Ousted Police Officer Seeks Council Seat

A former Simi Valley police officer who was kicked off the force in February is running for City Council.

Dave Weiner, a 12-year veteran of the department, said Tuesday that he will challenge incumbent Simi Valley council members Barbara Williamson and Bill Davis in the November elections.

Weiner, 34, said the main issue of his campaign will be revamping the Police Department.

“I want to replace the chief and remove the Neanderthals and deadwood that’s been there forever,” Weiner said. “It’s the supervisors that prevent us from being a proactive department. It’s time somebody stood up for police officers.”

Weiner said crime in Simi Valley was “nearing a point of no return,” and said he wants to hire several new police officers. Simi Valley, however, is perennially rated one of the safest cities in the nation by the FBI.

Weiner said he was not sure where the funding for the additional cops would come from. “That’s a good question,” he said.

Weiner said he was terminated because of a workman’s compensation claim he filed after injuring his shoulder in a training accident. “They ordered me back, but my doctor said no,” said Weiner, who added that he was the subject of at least five internal investigations during the dispute.

“They were trying to oust me from the department and they did,” he said. “The administration hates me.”

The Police Department declined to comment on Weiner’s dismissal.