CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) -- A Chula Vista Police officer resigned his position after admitting he had sex with a woman while on-duty, according to records.
According to documents obtained by 10News, Officer Michael Ingley met with his girlfriend around 4:30 a.m. on April 8, 2018 on the 300 block of Moonview Avenue in Chula Vista.
Documents show Ingley and his girlfriend walked together toward a small patch that led up the hill to a water tower, where the pair engaged in sex.
According to the documents, a neighbor saw Ingley and the woman walking up the hill before returning a short time later.
In an interview with department officials, Ingley admitted having sex while on duty, calling it the lowest point in his life, saying he made a bad impulsive decision and there’s no excuse for what he did.
During the same interview, documents show Patrol Operations Captain Verne Salle telling Ingley that his decision jeopardized the reputation of the department.
The documents show the department initially recommended terminating Ingley’s employment that was eventually modified to a suspension of one year. Ingley resigned in November.
The area of Chula Vista where the incident took place is a known trouble spot to neighbors. A location Chula Vista Police describe in their own documents as an area with multiple complaints regarding people engaging in illegal activity.
Police released a full statement Thursday. Read the full statement below:
This incident was first brought to the Department’s attention in April of 2018. Acting in the best interests of our community’s expectations, the Department immediately launched an objective and detailed investigation. The facts of the investigation speak for themselves. This was an example of poor judgement that resulted in an officer losing their job. The Chula Vista Police Department strives to hold our employees accountable to the highest standards for our community and our profession. The Department also recognizes that no individual is infallible. We have great respect for the responsibilities entrusted to us by the community, and work diligently to address issues when they occur. We believe that choices have consequences. The individual is no longer employed by the Department.
10News obtained the documents through a new law that was designed to increase transparency with law enforcement.
The law requires departments to release certain internal sexual misconduct, dishonesty and use of force reports.
Team 10 has submitted requests for records like this to departments across San Diego County. Under the new law some departments have released records to 10News, others have said they want tens of thousands of dollars to get the records and some we're still waiting to hear back on.
Earlier this week some police unions in San Diego County filed a lawsuit trying to block the release of these types of records, arguing the law shouldn't be retroactive.
