Full Notification

Earlier today, July 21, 2016, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office arrested Noah Winchester, a former police officer in several jurisdictions, for a series of felony sexual assault-related charges following an extensive investigation involving multiple victims. The San Mateo Police Department has been aware of the investigation and working closely with the District Attorney's Office since the original discovery of the allegations. As soon as our department was notified of these allegations, San Mateo Police immediately placed him on indefinite leave, while pursuing the investigation.

The San Mateo Police Department treasures our close and trusted relationship with our community, and holds very dearly the strength of support we continue to receive from those whom we are sworn to protect. We are horrified by the news of the recent arrest of this former San Mateo and Los Rios Community College District Police Officer, and want to assure our community and our leaders that this neither reflects nor deflects the dedication to duty and selfless service that our men and women commit themselves to every day on every contact.

Noah Winchester came to us as a lateral police officer in early 2015, with prior law enforcement experience. We were first made aware of criminal allegations regarding the conduct of Winchester, at that time a San Mateo Police Officer, on the morning of October 20, 2015. The allegations were related to an incident that occurred the previous night, October 19, 2015 beginning at about 10 PM.  Based on the severity of the allegations we immediately placed Winchester on indefinite leave before his next work shift, and turned the criminal portion of the investigation over to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. San Mateo Police opened an administrative investigation into Winchester's conduct in regards to department policy and procedures, while cooperating fully with the criminal investigation.

Winchester was employed as a San Mateo Police Officer for approximately 10 months at the time the first allegations were made on October 19, 2015. The San Mateo Police Department took immediate action to protect the community and suspend Winchester’s police powers. Additional alleged acts were uncovered during the District Attorney's investigation in both San Mateo and Sacramento Counties. The incidents alleged in 2013 were not discovered until that time.  While both investigations were still ongoing, Winchester resigned from the San Mateo Police Department in February of 2016.

While we respect the now former officer's right to due process under the law and the presumption that he is innocent until proven guilty, we as a department cannot help but be appalled by the nature of these allegations.  This alleged conduct in no way reflects the core values of this department nor our profession as a whole. The San Mateo Police Department is driven to ensuring excellence in service through strength of character and commitment to compassionate, constitutional, ethical, and just policing. These allegations, if proven true, are a disgrace and wholly disavowed by this department and this city.

When news of this pending investigation was broadcast by the media in May of this year, Chief Manheimer posted an open letter to the Community. Her comments can be seen here: http://local.nixle.com/alert/5640060/

MEDIA FOLLOW-UP:

San Mateo Police Department, because of confidentiality of personnel records and personnel investigations, and with respect to the District Attorney's responsibility for the investigation and prosecution is limited in the scope of what we can address. However, we remain fully committed to transparency and accountability and any media agencies wishing for follow-up with SMPD may contact:

Captain Dave Norris, Support Services:

[email protected]  (email – preferred method of contact)

650-522-7681 (desk)