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A Livermore police officer is now among a host of Bay Area law enforcement officers being investigated for possible sexual misconduct with a teenage woman whose online alias is Celeste Guap.
Livermore police said that after becoming aware of media reports that one of their officers was among the many officers alleged to have had a sexual relationship with Guap, department officials identified the officer and placed him on leave pending the results of an internal administrative investigation.
An independent criminal investigation is being handled by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Livermore police said the officer will remain on leave until the administrative investigation has been completed and the purpose of the probe is to determine if any department policies were violated.
The alleged misconduct among law enforcement personnel was initially brought to light when the Oakland Police Department’s internal affairs division investigated the suicide of Officer Brendan O’Brien last September.
Three Oakland police officers were placed on leave and two other officers resigned when it was alleged that they had sexual relations with Guap, who’s now 18, when she was a minor.
On Thursday, the Contra Costa sheriff’s department said a deputy who was investigation for alleged sexual misconduct with Guap has resigned. But the deputy is still the subject of a criminal investigation.
Other law enforcement officials who allegedly were involved with Guap include two Alameda County District Attorney’s inspectors, officers from the San Francisco and Richmond police departments, deputies from the Alameda County sheriff’s office and an officer with the Defense Logistics Agency, a branch of the Department of Defense that’s located in San Joaquin County.
An Alameda County sheriff’s spokesman said an independent investigation cleared its deputies of any criminal wrongdoing or unethical conduct.
Livermore police Chief Michael Harris said in a statement, “I take very seriously any behavior by members of the Livermore Police Department, on or off-duty, that negatively impacts the public trust.”
Harris said, “It is my expectation and has been my experience that the men and women of the Livermore Police Department understand this and take pride in holding themselves to the highest ethical standards, striving to serve our community with honor.”
He said, “If, after a thorough investigation, it is determined that the employee in question has violated department policy, swift and appropriate discipline will be enforced to hold the officer accountable for his actions.”
Jeff Shuttleworth, Bay City News