San Mateo Police Officer Resigns Amid Sexual Assault Accusations, Investigation

SAN MATEO, CA- A former San Mateo police officer is facing a criminal investigation amid accusations he sexually assaulted women while on duty, officials announced this week.

On Thursday, San Mateo police revealed that an officer-- who has since left the department-- has been under investigation for about six months.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, who confirmed the investigation, identified the officer as Noah Winchester.

He said his office has been investigating Winchester for assaults on women while on duty since last fall at the request of San Mateo and Burlingame police. ABC7 reports that five women have allegedly come forward in the case.

In an open letter to the community released Thursday, San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer said she placed Winchester on indefinite leave as soon as she learned of the allegations. While the investigation was ongoing, he resigned from the department, she said.

"The alleged conduct, if true, is deeply troubling and more importantly, a disturbing breach of the public trust," she said in her letter.

Wagstaffe said there are good reasons the investigation has gone on as long as it has but said he cannot disclose them at this time. He said he hopes to have the investigation completed within a month or two.

Here is the full letter from Chief Manheimer:

Since October 2015, our department has been working with the San Mateo District Attorney’s office on an investigation involving an allegation of criminal conduct on the part of one of our former officers. To preserve the integrity of the investigation, we were not able to publicly comment on the investigation. However, given that this ongoing investigation involves serious and grave allegations against the officer, we feel compelled to share some information with you regarding this ongoing investigation.
While the findings of the District Attorney’s Office may not be finalized for some time yet, we felt it important that our community hears directly from us in regards to what we know, when we knew it, and what we did about it immediately when faced with these serious allegations of the actions of one of our former officers.
We want you to know that within hours of the first allegation that came forward by a victim of sexual impropriety by an officer we immediately contacted the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office and asked for a full and independent criminal investigation. In addition, SMPD immediately placed the officer on indefinite leave, suspending his police powers and authority and protecting the public against any further contact until the conclusion of the investigation. SMPD also initiated a parallel administrative investigation of the alleged conduct, based on the severity of the criminal complaint and the potential impact on our department and community. The officer resigned prior to the completion of this investigation. However, both the District Attorney’s office and this department are completing our related investigations and the DA will make their findings publicly known when completed. At that time we will be able to comment further on these matters.
Although the DA’s criminal investigation is not yet completed, we as an organization recognize that the thought of someone committing criminal acts while wearing an SMPD uniform is deeply troubling and repulsive to this department and its members. If these allegations are proven true, these acts will tarnish the community partnerships that our officers have worked so hard and long to build and preserve.
Please rest assured, this alleged conduct in no way reflects the core values of this department, our personnel, or our profession as a whole. The alleged conduct, if true, is deeply troubling and more importantly, a disturbing breach of the public trust. We remain committed as your San Mateo police officers to serving our community with “Professionalism, Integrity, and Excellence”
–Susan E. Manheimer, Chief of Police – City of San Mateo

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report.