The Fresno Police Department is investigating a Sgt. with the Fresno Sheriffs Department for domestic violence. Mark Eaton is accused of domestic battery. The victim also works for the Sheriffs department but her personal information has not been released. Eaton and his girlfriend had returned from the coast in November and were drinking at her place. Eventually she asked him to leave and when he didn’t, the situation escalated. That’s when Eaton grabbed her by her face and neck and shoved her backwards on at least two occasions.
The public information officer for the Fresno Police Department, Lt. Joe Gomez said.
“They both work together so I think the victim felt it was appropriate to go and let her superiors know about it and then that started the investigation.”
Joe Gomez elaborated on the actions of Sgt. Eaton to ABC30.
“The victim wanted the suspect to leave.” He didn’t want to leave. And near the front door of the residence, he had grabbed her face, her nose and squeezed pretty hard and pushed her back.”
Five years ago Mark Eaton was given a medal for bravery while serving a warrant. The suspect opened fire and killed Joel Wahlenmaier, another deputy and Javier Bejar a Reedly police officer. Jerry Brown the Governor of CA presented Eaton with the medal of valor, the highest award for bravery you can receive as a police officer.
I guess he’s not as much of a hero as everyone thought.
The case is wrapped in multiple layers of confidentiality due to both parties being law enforcement officers but a witness and law enforcement officer, alleges that the victim filed a restraining order against Eaton.
Tony Copazzi the legal analyst for ABC30, had an insightful overview of the situation.
Once that protective order is issued, that person is not supposed to have access to guns or possess guns in any manner. Domestic violence cases are usually taken very seriously, especially since the O.J. Simpson case. But when they involve law enforcement, it’s even more serious, as the 1978 murder of Marjaree Mason by a sheriff’s deputy proved. When it comes to a law enforcement official who has access to guns, who possesses a gun, I think domestic violence cases need to be looked at and scrutinized much more carefully.
Eaton has been charged with misdemeanor battery which has a maximum sentence of one year in jail. However if convicted Eaton will be subject to a 10 year weapons restriction which will obviously make a career in law enforcement impossible. If there really is a restraining order against Sgt. Eaton, he has been in violation of that order every time he puts on his duty weapon. I know people who have had restraining orders levied against them, the ones that owned firearms were ordered to turn their weapons in or sell them. Mark was allowed to remain on duty and carry a firearm, he was placed on paid administrative leave, Monday after he was arrested.
It takes an incredible amount of courage to shine a spotlight on officer misconduct, especially when you also are an officer. The police have been known to treat officers who speak up about misconduct as pariahs. To make matters worse, often times the police officers who are guilty of crimes are protected, and the officers who bring up the problems are usually punished and/or fired. You might also have to worry about your own past and it’s just easier not to rock the boat.
As a spouse, reporting domestic violence against your husband who is a cop, is almost a futile endeavor. The people who show up, more than likely work with/for your husband and there really isn’t any incentive for them to assist you. After all, who are they going to believe, you or your cop husband? Because of the thin blue line and the amount of officers willing to look past another officers misconduct, domestic violence occurs in law enforcement households at over twice the rate of the civilian world. After all who are they going to believe, you or your cop husband? I believe the reasons for this are obvious. Police officers are trained to use force and are used to being obeyed. When they aren’t, they use force to gain your compliance, even if it means killing you. This mindset doesn’t disappear when you’re off duty and magically reappear when you clock in for work.
Although there might be a sliver of hope in this situation, as the victim is also a cop, it’s more than likely that internal pressure and the fact that the left hand -Fresno Police- is investigating the right hand -Fresno Sheriffs Department- this will go away quietly. They might even find a reason to fire the woman who reported a hero officer.
