Full Notification

Incident:                      Hate Related Incidents in Petaluma
Report Number:          24-2982
Occurred Date :          July 28, 2024
Occurred Time:           3:20 PM
Location:                     East Washington Street 101 Overpass, Petaluma
 
 
Incident Summary:
 
The Petaluma Police Department is deeply troubled and saddened to report recent hate-related incidents that took place in our community on Sunday, July 28, 2024. These acts of hate are not consistent with or reflective of our shared values of respect, inclusivity, diversity, and belonging. 

The first incident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, July 28, 2024, on the East Washington Street overpass at approximately 3:20 pm. During the incident, members of an antisemitic group held a banner facing the 101 Freeway while they stood on the overpass. Petaluma Police Officers contacted and identified the involved individuals.  After being contacted the individuals agreed to leave the area without incident.
 
Several hours later, the same individuals were reported as being in the East Washington Place shopping center where they placed flyers containing antisemitic rhetoric on parked vehicles. PPD officers again responded to the location and collected several of the flyers as evidence, but the subjects were no longer in the area.
 
At approximately 10:45 pm, the individuals previously contacted were observed holding the same banner at the Caulfield Lane overpass displaying it to drivers travelling on the 101 Freeway. PPD officers responded to the area and contacted the individuals and determined there no were no criminal violations to address.
 
Earlier today, the Department received a report of a community member who located five of the same antisemitic flyers previously found on vehicles in the East Washington Shopping Center while on a walk on July 29, 2024, in an East Petaluma neighborhood.
 
Since the occurrence of these incidents the Department has been collaborating with regional law enforcement agencies regarding this investigation.  Officers are reviewing these incidents and while they involved hate related speech they have not yet been identified as criminal violations.  The hate related materials target the Jewish community, but did not mention any specific community members, locations, or organizations.  This investigation is ongoing, and community members are encouraged to report additional incidents or information related to these incidents to the Department.
 
The Department urges everyone to join us in speaking out against hate and to work towards creating a community where diversity is celebrated, and everyone feels safe, welcomed, and valued.  Petaluma continues to stand United Against Hate and community information about our actions can be found at https://cityofpetaluma.org/united-against-hate/ 
 
For additional information on hate related incidents and hate crimes that were reported to the Petaluma Police Department, please visit the Department’s transparency page here.  
 
Media Inquiries should be directed to Lieutenant Zilverio Rivera (707)781-1277.