LAKE COUNTY — Last week, former Lakeport Police officer Richard Erickson was found by a jury of his peers to be not guilty of charges brought against him by the Lake County District Attorney”s Office, stemming in part from an extramarital affair he admitted on the stand that he conducted while on duty.
Erickson testified that he did in fact have sex with Cerda while on duty, adding that he was fired for it. He also said on the stand that he never thought it was a crime.
“In general, you don”t have to know what the violation is to be guilty of it. Ignorance is not an excuse,” said Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson. She explained that California Statute 424 contains the language defining activities that constitute a criminal charge.
“When Erickson came to me with what was charged, I just said this is wrong, completely wrong, and I took the case. I wouldn”t have taken the case if I thought he was wrong,” said defense attorney Don Anderson.
“His acts, especially what he”s testified to, is an embarrassment to the law enforcement community,” said Abelson. “I work with a lot of respectable people in law enforcement, and he”s a blemish to all of them. I don”t regret going forward and I would do it again. In any law enforcement agency I would do same thing. This conduct not appropriate.”
When asked if he thought the Lakeport Police Department was put under a magnifying glass by the proceedings and by Erickson”s testimony, Police Chief Kevin Burke said he didn”t think so.
“I don”t think it”s about the police department,” said Burke. “It was about Rick. By our policies, our officers are allowed short breaks and a meal break, but not to extent Rick described. The bottom line is that we have high expectations of our police officers. In the 14 months I”ve been there, there”s only been one instance in which those expectations were not met, and that was in the Richard Erickson case. Fortunately, that case is behind us now.”
Anderson said, “What they (the jury) said is, Law enforcement is doing a good job. They don”t need the scrutiny of the D.A.”s office to tell them what they can and can”t do.” The jury has enough faith in law enforcement to do what they have to do. This whole case is a victory for all law enforcement officers.”
