Fremont chief suspended

FREMONT — Fremont's top cop is on paid administrative leave pending a decision on alleged misconduct. Derek Wensinger was placed on leave Nov. 30 for allegedly committing insubordination, dishonesty and failure of good behavior, according to department records. Wensinger, who is still within his one-year probationary period as chief, has a name clearing hearing on Thursday. He will have the opportunity to present his side of the case during this hearing. Officials will then determine what discipline, up to termination, will be levied. The investigation began when a Fremont police captain reported comments the chief allegedly made to an officer. The chief told an officer they would have a hard time in law enforcement due to their gender and race. The comments were allegedly uttered by Wensinger in late November. He was previously admonished for making the same comments in April, according to notes on his performance released by Fremont safety service Director Kenneth Frost. "I discussed with (Wensinger) the negative impacts of micro-aggressive statements," Frost wrote in his notes. "He defended his comment to the officer by saying 'but it's true.' "It was explained to Derek that no comments that could produce a negative effect should ever be made in reference to a person's race, religion or sexual orientation," the notes state. The insubordination charge arises because he allegedly made another similar comment in November after he had been directed not to do so, department records state. The dishonesty charge comes after he allegedly falsely told an interviewer that nobody instructed him to refrain from making the comments. The comments themselves are the reason for the failure of good behavior charge. Notes on the chief's performance lists a concern for Wenginger's ability to lead the department. "I have been told on numerous occasions by command staff members that they did not trust Derek and did not view him as a good leader," Frost wrote in the notes. Wensinger was sworn in as chief in June, taking over after the retirement of former chief Dean Bliss.