Summary (tl;dr)

Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez has fired three police officers over their use of disabled veteran license plates, sparking a discrimination lawsuit from the officers who claim they are being targeted for their service-connected disabilities.

Essential Background

The controversy began when three Riverside police officers—Timothy Popplewell, Raymond Olivares, and Richard Cranford—who are military veterans with 100% disability ratings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), obtained disabled military veteran license plates for their personal vehicles. The Riverside Police Department questioned how officers with a 100% disability rating could meet the demands of being full-time police officers. The officers were suspended in May 2025, and in July 2025, they filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city, alleging they were wrongfully suspended and targeted for their veteran status and disabilities after refusing an order to remove the plates.

The Full Story

On April 28, 2026, Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez officially terminated the employment of the three officers. This decision followed a closed-session City Council discussion earlier this year, where the council voted against settling the officers' discrimination lawsuit. The officers had a "Skelly hearing" on April 21, 2026, allowing them to argue against their termination to Chief Gonzalez. Chief Gonzalez stated that while the officers followed the proper process to obtain the plates, "The issue we had was how they got the license plates," and that his decision was "all based on facts," though he declined to elaborate further due to the ongoing lawsuit. The former officers maintain they made no false claims and are disabled under VA standards, with their attorney arguing that a 100% VA disability rating can reflect combined service-connected conditions and does not automatically preclude someone from working as a police officer.

Why It Matters

This situation highlights a contentious debate regarding disabled veterans serving in demanding professions like law enforcement and the interpretation of disability ratings. The case raises significant questions about potential discrimination against veterans with disabilities and the policies police departments have concerning such matters. The ongoing lawsuit and the public interest in veterans' rights and fair employment practices contribute to the keywords trending as people seek to understand the implications for both law enforcement agencies and disabled veterans.

Geographic Location

• Riverside, Riverside County, California, United States (police officer terminations and discrimination lawsuit)