Former Bay Area cop involved in 2022 fatal shooting receiving more than $60,000 annually in retirement benefits

"The fatal shooting sparked recurring protests and calls by Peláez-Chavez's family members and activistsfor greater accountability, and, years later, is now at the center of a heated debate over the authority and reach of Sonoma County's civilian law enforcement oversight office. Dietrick, 38, who worked for the sheriff's office seven years, was granted service-connected disability retirement in February by the Sonoma County Employees' Retirement Association board."

"His first request for service-connected disability retirement came about nine months before he retired from the department and 14 months after the shooting, when the incident remained under investigation by local prosecutors, the Sheriff's Office and the county's watchdog agency. Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez ultimately declined to file charges and an internal affairs investigation by the Sheriff's Office, finalized in July 2024 after almost two years, found no policy violations."

"Sonoma County settled a federal civil rights lawsuit with the family of Peláez-Chavez in May for $612,500. The shooting was the latest in a string of high-profile use-of-force cases involving the Sheriff's Office. Attempts to reach Dietrick directly, by phone and email, went unanswered, and his attorney declined to comment. The Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff's Association, which represents patrol members, also did not respond to a request for comment."

Michael Dietrick will receive $5,226 per month in lifetime retirement benefits after being granted service-connected disability retirement by the Sonoma County Employees' Retirement Association board. Dietrick shot and killed burglary suspect David Peláez-Chavez in 2022, an incident that prompted recurring protests and calls for greater accountability and sparked debate over the county's civilian law enforcement oversight authority. His initial disability request preceded his retirement and occurred while investigations by prosecutors, the Sheriff's Office and the county watchdog were ongoing. The district attorney declined to file charges and an internal affairs probe found no policy violations. Sonoma County later settled a federal civil rights suit with Peláez-Chavez's family for $612,500.

Read at The Mercury News