Bay Area

Family of Late Police Captain Pushes for Prosecution of Ex-Fremont City Manager for Embezzlement, Fraud

A statement from Bobbitt’s family reads: “Captain Fred “Freddie” Bobbitt was a man of high integrity. He often said that he was willing to risk retaliation for doing the right thing, including confronting government corruption at its highest levels. Captain Bobbitt believed that high-ranking public officials should be held to a higher standard due to the public trust of their positions.”

Published

2 years ago

April 2, 2022

Oakland Post

Police Capt. Fred ‘Freddie’ Bobbitt.

By Post Staff

The family of late Police Captain Fred “Freddie” Bobbitt is pushing for prosecution of former Fremont City Manager Mark Danaj, who is facing charges of embezzlement and fraud.

Danaj was arraigned on March 9 and his next court date is April 6.

According to Captain Bobbitt’s family members, learning that Danaj was charged with criminal charges was a painful reminder of how Captain Bobbitt had endured retaliation at the hands of Danaj and other city officials. While in his position as Fremont City Manager, Danaj had unsuccessfully attempted to force Bobbitt out of the Fremont Police Department.

A statement from Bobbitt’s family said:

“Captain Fred “Freddie” Bobbitt was a man of high integrity. He often said that he was willing to risk retaliation for doing the right thing, including confronting government corruption at its highest levels. Captain Bobbitt believed that high-ranking public officials should be held to a higher standard due to the public trust of their positions.

“So, we will continue his fight by pushing for prosecution. We are also pursuing the opportunity to testify in front of government bodies regarding the need to fight government corruption in City municipalities, while also highlighting the impact it has on honest employees, and how it affects the community’s trust.”

Before Danaj’s upcoming court date, the District Attorney will face pressure from Bobbitt’s family to prosecute the former City Manager. Between September 2019 and September 2021, Bobbitt had urged the City of Fremont to investigate Danaj for corruption and misuse of his position.

Bobbitt passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 21, 2022, and was honored by the Fremont Police Department, elected officials, and the community during a 2,000-person Memorial Service, along with a 4-mile-long law enforcement funeral procession.

Bobbitt’s family members said that in September 2020, Danaj attempted to use his position to force Bobbitt out of the Fremont Police Department in retaliation for Bobbitt’s calls to investigate Danaj for corruption.

On April 26, 2021, at a Town Hall meeting held by Bobbitt’s supporters to prevent Bobbitt from being forced out, it was revealed that Danaj had been cited for a domestic incident earlier that month.

On Sept. 15, 2021, Danaj was arrested in San Francisco and cited again in a separate domestic violence incident. On Sept. 30, 2021, Danaj abruptly resigned as Fremont City Manager. Many believe that the Fremont City Council may have forced Danaj out after being informed of his numerous criminal incidents, as well as the mounting pressure from Bobbitt’s supporters to investigate Danaj for misusing his position.

In a new set of criminal charges, Danaj was arraigned on March 9, 2022, charged with Felony Embezzlement 504 PC, and Felony Misappropriation of Public Funds 424 PC.

During Danaj’s tenure in Fremont, Bobbitt had challenged Danaj on his mischaracterization of the Police Department and the police union, which some have alleged to have been among the issues that led to the two-year conflict between the two city officials.

In February 2022, the Fremont City Council received a briefing on a binding arbitration decision that ruled in Bobbitt’s favor, which clearly established that Danaj and others had retaliated against Bobbitt.

In September of 2020, Danaj had attempted to push Bobbitt to resign by offering him his full pension, plus a cash payout of approximately $99,900, which is slightly under the $100,000 limit that would have required the City Council’s approval.

After Bobbitt refused to resign, Danaj had Bobbitt removed as the Commander of Patrol, reassigned him to the Animal Shelter, and placed him on a Performance Improvement Plan. The binding arbitration ruling required the City to reinstate Bobbitt as Commander of Patrol and invalidate the Performance Improvement Plan.

Danaj is being represented by Danny O’Malley, brother of Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

6 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”