Report: Assistant police chief avoided decision on boss’ arrest after drunken driving stop

Report: Asst. police chief eluded decision on boss

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A California Highway Patrol report shows Riverside’s assistant police chief did not order his boss arrested or tested after officers pulled over the police chief for drunken driving.

Following a Feb. 8 traffic stop, patrol officers noticed that then-Chief Russ Leach appeared to be intoxicated. The CHP report says that instead of arresting Leach, they deferred the decision to their bosses.

Ultimately, then-Assistant Police Chief John De La Rosa was told the chief seemed drunk, but De La Rosa sidestepped a decision about whether to arrest or test his boss.

Leach later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence and retired. De La Rosa is now heading the department.

A call for De La Rosa was not immediately returned.

Information from: The Press-Enterprise, www.pe.com