San Diego County officials spent more than a year attempting to keep employee misconduct records from the public. The records, requested by Voice of San Diego in March 2025, detail substantiated complaints from the county’s Behavioral Health Services Department, including incidents at the Edgemoor facility for medically fragile adults and the county psychiatric hospital.
County’s Initial Refusals
County lawyers first claimed no records existed. When pressed, they incorrectly asserted that two facilities – Edgemoor and the psychiatric hospital – were not part of the department in question. Later, the county admitted the facilities had been omitted from the search and argued that releasing the complaints could chill future whistleblowers under a state whistleblower‑hotline law.
Judicial Intervention
Judge Matthew C. Braner eventually ordered the county to provide the number of complaints and how many were deemed well‑founded. After reviewing the records himself, the judge directed the county to release the full set of substantiated misconduct investigations, with redactions approved by the court.
Findings in the Released Records
The documents revealed a pattern of serious issues: a culture problem at Edgemoor, sexual harassment at the psychiatric hospital, and a racist comment made by an administrative analyst during an online diversity training – an analyst who was later promoted.
County Response and Changes
County spokesperson Tammy Glenn described the case as an “extremely nuanced balancing test” that weighed the benefits of disclosure against potential harms to employees. She noted the county considered the risk of retaliation and the importance of protecting whistleblowers.
Following the judge’s order, the county announced it would not appeal and released eight misconduct investigations. The behavioral health director was subsequently fired and has indicated she is exploring legal options.
Elected Officials Call for Transparency
Most county supervisors now say the county should release records of substantiated misconduct whenever wrongdoing is found. One supervisor stated, “I agree with the court that the public should be able to see records of substantiated misconduct.”
Legal Back‑and‑Forth
Throughout the dispute, county counsel Amanda Johnston repeatedly asserted that the county had no responsive records and labeled the lawsuit frivolous. Attorney Felix Tinkov, representing Voice of San Diego, countered that the county’s arguments were delay tactics and that the records existed for the two facilities in question.
In May 2025, the county’s senior deputy counsel threatened to seek attorneys’ fees if the request was not dismissed. By April 2026, Tinkov filed that the county had “flip‑flopped” on the existence of records and was now withholding at least 24 complaints.
What This Means for San Diego Residents
The release of these records underscores the importance of transparency in county agencies that serve vulnerable populations. It also highlights the role of local courts in ensuring public access to information, a cornerstone of accountable government.
County officials have pledged to improve oversight and to conduct more thorough searches for records in the future, aiming to prevent similar disputes. Community members and advocacy groups are watching closely to see whether the promised changes materialize.
Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.
