Taft: Maricopa Police Chief Gene Fretheim Gets Back His Guns and His Dignity
Police Chief Who Shot Dog Was Ordered To Turn In Guns, Keep Away from Plaintiff
By Michael Long -
October 6, 2009
Maricopa Police Chief Gene Fretheim was served with a temporary restraining order that ordered him to turn in his guns and stay away from a Maricopa resident. It turned out later that the order was issued in error by the Kern County Superior Court.
Maricopa Police Chief Gene Fretheim has recovered his dignity and his guns after being erroneously served with a restraining order that ordered him to stay away from a Maricopa resident's home and ordered him to turn in his guns.
Fretheim was served last Friday and again on Monday with an order by Kern County Superior Court Judge Linda Etienne telling him that he had to stay away from the home of Maricopa resident Lisa Chavez, and that he had to turn his guns into a law enforcement agency.
Fretheim had shot and killed Chavez's dog on Friday in Maricopa.
Chavez had asked the court to issue the order.
Last Friday, Fretheim had recieved a complaint about a loose and vicious dog from a volunteer city worker.
Fretheim responded to the complaint and found a loose dog in an open field.
"I determined that the dog was a danger and a threat to the community," Fretheim said. "I shot and killed the dog."
After conducting research on the order, Maricopa City Attorney Allen Peak recieved a new order from the court that had been revised.
Both initial orders had a box checked that read that a restraining order had been issued and failure to follow the order could result in arrest.
Restraining orders usually involve confiscation of weapons.
The revised order had a different box checked that read that no orders were issued.
"An apology is in order," said Fretheim.
Superior Court Chief Executive Officer Terry McNally said that his office was "at fault" for issuing the incorrect order.
Fretheim complied with the initial order and turned his guns into the Taft Police Department on Monday morning. When he learned of the error, he recovered his guns from the department on Tuesday at 12:30pm.
Fretheim was in full uniform Tuesday with his service pistol at a news conference at 3pm at Maricopa City Hall.
Fretheim will now have to appear in Kern County Superior Court on October 15th at a hearing on the issue.
Fretheim said that he has two dogs of his own.
"I have been a dog owner and a dog lover all my life," Fretheim said.
Fretheim said that when he first came to Maricopa in May of this year, he noticed the large number of loose dogs in the community.
"We do not have a dog problem," Fretheim said. "We have a people problem."
Fretheim said that he had received numerous complaints from citizens about vicious dogs.
He said seniors who wished to walk in the community were afraid they would be attached by dogs.
Asked about reports that he had shot the dog after it had been restrained with a dog restraint pole and collar, he said such statments were a lie.
Maricopa City Manger Bob Wilburn said that he was proud of the work and professionalism of the police officers in the Maricopa Police Department.
Fretheim was served last Friday and again on Monday with an order by Kern County Superior Court Judge Linda Etienne telling him that he had to stay away from the home of Maricopa resident Lisa Chavez, and that he had to turn his guns into a law enforcement agency.
Fretheim had shot and killed Chavez's dog on Friday in Maricopa.
Chavez had asked the court to issue the order.
Last Friday, Fretheim had recieved a complaint about a loose and vicious dog from a volunteer city worker.
Fretheim responded to the complaint and found a loose dog in an open field.
"I determined that the dog was a danger and a threat to the community," Fretheim said. "I shot and killed the dog."
After conducting research on the order, Maricopa City Attorney Allen Peak recieved a new order from the court that had been revised.
Both initial orders had a box checked that read that a restraining order had been issued and failure to follow the order could result in arrest.
Restraining orders usually involve confiscation of weapons.
The revised order had a different box checked that read that no orders were issued.
"An apology is in order," said Fretheim.
Superior Court Chief Executive Officer Terry McNally said that his office was "at fault" for issuing the incorrect order.
Fretheim complied with the initial order and turned his guns into the Taft Police Department on Monday morning. When he learned of the error, he recovered his guns from the department on Tuesday at 12:30pm.
Fretheim was in full uniform Tuesday with his service pistol at a news conference at 3pm at Maricopa City Hall.
Fretheim will now have to appear in Kern County Superior Court on October 15th at a hearing on the issue.
Fretheim said that he has two dogs of his own.
"I have been a dog owner and a dog lover all my life," Fretheim said.
Fretheim said that when he first came to Maricopa in May of this year, he noticed the large number of loose dogs in the community.
"We do not have a dog problem," Fretheim said. "We have a people problem."
Fretheim said that he had received numerous complaints from citizens about vicious dogs.
He said seniors who wished to walk in the community were afraid they would be attached by dogs.
Asked about reports that he had shot the dog after it had been restrained with a dog restraint pole and collar, he said such statments were a lie.
Maricopa City Manger Bob Wilburn said that he was proud of the work and professionalism of the police officers in the Maricopa Police Department.
