San Diego County officials acted swiftly on Friday after learning that former San Diego County deputy Ricky Fisher, convicted of assaulting women, had been hired as a chaplain for the Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship, an organization that ministers to officers in crisis. State Senator Catherine Blakespear said the news “literally made my blood boil” and called Sheriff Kelly Martinez, District Attorney Summer Stephan and other local legislators to demand Fisher’s removal.
Chaplainship Ends After Officials’ Intervention
Martinez contacted the fellowship and called the appointment “disgraceful.” The organization’s president apologized, and Fisher stepped down from the chaplaincy. “For him to be associated with law enforcement in a chaplaincy role was very offensive to me,” Martinez said. “I’m grateful that they did remove him… I don’t think they really understood or recognized the harm that an action like this would make.”
Separate Mold Concerns at Homeless‑Student School
Earlier this week, Voice of San Diego reported that officials vacated a school for homeless children after mold concerns surfaced. An anonymous tip to NBC San Diego revealed that mold problems had been evident for at least a year, with classrooms smelling bad, dehumidifiers filling quickly, and air‑conditioning units leaking. Testing last year reportedly found aspergillus, a type of mold, in an office. Neither the County Office of Education nor the nonprofit that owns the building offered comment.
National City Council Approves Emergency Budget Plan
On Tuesday, the National City Council unanimously approved a multi‑pronged plan to pull the city out of a looming budget crisis that could render it insolvent within four years. The plan includes a hiring freeze, redevelopment of parts of the city’s bayfront, incentives to attract tax‑generating businesses, higher business taxes, and a rebuild of the city’s emergency reserve fund. Councilmembers also hired a consultant to use artificial intelligence to comb through city finances for savings and revenue opportunities.
The most contentious element is a proposal to renegotiate city employee contracts and slow future cost‑of‑living raises. Councilmember Marcus Bush, a mayoral candidate, acknowledged that past large pay raises contributed to the fiscal strain, saying, “That’s on us.” He urged the council to practice fiscal restraint and expressed contrition for earlier budgeting decisions.
Local Scam Artist Charged in Multi‑Million‑Dollar Fraud
Federal prosecutors recently charged 35‑year‑old Daejon Labrayae Love with defrauding more than two dozen women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Love posed online as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, claiming ownership of luxury cars and real‑estate in Coronado, Point Loma and El Cajon. He filmed videos on Mission Beach to bolster his false persona. The scheme involved sham romances and fake investments, and prosecutors say Love even fooled AI search results into listing him as a “bona fide” 49ers player.
The case underscores the need for vigilance against online romance scams, especially in a region as attractive to both residents and fraudsters.
Community Reaction
Local leaders praised the swift removal of Fisher, emphasizing the importance of moral integrity in law‑enforcement support roles. Meanwhile, residents expressed concern over the mold findings at the homeless‑student school and urged the county to ensure safe learning environments. The National City budget plan has drawn mixed reactions; business owners welcome the tax incentives, while some city employees worry about contract renegotiations.
These developments illustrate San Diego County’s ongoing effort to uphold community standards, protect vulnerable populations, and safeguard fiscal health.
Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.
