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Arcadia PD fires officer who was union official after Following $1.18B in state funding, SoCal officials tout expansion of political opponents allege social media harassment; behavioral health facilities officer gets rehired after filing legal claim By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
By Joe Taglieri
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joet@beaconmedianews.com
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n Arcadia police officer was rehired after filing a legal claim in response to his firing in December for allegedly using anonymous social media accounts to intimidate a former councilwoman and another city resident, according to documents and sources familiar with the matter. Arcadia Police Department Officer Joshua Foulks, and in a separate claim Officers Robert Rajewski and Gaddi Wider, were seeking undisclosed amounts of compensation for alleged losses exceeding $35,000, documents show. The claims submitted by Westlake Village-based Ferrone Law Group came a week after APD command staff terminated Foulks' employment Dec. 3. According to the document notifying city officials of Foulks' claim, he "engaged in multiple forms of protected conduct throughout 2024 and into the fall of 2025. (Foulks) exercised constitutionally protected politicalassociation rights through his involvement in the Police
Arcadia's government center. | Photo courtesy of Arcadia City Hall/Facebook
Officers' Association, including endorsement decisions relating to elected officials. As a result, (he) experienced animosity and reprisal from command staff, motivated by (his) political affiliation, protected speech, and association with the POA." Foulks also "reported misconduct, conflicts of interest, and improprieties involving members of command staff and a City councilmember," the claim
notice alleges. Former Councilwoman April Verlato said she is the unnamed official mentioned in the claims, which allege Chief of Police Roy Nakamura and APD Capts. Jeremy Lachenmeyer and John Bonomo are "the public employees who caused the injury, damage or loss." Foulks was fired after an internal APD investigation See Legal claim Page 17
into misconduct allegations by Verlato and Arcadia resident Sonia Martin. Verlato and Martin filed complaints against Foulks with the city, alleging he used anonymous social media accounts to send them intimidating messages and publicly post negative comments. During the alleged social media harassment in 2024,
lected officials throughout Southern California on Monday welcomed the latest round of state funding totaling $1.18 billion for more residential and crisis treatment centers statewide. Grants from Round 2 of Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program will support 66 projects across 130 behavioral health facilities, including in rural and tribal communities, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office. Counties and cities are expected to gain a total of 6,919 residential treatment beds and 27,561 outpatient slots, which according to the governor's office exceeds Proposition 1 statewide goals in just two years and supporting 177 projects across 333 facilities. Voters enacted the proposition, a $6.4 billion bond that Newsom supported, in 2024 by a narrow margin of 50.2% to 49.8%. The new funding round follows the recent announcement of a 9% decrease in unsheltered homelessness statewide, the first such reduction in 15 years. See Prop. 1 Page 04
A recent report by CalMatters found that none of the projects expected in 2025 under Newsom’s mental health ballot measure have opened. Projects in the initial round have hit delays, in some cases pushing back opening dates by two years, or been cancelled. The state awarded nearly half of Proposition 1 bond funds last spring, kicking off what Newsom called the swiftest distribution of bond funds in state history. Expectations were that 10 of the first 124 projects would complete by the end of 2025. CalMatters has confirmed that nine of those projects were delayed, with new completion dates ranging from this summer to summer 2028. One project was cancelled. A number of local officials issued statements welcoming the second infusion of state funding. Los Angeles County Board Chair Hilda L. Solis: “For years, Los Angeles County has been in the midst of mental health and substance use crises, and I supported Proposition 1 to bring the needed resources to