EPD Chief Garr Nielsen said Monday that he only learned of the DA's investigation last week and expressed disappointment that he wasn't notified of a criminal investigation targeting one of his officers.

◼ Kalis arrested: Former Eureka Police Department officer booked, released Monday
Former Eureka police Officer Daniel “Danny” Kalis was brought into custody Monday, some six months after a misdemeanor warrant was issued for his arrest.

Kalis -- who was charged last week with drug possession, theft and other charges -- was named in the September 2010 warrant after failing to appear at a court hearing in which he was to be arraigned on four misdemeanor Department of Fish and Game violations.

Humboldt County District Attorney Chief Investigator Mike Hislop said he called Kalis on Monday and he agreed to turn himself in.

”We met him down at the Bayshore Mall and he surrendered there,” Hislop said. “He was completely cooperative.”

Hislop said Kalis was booked into jail on Monday and was released after promising to appear May 16 for an arraignment on both the old and new charges.

Kalis was placed on administrative leave by the EPD on March 7, the same day the department launched an internal affairs investigation into allegations surrounding his conduct. He resigned from the force on April 1.

The DA's Office announced last week that it was charging Kalis with nine criminal counts -- including heroin and marijuana possession, petty theft, false imprisonment, vandalism and accessing DMV records without authorization -- on the heels of an investigation it launched in January.

EPD Chief Garr Nielsen said Monday that he only learned of the DA's investigation last week and expressed disappointment that he wasn't notified of a criminal investigation targeting one of his officers.

What?

EPD Chief Garr Nielsen said Monday that he only learned of the DA's investigation last week and expressed disappointment that he wasn't notified of a criminal investigation targeting one of his officers.

”I think that, as the head of an organization, I should be notified when one of my personnel is under investigation unless that investigation directly involves me,” Nielsen said. “First of all, I think it's common courtesy. But it would also ensure that I don't have someone out there that is potentially a threat to the public that I'm not aware of, or somebody who is potentially compromising confidential information that I'm not aware of.”

Hislop said Nielsen had contacted him and expressed his views.

The investigator said it was a difficult decision not to inform Nielsen -- a decision ultimately made by District Attorney Paul Gallegos.

”We really mulled it over for a long time,” Hislop said....

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◼ Kalis arrested: Former Eureka Police Department officer booked, released Monday
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◼ Accused officer on the job with warrant out; officer faced misdemeanor charges in 2010; ex-wife files for restraining order