Cathedral City Police sergeant claims retaliation for relationship with mayor

A Cathedral City police officer alleged publicly at a city council meeting that he's being retaliated against at work for his decades-long relationship with the city's mayor.

Sgt. Corwin De Veas spoke out at city hall during the public comment portion of last week's Cathedral City council meeting, directing his 3-minute grievance at Mayor Ernesto Gutierrez.

"Mr. Mayor, you are ruining and have ruined my professional police career at Cathedral City Police Department," De Veas said.

De Veas pleaded with Gutierrez to stay out of police business, saying their 40-year relationship is costing him at work. "Every single one of those conversations you share with the city council, managers or the chief have negative repercussions on me," he said.

De Veas said mayor has ""detailed knowledge of the inner workings of the police department and (former officers') justified concerns," and after he shares that with other city leaders or CCPD Chief George Crum, De Veas said he faces consequences.

"I assume every time you have a conversation, something bad is going to happen to me," De Veas said. "I've been accused of being disloyal because of you."

He said he's being belittled by the department and his hours and workdays have changed – he's even being called off the gang unit.

"I was ordered to sit at the station. I was ordered not to look for a homicide suspect, not to look for a gang member," De Veas said.

Cathedral City city manager Charlie McClendon said the city wouldn't retaliate against an employee, and that there are several ways to bring problems to the city's attention he is not aware of De Veas using.

"That would include the chain of command in the police department, a formal grievance procedure, we have union representatives... and I have an open door policy," McClendon said.

McClendon said he couldn't comment further on the visibly emotional sergeant's impassioned plea.

"Mr. Mayor please, leave me alone," De Veas said "I don't know what you told, and I don't know what you did. But you're causing me a headache."

The city manager and police chief are now "evaluating what next steps may be required."

De Veas and Gutierrez did not respond to News Channel 3's requests for comment on this story.