaomer alleged in a May 2020 federal lawsuit that then-Police Chief Michael Olivieri retaliated against them by removing all meaningful police duties. Although formally reinstated, they were barred from patrol, investigations, and public-facing assignments. Instead, they were ordered to perform manual labor—disposing of trash, moving furniture, cleaning offices, and other menial tasks typically reserved for civilian staff.

The complaint detailed how Chief Olivieri told the officers that reinstating them to active law-enforcement roles would draw unwanted public scrutiny, given the negative headlines and an unresolved internal affairs inquiry. “He did not want either of you interacting with the public,” the suit says, “because then people would question why you’d been allowed back on the job.”

Settlement Details

On April 16, Pomona officials finalized a settlement that awards Jensen $525,000 and Neaderbaomer $725,000. Their attorneys will receive $1.2 million to cover legal fees and expenses. The Pomona City Council must still approve the total payout of $2.5 million.

“After five years of litigation, my clients are relieved that their day in court has reaffirmed their rights,” said their attorney, Daniel Moussatche. “The city’s investigation confirmed they did nothing wrong—yet their careers and reputations were damaged. We’re pleased the settlement restores their dignity.”

Judicial Rulings Leading to Settlement

A key turning point came on March 17, when Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Bradley S. Phillips granted the officers’ motion to exclude specific evidence the city planned to use in its defense. Phillips barred bystander videos, photographs from the 2015 incident, and records from the criminal trials, deeming them potentially misleading or prejudicial.

With its primary defenses effectively stricken, the city faced high stakes and considerable cost if the case went to trial. “This was an enormously complex matter,” said Pomona Assistant City Manager Mark J. Gluba. “While we maintain no misconduct by the city, the court’s pretrial rulings left us with little choice but to settle to protect taxpayer dollars.”

Aftermath and Current Status

Jensen retired in May 2021, and Neaderbaomer followed in August 2022. Hutchinson was reinstated and remains on duty as a detective. However, the settlement does not include him, as he did not join the lawsuit.

Pomona’s resolution of this high-profile dispute underscores the tension between protecting officers’ rights and managing public trust, and highlights the risks municipalities face when internal and external investigations intersect.

Source: THE SUN