Angry residents ask for answers in King City; mayor encourages prayer.

A handwritten note on a piece of printer paper served as an understated backdrop to a tumultuous and emotional day in King City on Tuesday: “Office is closed for today," said a note on the door to the police station. 

The note was still hanging at 4pm when City Manager Michael Powers, Mayor Robert Cullen and the rest of City Council, called a press conference to address alleged widespread corruption within the police department. Powers and Cullen addressed about 10 reporters and two dozen community members, and struck an apologetic tone.  

It was hours after the predawn arrests of about one-third of King City's police department Tuesday, and after all of them had been bailed out of the county jail. Acting Chief Bruce Miller, his brother Brian Miller or Miller's Towing, retired Chief Nick Baldiviez, and four other officers—Bobby Carillo, Mario Mottu, Sr., Jaime Andrade and Mark Allen Baker—face various charges related to conspiracy, making threats and illegal storage of a firearm. 

Cullen kicked off the press conference by introducing two cops remaining on the slimmed-down force, Sgt. Brennan Lux and Sgt. Alejandrina Turado, who is in charge until city officials appoint an interim chief. "I know her heart is pure," Cullen said.

"These officers wanted to be here, wanted to show they are working hard," he added. "I will stand behind the officers we have in our department."

But the community was unconvinced of the integrity of even the remaining two-thirds of King City PD. 

"We don't know who we can believe. We want action, not more words," said Veronica Villa, in Spanish. Another resident, Barbara Martinez, served as a de facto interpreter.

She asked Cullen about interpretation services. 

“I’m glad to see a lot of Hispanics here. Do you have an interpreter?” Martinez asked.

Cullen’s response: “I’d like to personally apologize for not providing an interpreter.”

“The only person I can trust is the sheriff,” Veronica Villa said in Spanish, again through Martinez. “I don’t believe in justice here in King City.”

When one resident asked how they can help, Cullen answered: "It starts with prayers. We can all pray for each other, our police department, our community."

Cullen's main message: With help from sheriff's deputies, who will aid in patrolling King City, 911 is still operational and law enforcement is responding to local calls. 

The five arrested officers were placed on paid administrative leave; Baldiviez is still drawing on unused vacation time through August. 

An internal affairs investigation will begin into the arrested officers, Powers said, which might ultimately lead to vacancies. As far as replacements: "We will have to recruit hard."