May 31, 2020; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Police officers and the National Guard watch over LAPD headquarters as a protest is held nearby. The death of unarmed black man George Floyd allegedly by a Minneapolis police officer has sparked protests across the country. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro/Staff via USA TODAY NETWORK
Los Angeles, California – Two former Torrance police officers have pleaded guilty to felony vandalism for spray painting a swastika inside a vehicle connected to a criminal investigation, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Thursday.
Christopher Tomsic and Cody Weldin, both 32, admitted to defacing the car in January 2020, marking a disturbing abuse of power and breach of public trust. The vandalism came after the vehicle was impounded following a reported mail theft. When the suspects in that case retrieved their car from a tow yard, they found a swastika spray-painted on the rear seat and a smiley face on the front.
“Vandalizing property with hateful messages is reprehensible and violates the oath police officers take to uphold the law and protect and serve their communities,” Hochman said. “These actions are not only disgraceful, but also deeply harmful to public trust in law enforcement.”
Tomsic and Weldin had initially pleaded not guilty in 2021 but changed their plea Thursday in a courtroom at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. As part of their sentencing, the former officers will serve two years of formal probation, pay restitution to the victim, and complete 100 hours of community service at a food bank. They are also required to visit the Museum of Tolerance and complete 15 hours of anti-racism education.
Crucially, the men surrendered their Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification, effectively banning them from ever serving as police officers in California again.
“The actions of these former officers were disgraceful and violated the core values of our department,” said Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart. “We are committed to transparency, accountability, and rebuilding public trust.”
The case was handled by the Justice System Integrity Division of the District Attorney’s Office, with key contributions from Deputy District Attorneys Saeed Teymouri and John Perroni.
A progress report hearing is scheduled for July 10 in Department 108 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
“This resolution ensures accountability,” Hochman said, “and reinforces our commitment to eradicating hate and bias from our justice system.”
