On Thursday, August 25, 2022, detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division arrested Matthew Buckley, a Deputy Sheriff and 15-year veteran of the department.
This comes after an investigation into illegal firearms.
As part of the investigation, a search warrant was served at a residence where evidence was seized.
41-year-old Buckley of Pinole was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges:
Felony Grand theft of a firearm (two counts), receiving stolen property (two counts), felony unlicensed transfer of a firearm, felony filing a false report, destroying/concealing evidence, and possession of a controlled substance.
Buckley is being held in lieu of $175,000 bail.
He is on paid administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office.
“When we were first apprised of the allegations, we immediately started an investigation,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “No one is above the law and employees of the Sheriff’s Office who violate the law will be held accountable. I am disappointed but this arrest is not a reflection of the many outstanding employees of the Sheriff’s Office.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
A CC Deputy Sheriff….who would have thought?
Stuff happens. Can’t take that out on the good ones.
lol… same could be said for a lot in this world, yet no one cares. Easier said than done.
Paid administrative leave? It should be unpaid administrative leave. However, if the officers are clear of wrongdoing then they should be paid for each day of the leave
+1
I agree!
“No one is above the law …”
Please see: 1) White House; 2) FBI; 3) Hillary Clinton; 4) Hunter Biden
You must really hate CoCo county huh?
“Paid administrative leave.” So at what point is that all paid back to taxpayers?
The Deputy still enjoys the protection afforded everyone under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution – “No person shall” … “be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;”
Until the Deputy has either been convicted or the Sheriff has determined he violated policy and is fired, he is innocent of any crime and has not violated any work place rule so the deputy is an employee in good standing.
The Deputy is being prevent from working by the employer and has not abandoned his job. Until he is either convicted or fired he has to be paid. So the short answer is, the money is owed him and he will not have to pay it back.
I suspect what is going to occur within a week to 10 days is one of two things: Either the Deputy will resign or the Deputy will be called back to the office for his administrative investigation for violating Sheriff’s Office work policies. The Deputy will be ordered to provide a statement to the Sheriff’s investigators. The Deputy, under advise of legal counsel will refuse to answer any questions since anything he says can be used against him in his criminal trial. The Deputy will then be fired for insubordination for refusing to follow an lawful order.
From a legal tactical standpoint it is better to be unemployed then be compelled to to bear witness against yourself and help the DA put you into prison.
either Deja Vu or….
Wasn’t another CC Deputy also recently arrested for such?
Wow – lot to ponder there.
There were officers who were arrested a few years back for some sort of sexual offenses (there were a few) and yes I do believe it was either this or selling drugs but unsure which. I’m really glad that they are policing there own but I’m with the rest of you. Paid administrative leave? Like he hasn’t been making tons selling illegal weapons? In my opinion every officer that gets caught with something this big needs to not be paid (it’s going to be so long before all this is clear and we are paying his sorry but to sit at home), (you know he’s not in jail for safety reasons) home arrest. So we are paying him to sit at home sleeping in his own bed eating his own food etc. Take the pay away until he’s Cleared then give him his back pay if found innocent. Borrow money from your friends and family if your innocent they should be happy to help you. Why should we help you with all those charges against you? Just my opinion and thoughts.
So I guess the founding American legal principle of presumption of innocence is gone?!?
Your Honor before you pass summary execution can he at least have his Preliminary Hearing first so he will know what he is being executed for?
Because our government and its constitution don’t work that way Shadow. Whether he’s a cop or not, he’s innocent until proven guilty. That’s how it’s supposed to work for everyone.
Innocent until proven guilty. You can’t start changing the rules.
@shadow11990
“Take his pay until he’s Cleared (sic) then give him his pay back if found innocent.” Really? What a novel way to circumvent his constitutional right to the presumption of innocence. If he’s ultimately found or pleads guilty, then throw the damned book at him! Pending that determination, he’s entitled to his paid administrative leave, no matter that you and others may feel otherwise.
“No one is above the law, and employees of the Sheriff’s Office who violate the law will be held accountable.” – Sheriff David Livingston.
Also, Sheriff David Livingston- “Don’t worry, CoCo County will still pay your salary and benefits.”
Also, Board of Supervisors Mitchoff & Anderson – “Keep paying the man, don’t worry.”
Seriously tho, great job CoCo Deputies on getting this corrupt cop off the streets. As Constitutional rights auditors would say, ” we like the police, just not bad policing.”
A man has got to know his limitations!
I wonder if this case is connected to the Clayton man who was arrested a few months ago for building and selling ghost guns. He reportedly volunteered for the sheriff’s department, got parts from their gun range, and sold to sworn officers.
just saw on Channel ___, he was officer of the year two years running.
He may have just thrown away six figures a year and a six figure pension….