‘Stigma’ of Allegations Prompts Officer’s Resignation

A veteran undercover San Diego police narcotics officer who was suspected of stealing money during a drug raid and possessing illegal drugs at police headquarters has left the force, the officer’s lawyer and police officials said Tuesday.

Though no criminal charges were ever filed against Wilmer O. Nelson, 45, a 16-year police veteran, Nelson felt as if he had no choice but to resign after the allegations were made last month, said his lawyer, Everett Bobbitt.

“That kind of charge against a police officer is really career-ending, whether he’s exonerated ultimately or not,” Bobbitt said.

“The stigma attaches once the charge is made,” Bobbitt said. “And, unfortunately, he saw it as irreversible for him, that he couldn’t put it back together again.”

Nelson, who posed as a heroin addict while working as a detective in the department’s narcotics division, could not be reached Tuesday for comment. Bobbitt said Nelson had opted to “pursue other interests” but declined to elaborate.

Cmdr. Larry Gore, a police spokesman, confirmed that Nelson had left the department, but said he could not offer further comment because he is barred by law from discussing personnel issues.

Nelson had been working in the prestigious narcotics division for about two years, mostly in an undercover capacity. He wore his gray-brown hair long and occasionally knotted in a pony tail, sported tattoos and sometimes wore a goatee and mustache.

He was relieved of duty after he reportedly pocketed $20 in cash during a June 5 drug raid at a home in the 3400 block of 60th Street. Taken to police headquarters, Nelson was then reportedly found to have illegal drugs in his desk at the narcotics division.

San Diego city and county prosecutors said June 20 that, based on the evidence given to them by the Police Department’s internal affairs unit, they had decided not to file criminal charges against Nelson.