The criminal actions of a California cop has cost a small-town millions after a shocking series of events involving sex assaults, burglary and meth.
In Mendocino County, former Sergeant Kevin Murray tarnished the Ukiah Police Department’s reputation following a series of unsettling allegations that culminated in a modest sentence and a $3 million settlement for the town.
The department’s budget for fiscal year 2025 is just over $10million, meaning Murray cost the city nearly a third of its annual police funding.
Despite facing numerous felony sexual assault accusations, Murray was handed a sentence of just two years probation along with 250 hours of community service. By accepting a plea bargain, he avoided a public trial and saw the charges dropped.
Additionally, Murray was not mandated to register as a sex offender. However, he was required to submit a DNA sample to the state and engage in a three-year Sex Offenders and Families in Effective Recovery program for at least one year.
His arrest followed allegations ranging from breaking into a woman’s hotel room for sex, storing methamphetamine in his department-issued locker, to brandishing his service weapon while sexually assaulting a woman.
Murray’s first serious case began in 2018 when he allegedly forced his way into the home of a disabled Gulf War veteran without a warrant and beat him unconscious.
The city of Ukiah paid the veteran $1.05million to settle the claims, SF Gate reported.
After multiple felony sexual assault charges, Murray was sentenced to just two years probation and 250 hours of community service. The former cop took a plea deal that dismissed the charges, and allowed him to dodge a public trial
Former Sergeant Kevin Murray disgraced the Ukiah Police Department in Mendocino County following a slew of disturbing charges
In January 2021, Murray faced another set of charges including burglary, meth possession and sexual battery, following a night at the Super 8 Motel in Ukiah.
In court documents obtained by the outlet, Murray allegedly turned off his body camera, drove the victim’s car with her inside and asked her to kiss him on the neck.
He allegedly went into her room, uninvited, and took her key card announcing he would return after his shift.
Murray then allegedly texted her asking if they could ‘hook up tonight’ and asked her for ‘good pics’ to know if ‘the good[s] are worth coming back for’.
The woman claimed she had never given Murray her phone number, and authorities discovered he used a spoofed caller ID to hide his identity. She became so terrified that she barricaded the door with a table.
The woman received a $250,000 civil settlement from the city.
One month later, he faced another criminal charge for an alleged 2014 off-duty rape.
He was initially charged with forcible rape and forcible oral copulation, and an allegation of sexual assault armed with an assault weapon was later added.
His arrest followed allegations ranging from breaking into a woman’s hotel room for sex, storing methamphetamine in his department-issued locker, to brandishing his service weapon while sexually assaulting a woman
In the complaint filed by Johnson in December 2022 against Murray and the city of Ukiah, Murray was accused of being armed with a knife and a handgun.
The court ruled that the city wasn’t liable, but Murray failed to respond to the civil suit and was served with a $1million default judgement, SF Gate reported.
In 2021, he was served another suit from a former Ukiah officer accusing him of sexual assault during a 2013 training trip.
The female officer said the police department retaliated when she spoke up, isolating her and cutting pay. In January 2025, the city paid a $1.75million settlement.
The police department had previously sang Murray’s praises. On April 8, 2020, the department posted on its Facebook page:’ Join us as we celebrate Officer Kevin Murray’s promotion to Sergeant!
‘Sergeant Murray joined the City of Ukiah Police Department in December 2008. Over the course of his law enforcement career, Sergeant Murray has worked several special assignments including Field Training Officer and K9 handler with his partner Thor.
‘Sergeant Murray is also a veteran who served for the U.S. Army. Over the course of his six year military career, Sergeant Murray was deployed once to Afghanistan, twice to Iraq & was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant.
‘Before today’s promotion, Sergeant Murray has been supervising his shift as a watch commander for the past 6 1/2 months due to staffing shortages.
Trent James, who served as a deputy for the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office and a canine officer with the Willits Police Department, said: ‘Murray’s sentencing sends a very clear message to not only the citizens of Mendocino County, but also current law enforcement, that this type of behavior is okay’
‘Sergeant Murray’s work ethic and dedication to serve our community is commendable & we’re thrilled to announce his promotion.’
It was Murray’s light sentencing that shocked the city and had many questioning the justice system.
Trent James, who served as a deputy for the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office and a canine officer with the Willits Police Department, said in a letter to the Mendocino Voice that dirty cops get ‘extreme leeway and special treatment’.
‘Murray’s sentencing sends a very clear message to not only the citizens of Mendocino County, but also current law enforcement, that this type of behavior is okay,’ James wrote.
‘With this “slap on the wrist” punishment for extremely egregious crimes there is very little, if any, deterrence from others committing the same crimes.’
The Sonoma County Probation Department reviewed Murray’s case before he was served his sentence, and recommended two years probation with a suspended prison term and a one-year jail sentence.
Sonoma County Probation Officer Spencer Misetich described Murray’s actions as ‘abhorrent’, slamming his behavior as exhibiting ‘criminal sophistication’.
However, because ‘no factors in aggravation were found true or admitted by the defendant as part of his plea agreement in this matter… the court is essentially limited to imposing the middle term of imprisonment, which is what we would recommend’.
‘We’ve really made a very strong effort to hold people accountable, to try to be transparent with the community,’ Corning said, but recognized that ‘all it takes is one or two guys to ruin the reputation with the community’
‘…We do feel the defendant’s abhorrent actions in this matter deserves further jail time in addition to the time he has already served,’ the report said, SF Gate reported.
Murray was handed the two year probation sentence with no additional jail time.
His light sentencing and ‘abhorrent’ actions led to severe mistrust within the police department, as police Chief Thomas Corning was sworn in just one month ago.
Corning is the third to take the position since Murray’s misconduct. Noble Waidelich took the position nine months after Murray was charged, but was forced out after allegedly coercing a woman into sex while on duty in uniform.
As Corning assumes the position, the told the outlet: ‘The policy used to state that guys were, you know, basically recommended to turn on their body cams during citizen contacts.
‘We changed it to where they are mandated on every citizen contact to turn on the camera.’
But Corning is aware of the stain that Murray left on the Ukiah Police Department’s reputation.
‘You just constantly keep hearing about this guy,’ he said. ‘It can weigh on you.’
‘When you care about a department this much, you know how much good we have – and how much good we do,’ he continued.
Corning is determined to prove that the previous scandals are not a testament to their current workforce.
‘We’ve really made a very strong effort to hold people accountable, to try to be transparent with the community,’ he said, but recognized that ‘all it takes is one or two guys to ruin the reputation with the community’.
