US News
Former San Diego deputy convicted of assaulting women appointed as Christian police group chaplain
Ricky Fischer, who served just over a year in prison for abusing women while on duty, now counsels law enforcement officers despite sharp criticism from victims' representatives.
The short version
- Former San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Ricky Fischer has been hired as a chaplain for the Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship after serving prison time for abusing women on duty.
- The nonprofit's leadership defended Fischer's hiring as a story of religious redemption, noting he was vetted and is barred from ministering to female officers.
- Victims' attorney Dan Gilleon and former law enforcement officials criticized the appointment, pointing out that Fischer has never made amends directly to his victims.
Key facts
- Ricky Fischer pleaded guilty to four felony counts of assault and battery under color of authority, two misdemeanor counts of assault, and one misdemeanor count of false imprisonment involving 16 women.[Associated Press]
- San Diego County taxpayers paid nearly $10 million in civil settlements to Fischer's victims and over $1 million in legal fees.[Associated Press]
- Fischer served just over one year in prison out of a 44-month sentence and was not required to register as a sex offender because his convictions were not legally classified as sex crimes.[Associated Press]
- The Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship hired Fischer as a chaplain to counsel officers, funded through donations from those he counsels.[Associated Press]
- San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez requested her photo be removed from the fellowship's website after learning it was displayed, though a spokesperson stated she supports the group's general work.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It is unverified whether Fischer has expressed personal remorse directly to any of his victims, as their attorney stated no written amends or full admissions were ever received.[Associated Press]