El Paso Police Chief Fires Cop Who Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Woman
El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen terminated Zake Rivera’s employment with the El Paso Police Department Monday.
Rivera was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on February 25, 2011 on one count of Sexual Assault stemming from an on-duty incident.
Chief Allen said last month the incident happened while Rivera and a partner responded to a family violence call at a home on Jan. 23, 2011. Rivera and his partner are said to have separated the husband and wife during questioning, as is the protocol for domestic disturbances.
According to the complaint affidavit, Rivera escorted the wife into his patrol unit and had her sit in the back driver’s side seat with the door open.
“The defendant (Rivera) had the victim perform oral sex on him without the victim’s consent. Evidence was located and collected from the victim’s clothing,” according to the affidavit. “The recovered evidence contained DNA found to be associated with the defendant.”
The woman also positively identified the police officer through a photo line-up.
Chief Allen said the victim reported the alleged assault shortly after the officers left. Rivera has been off the streets and on administrative duty since the alleged assault was reported.
A separate and independent administrative investigation into the incident allowed Chief Allen to substantiate violations of the El Paso Police Department’s Rules and Regulations. Based on these violations Rivera’s employment was terminated effective this morning.
