The Santos family is demanding Hollister Interim Police Chief
Larry Todd step down immediately.
The Santos family is demanding Hollister Interim Police Chief Larry Todd step down immediately.
Speaking through their attorney, Greg LaForge, family members said they feel they were mistreated and disrespected by Todd during the disappearance and subsequent murder of Ralph Santos.
“The way the family has been treated since day one by the entire department and specifically this police chief, the family is asking that the Hollister police chief at this time step down and resign as interim police chief,” LaForge said Thursday. “The department has attacked the victim and the victim’s family by calling him names.”
LaForge said the family’s concerns for the 73-year-old retired janitor were largely ignored by the department, and the evidence they collected was disregarded.
“They didn’t begin to take this seriously until his body was found on June 19,” Lorie Santos said. “Whether something different could have been done or not is beside the point.”
In an earlier statement, LaForge said the family was hurt when one member reportedly overheard Todd say that “the family was crazy.”
Todd vehemently denied the allegation that he called or referred to the family as crazy.
“I have never made such a statement to anyone – its an absolute fabrication,” Todd said in an earlier interview. “I have absolute respect for the Santos family and for what they’ve been through. They are as much victims in this as Mr. Santos.”
Todd, who is expected to lead the department until September when a permanent replacement can take over, could not be reached for comment on the demand for his resignation.
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill said the idea of the chief stepping down because of his alleged insensitivity is unacceptable.
“As a chief, his primary job is to identify crimes and arrest criminals in as professional a manner as possible and he has done that,” Hill said.
Having worked with Todd on the Santos murder, Hill said, sometimes, investigators have to operate with a little emotional detachment to make sure they clearly evaluate information in a case.
“He has behaved with the kind of professionalism that anyone would want from a police chief,” Hill said.
