Fresno cop pushes for police chief's resignation after alleged affair

In a series of texts to a top city official, Fresno Police Officer Jordan Wamhoff said he would not take legal action against the City of Fresno if Police Chief Balderrama resigned in the 30 days.

Fresnoland independently verified a report published Thursday by local NPR affiliate KVPR, which first identified Wamhoff as the police officer whose wife was having an affair with Balderrama, as well as Wamhoff's conditions to city officials.

In addition to calling for Balderrama's resignation, Wamhoff, who is also a Madera County supervisor, pushed for a flexible position within the Fresno Police Department and offered a nondisclosure agreement if a deal was reached. concluded.

Fresnoland reviewed a series of text messages between Wamhoff and a senior city official, who requested anonymity for fear of possible police retaliation.

Wamhoff did not immediately respond to Fresnoland's request for comment. Attorney Brian Whelan, who represents Wamhoff, also did not respond to a request for comment.

Last week, the city of Fresno placed Balderrama on paid administrative leave for the duration of an ongoing city investigation into an “inappropriate off-duty relationship” with the wife of a Fresno police officer.

Balderrama declined to comment.

In order to interview Wamhoff, KVPR reported that Whelan attempted to require his reporters to sign a legal agreement that would prevent Wamhoff's name from being released and allow him to review the upcoming story and make changes to it. modifications before publication.

KVPR did not agree to Whelan's terms and was unable to interview Wamhoff.

This type of legal arrangement is “just unheard of in journalism,” said Jim Boren, executive director of the Fresno State Institute for Media and Trust and former editor-in-chief of The Fresno Bee.

“It's not something journalists do: allow their sources to review and edit a story before it's published,” Boren told Fresnoland.

The police union criticized KVPR for publishing Wamhoff's name in a Thursday article, calling it unethical, even though Wamhoff is an elected official on the Madera County Board of Supervisors and a Fresno police officer .

The union later praised The Fresno Bee for not publishing Wamhoff's name in an article, thanking the newspaper for its “consideration and discretion.” The Fresno Bee finally published a story about Wamhoff and his conditions to city officials Friday afternoon.

The police union did not respond to Fresnoland's request for comment.

Wamhoff has been a Fresno police officer for more than a decade. In 2022, he won a bid for county supervisor representing Madera County District 1.

Fresnoland Editor Danielle Bergstrom contributed to this story.

Related