Officer Who Was Object of Search Returns to Duty

A Los Angeles police sergeant who disappeared and was the object of a massive four-day search returned to work this week after Police Department experts decided he was psychologically fit for duty, authorities said Thursday.

Sgt. Christopher Vasquez, formerly an assistant watch commander at the North Hollywood station, returned to work Wednesday and was temporarily assigned to an administrative position with the department’s Valley Bureau, Capt. Dan Watson said.

“He was evaluated by our behavioral sciences section and authorized to return to duty,” Watson said. “He’ll be working in some administrative capacity for an unknown period of time.” In his new position, he will not be involved directly with field work.

A 20-year department veteran, Vasquez failed to report to work or call the station on Dec. 10. Officers sent to his Moorpark residence to look for him found his two cars, a wallet and police identification, but no sign of Vasquez.

More than 250 people combed the hillsides behind his townhouse and searched a 45-square-mile area for four days, fearing Vasquez, an avid jogger, might have become lost or injured while running in the hills.

Vasquez later told authorities that he voluntarily left his home and hitchhiked 250 miles to Salinas because he needed time to think about personal problems. Authorities did not describe the nature of those problems, but other officers said he was depressed over marital trouble.

He showed up unharmed at the house of his estranged wife in Simi Valley on Dec. 15.

His disappearance is still under investigation and department officials have not made a final determination about his future status.

“We are investigating the circumstances of his not reporting to work for four or five days and the reasons why,” Watson said. “When it is done we will make recommendations on what should be done with him, where he should be assigned.”