The Stockton Police Department publicly acknowledged allegations of potential election-related fraud on Aug. 13, including claims concerning candidate residency and possible conspiracies to commit fraud, but said it does not investigate election fraud.
In a news release titled “Investigations of Election Fraud,” the police department said it had become aware of allegations over the past several months.
“As a police department, we have an obligation to remain impartial and objective,” the police department said in a statement. “While we do not make assumptions regarding the validity of any allegation, we take credible complaints seriously and evaluate them appropriately.”
The police department said allegations that fall within the jurisdiction or investigative authority of another law enforcement agency are referred to the appropriate agency for review and investigation.
The police department also encouraged anyone with information about potential election fraud to report it anonymously to Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600. It said Stockton Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
The news release followed a July 29 response from the police department saying it does not investigate election fraud. The response came after an inquiry from The Record about allegations involving Stockton City Council District 5 candidate Desiree Lynch.
District 1 Councilmember Michele Padilla shared the news release on social media Aug. 13 and said the police department was investigating allegations of potential election-related fraud, including claims concerning candidate residency.
When asked whether the police department now investigates election fraud and whether it would follow up on reports submitted through Stockton Crime Stoppers on Aug. 13, Officer Omer Edhah, a Stockton Police Department spokesperson, said it would not.
“The Stockton Police Department does not investigate election fraud,” Edhah said.
Edhah said Stockton Crime Stoppers is intended for reporting “any crime or alleged crime” and is used by multiple agencies, not only the Stockton Police Department.
The department did not identify in its release which agency is responsible for investigating the election-related allegations it referenced.
Officer David Scott, a Stockton Police Department spokesperson, said the purpose of the Aug. 13 news release was to acknowledge election fraud allegations being made in Stockton and reassure the community that allegations and information shared with the department are referred to the appropriate agency for review and investigation.
“Stockton Crime Stoppers is a way for the community to submit anonymous tips for anything,” Scott said.
Scott did not identify which local agency is responsible for investigating election fraud allegations. He referred questions about the matter to the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.
The Record asked the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office whether it had received any complaints, referrals or evidence related to the allegations, whether it was reviewing or investigating them, whether it has jurisdiction over election-related fraud, candidate residency violations or conspiracy to commit fraud allegations, and which agency is responsible for investigating such allegations. It also asked about the office’s process for handling potential election-related criminal conduct and what would be required to open an investigation.
Erin Haight and Rosie Calderon, spokespeople for the district attorney’s office, did not respond to the questions by the Aug. 14 deadline.
What prompted the news release?
The police department’s release comes amid a public dispute over allegations that Stockton City Council District 5 candidate Desiree Lynch does not reside at the Stockton address listed on her campaign paperwork.
Former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva has publicly questioned Lynch’s residency, citing video that appears to show the interior of the apartment listed on her candidate paperwork and a public property record listing an address for Lynch in Lodi.
The Record reviewed Lynch’s candidate paperwork, which lists an East Oak Street apartment in Stockton as her residence, but has not independently verified whether she resided there.
Lynch’s campaign previously did not respond to questions from The Record seeking comment on the residency allegations.
District 5 Councilmember Brando Villapudua, the incumbent whose name will appear next to Lynch’s on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election, asked San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale on July 28 to review questions about Lynch’s residency and, if appropriate, coordinate with law enforcement agencies.
Hale responded on July 29 that her office takes allegations affecting elections seriously and works with the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office when necessary.
“They are the professional investigators in our county, and I trust they will determine if there is a need to pursue anything further,” Hale wrote.
Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, previously said it was not investigating the residency allegations but did not clarify whether it has jurisdiction over such matters or which agency would be responsible for investigating them.
Councilmembers react to police response
Villapudua thanked Police Chief Stanley McFadden for publicly addressing the allegations and called on San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas to conduct what he described as a “thorough, independent, and timely review.”
“Chief McFadden’s statement appropriately recognizes that credible complaints must be taken seriously, evaluated objectively and referred to the proper authorities when they fall within another agency’s jurisdiction,” Villapudua said. “This is the impartial and responsible leadership our community deserves.”
Villapudua said election-related allegations should not be dismissed as ordinary political disagreements and that the facts and evidence should determine the outcome.
“This is not about presuming anyone guilty,” Villapudua said. “It is about ensuring that no individual, candidate or political interest is treated as being above the law. The facts should be examined fairly, the evidence should determine the outcome and the public deserves transparency regarding the process.”
Vice Mayor Jason Lee also responded to the news release, saying he supports the police department taking credible allegations seriously but questioning why the department’s release was titled “Investigations of Election Fraud” if the police department said it does not investigate election fraud.
“The public deserves clarity about SPD’s jurisdiction and exactly what is being investigated versus what is being referred elsewhere, and if candidate residency allegations now warrant this level of scrutiny, that standard must apply equally to everyone,” Lee said.
Lee also said residency allegations should be treated consistently whether they involve candidates or sitting councilmembers.
“This cannot be about personalities, politics, candidates or incumbents,” Lee said. “There must be one standard. Investigate credible allegations. Follow the evidence. Refer matters outside local jurisdiction and apply the same standard of accountability to everyone.”
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton police acknowledge election fraud allegations, but won’t investigate | Exclusive
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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By Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record | USA TODAY Network
