Former Fresno police officer files civil suit against police department for retaliation and firing

A recently fired police lieutenant has filed a lawsuit against the Fresno Police Department, claiming his firing was retaliatory because he wasn't a “good old boy,” according to his attorney.

Ignacio Ruiz Jr. said in a civil rights violation lawsuit filed March 7 in federal court in the Eastern District of California that Fresno police used a routine rear-end collision involving his patrol car as a means to fire the 46-year-old lieutenant about two years after his promotion.

Fresno police and the city of Fresno declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying they do not comment on ongoing litigation.

Ruiz, who was fired on Valentine's Day, was at odds with department administration over his failure to comply with some of Fresno Police's discriminatory policies, according to Kevin Little, a Fresno attorney who represents the former lieutenant.

“This (accident) has been completely blown out of proportion and (Ruiz) believes it's because he wasn't one of the good old boys,” Little said.

The civil suit alleges that Ruiz was the subject of an unfair and manipulated investigation into the dent in his patrol car, including false rumors that the damage to the car was the result of an affair with a married woman from Clovis, the suit says.

Little said the affair was fabricated by other officers, and the administration said Ruiz acted dishonestly during the Internal Affairs Bureau's investigation into an unremarkable off-duty patrol car crash.

“Under the law, all we have to do is prove that this (retaliation) was a motivating factor,” Little said. “We're confident we can prove that.”

According to Little, Ruiz had been with the department for about 25 years and had a clean record before the investigation.

Balderrama awarded Ruiz a lieutenant's badge around February 2, 2022, according to a tweet from the chief.

“Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of promoting Sergeant Ignacio Ruiz to Lieutenant,” the tweet said. “He is a 23-year veteran with a Master's degree who has proven himself to be a great leader during several difficult deployments.”

Ruiz has stated in a lawsuit seeking damages that the department's discriminatory practices also include a lack of data on the stops police conduct under Assembly Bill 953 of 2015, the lawsuit says. If reviewed, the data would show a disproportionate number of stops of people of color – particularly Hispanics and blacks.

The complaint also cites numerous instances of racist behavior among Fresno Police Department leaders. Among other things, officers regularly referred to black police officers as members of the “Mexican Mafia,” a reference to a street gang that is also active in the U.S. prison system.

According to the complaint, the Fresno Police Department is divided along racial lines between white and Hispanic officers.

His complaint says Ruiz had conversations with other high-ranking Hispanic officials who told him similar stories about a department that favored less qualified white officers.

The lawsuit names seven high-ranking officers as defendants, including Balderrama, Deputy Chief Mindy Casto, Captain Joe Alvarez, Captain Tom Rowe, Lt. Anthony DeWall, Lt. Sean Biggs and Sgt. Joshua Knapp.

Many other officials are named who may be called as witnesses.

Ruiz's complaint says the department's problems date back to former chief and current mayor Jerry Dyer, who led the department for 18 years.

The lawsuit cites previous lawsuits filed by former officers who also accused Dyer of racism and mistreatment as examples of the Fresno Police Department's history of mismanagement. A 2011 lawsuit alleging racist treatment was settled out of court.

Ruiz's lawsuit requests a jury trial, with the amount of damages, including lost wages and pain and suffering, to be determined at trial.

Ruiz declined to speak with The Fresno Bee, instead providing a written statement.

“Ordinary police officers and everyone in Fresno deserve competent leaders who genuinely care about their well-being,” the statement said. “These are people who have families and friends who care deeply about them.”