Oakland Police officer, Ryan Walterhouse, 26, was charged with engaging in prostitution and obstruction of justice. Officer Walterhouse  purportedly had sex with a prostitute in a Castro Valley motel and paid her in cash. He warned her twice in one week about an undercover prostitution operation.

Walterhouse was  arrested when he showed up for work after a week-long investigation that involved the surveillance of his home.  The original tip of possible misconduct came from one of Walterhouse's fellow officers. Investigators have discovered that Walterhouse was allegedly committing criminal acts while on duty.

Walterhouse is alleged to have called and texted a prostitute to warn her about the undercover investigation. He stated, “You might want to call it an early night tonight.” The following day, prosecutors said, he texted the woman as to when she should stay off the streets.

Officer Walterhouse was booked at the Glenn Dyer Jail in downtown Oakland, but then bailed out just three hours later. The Alameda County district attorney's office has charged him with two felony counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice and one misdemeanor count of engaging in prostitution (CA Penal Code 647 (b)).

Walterhouses's arrest comes in the midst of charges filed against three other Oakland police officers in their dealing with a sexually exploited teenager.

The scandal spread to several Bay Area law enforcement agencies and led to the abrupt parting of Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent in June.  Oakland still has not found a new police chief, and has hired the BART Deputy Police Chief Benson Fairow as interim chief while conducting a national search for a permanent replacement.

There has been a recent trend in police misconduct, especially in the Bay Area. It's hard to think that we are going to be safe and protected in our communities, when officers, those who are supposed to abide by the laws and enforce them, are the ones who are committing the crimes and trying to get away with them. This creates a significant problem in terms of law enforcement and community safety.

Further Reading:

East Bay Express - The Real Reason Why Oakland's Police Chief Was Fired

CBS SF Bay Area - Oakland Police Officer Arrested On Prostitution, Obstruction Charges

The Mercury News - Oakland police scandal: How often are cops having sex with prostitutes?