Don’t be the last one to get out of a bad situation.
That’s what I’ve learned from studying the hearing that’s been underway in Santa Maria recently, in which Dan Ast, formerly a lieutenant with the Santa Maria Police Department, is arguing that he should get his job back.
Ast was a link in the department’s chain at the time of a terrible national-headline-making incident in 2012, in which one officer fatally shot another (Alberto Covarrubias, who was under suspicion of having a violent sexual relationship with a minor Police Explorer) during a confrontation.
While the entire department came under scrutiny, and its leaders were especially criticized, there’s an argument to be made that Ast bore the brunt of the discipline.
He was fired, ostensibly for what were dubbed his failures in command leading to Covarrubias’ death. But that firing didn’t come at the hands of Dan Macagni, who was chief at the time. No, Macagni exited stage left with as much grace as he could muster after being put on leave for a couple of days—and he was paid handsomely to do so. That’s what happens when you officially retire.
New chief Ralph Martin did the firing, and I’ve got no issue with him. I believe he’s working hard to mold Santa Maria’s police department into tip-top fighting shape. But Ast has been a focal point for the previous leadership’s collective failings.
Ast’s supervisor at the time of the shooting, Cmdr. Craig Ritz, is no longer with the department—but not many feathers ruffled upon his departure. Lts. Rico Flores and Kendall Greene both retired before an internal investigation was completed.
Obviously, in a situation like this one, there’s plenty of blame to go around. But that doesn’t mean it gets distributed equitably. Does Ast deserve the share he’s been allotted? We’ll have to wait and see what happens in July when the proceedings continue.
But regardless of what happens with Ast, I think some other people in the department got out with a slap on the wrist—and in some cases, the hand that did the slapping also passed along some cash.
The Canary is always the first to leave the party—unless she’s having fun. Send comments or tips to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 12-19, 2014.