Two former Torrance police officers were charged Thursday with vandalism and conspiracy to commit a crime involving a swastika that was spray-painted inside an impounded vehicle last year.
Christopher Tomsic, 29, and Cody Weldin, 28, pleaded not guilty Thursday to one felony count each of vandalism and conspiracy to commit vandalism.
The two were among a group of officers who responded to a Jan. 27, 2020, call about three men who had stolen mail from an apartment building, and were led to a vehicle that may have been used in the crime and was subsequently taken to a tow yard, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
“When the vehicle’s owner arrived to pick up the car, he found a happy face that had been spray-painted on the front seat of the vehicle and on the rear seat there was a symbol of a swastika,” District Attorney George Gascón told reporters at a news conference in which the charges were announced.
The county’s top prosecutor said that type of conduct “cannot be tolerated,” adding “it’s really concerning and saddening, to be honest with you, coming from the people who are supposed to be protecting us.”
The investigation turned up communications involving more than a dozen officers “who were identified exchanging racist, discriminatory, homophobic and anti-semitic messages,” Gascón told reporters.
Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart said that the two officers facing felony charges are “no longer employed,” and that 13 officers have been relieved of duty for “allegations relating to misconduct” as police continue their administrative investigation in conjunction with the district attorney’s probe, which is also ongoing.
The police chief noted that the department initiated a criminal investigation as soon as it was notified of the allegations in January 2020 and subsequently submitted recommendations to the District Attorney’s Office that criminal charges be filed against the former officers.
“Let me be clear, I will aggressively pursue any form of racism, bigotry, hate or misconduct at the Torrance Police Department,” said Hart, who was appointed as police chief about four months ago.
Gascón said his office has identified “hundreds of cases” involving the officers which will be reviewed to “ensure that no other alleged misconduct occurred.”
A date is scheduled to be set Oct. 4 for a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to allow the case against Tomsic and Weldin to proceed to trial.