YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 17, No. 22
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New superintendent, principals for Byron by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
The Byron Union School District (BUSD) is getting some new leaders. As of July 1, a new superintendent, as well as new principals at Timber Point Elementary (TPE) and Excelsior Middle School (EMS), will officially be on the job. At the district office, Dr. Reyes Gauna has already begun making the rounds and getting to know his new position as BUSD’s superintendent. Gauna is currently the assistant superintendent for the Stockton Unified School District and was approved by the BUSD board last week. BUSD Board President David Turner feels Gauna is an excellent candidate to take on the unique challenges presented by the Byron district. “This decision was reached after consultation and input from community members, staff and the board, through sensing sessions
Daisies Plant STEM Supplies
designed to determine important traits, characteristics, experience and leadership factors for the next superintendent,” Turner said. Since former superintendent Debbie Gold resigned her position six months ago, Rami Muth has been acting as interim superintendent while the search committee sought a permanent replacement. An educator with 40 years of experience and former superintendent for her home district of Martinez, Muth stepped out of retirement to guide the district until the vacancy could be filled. She will be coaching Gauna in his new role before returning to retirement. “Words do not adequately express how positive this experience has been for me,” Muth said. “It has been an honor and a Photo courtesy of Reyes Gauna privilege serving the Byron community as an interim superintendent ... I know that the dis- Dr. Reyes Gauna, here with his family, is the trict is poised and ready to move forward un- new superintendent of the Byron Union School District. He replaces interim Superintendent der the dynamic leadership of Dr. Gauna.” Rami Muth who stepped in when Debbie Gold retired as superintendent last year. see Byron page 26
Officer names supervisor in assault suit by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
A veteran Brentwood police officer has filed a lawsuit alleging that her supervisor sexually assaulted her at a work-related, outof-state training conference in 2017, and then pressured her to lie during what she is claiming was a mishandled Brentwood Police Department investigation designed to cover up the alleged incidents. The alleged victim, a 17-year member of the force whose identity will not be revealed per the policy of this newspaper, claims that nowretired Brentwood Police Lt. Sal DiMercurio forced her to engage in sex acts in his hotel room. The accuser alleges that the attack followed an assault the previous evening that she was able to deflect. The suit alleges that DiMercurio persuaded the accuser
“ When I came forward about sexual harassment and assault by my supervisor, I was intimidated to keep quiet and my supervisor was not held accountable.
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Lawsuit plaintiff to lie about the events during a Brentwood Police Department review, and that a fellow senior police department official asked her a series of “yes or no” questions designed to confirm DiMercurio’s account that “there had been no sexual intercourse and any contact was consensual.” Now-retired Brentwood Police Captain Ben Tolero, conducted the review, and is mentioned in the suit as having closed the investigation without determination of any violations. While the accuser admitted
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she supported DiMercurio’s version of the events, the complaint asserts that she did so out of fear of retaliation. The accuser, who has been on medical leave since February 2018 and unpaid leave since July 2018, served as a negotiator on the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team, which DiMercurio commanded. DiMercurio, who retired Feb. 9, days after the suit was filed, had a previous history of workplace sexual harassment and misconduct, according to the suit.
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The accuser is seeking unspecified damages. “For 17 years, I was a police officer dedicated to protecting the safety of the citizens of Brentwood,” the accuser said in a statement provided by her attorney, Jayme Walker. “When I came forward about sexual harassment and assault by my supervisor, I was intimidated to keep quiet and my supervisor was not held accountable. I felt I had to file this lawsuit because I wanted to encourage other women in uniform who may be experiencing harassment by a man in power to come forward and report it.” Brentwood City Manager Gus Vina, speaking on behalf of the city and the police department, said that the allegations have been taken extremely seriously, but in an emailed statement he declined to elaborate. see Suit page 26
Air Climb
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American Lung Association’s annual event set for June 1.
Girl Scout Daisy troop donates $300 of materials to library for STEM science program. Page 5
Honoring Our Local Heroes
Annual banner display at Veterans Park in Brentwood honors those who have served. Page 4
Going Down Swinging
Heritage baseball, softball teams fall in NCS championship finals. Page 16 Calendar................................27 Classifieds.............................20 Cop Logs................................25 Entertainment.......................6 Food..........................................7 Health & Beauty..................12 Opinion..................................13 Sports.....................................16
Cannabis Tax
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State’s cannabis tax generated $61.4 million in revenue for 1st quarter in 2019.