Cases Involving Eric Uller Headed To Trial

SANTA MONICA—Eric Uller, a former employee of the city of Santa Monica who is accused of abusing children when he worked with the City’s Police Activities League in the 1980s and 1990s, has several cases that are expected to head to trial. He was arrested in 2018 but later committed suicide. In addition, mediation over a settlement between the city of Santa Monica and several victims will result in more cases heading to trial. Uller is alleged to have sexually abused children, including boys who lived in the Pico neighborhood. He posed as a police officer and sexually groomed his victims by giving them gifts and threatening that they would be jailed or deported if they reported him. In addition, Uller engaged in unapproved trips with minors and possessed porn on his computer, allegations against him were ignored by the city of Santa Monica. The city of Santa Monica initiated an independent investigation into allegations that the city previously knew or should have known of, but failed to address, Mr. Uller’s alleged criminal conduct.  The city remains committed to seeing this investigation through.  The city has retained Irma Rodríguez Moises and Gabriel Sandoval at the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo to conduct an independent investigation of these allegations.  The independent investigation is already underway and will also review whether the City had in place sufficient procedures to encourage reporting of such conduct and to ensure that reports are acted on.  The city continues to encourage anyone who has information relevant to the independent investigation to reach out directly to the independent counsel at https://www.aalrr.com/contact-cerritos or 562-653-3200. The city also remains committed to conducting a review of the policies and practices of the many youth programs funded and operated by the City, including PAL.  The City is in the process of retaining an outside consultant, Praesidium, Inc., to review the policies and practices of its youth programs and provide guidance on best practices for preventing any future incidents of abuse.  Information about Praesidium can be found at its website, https://website.praesidiuminc.com/wp/.” At present time, the city of Santa Monica has settled 230 cases, with 14 cases scheduled for trial in 2027. The city of Santa Monica is concerned about 180 claims in which interviews with the victim were not taken under oath, and there are now 400 plaintiffs’ claims against one offender, raising concerns about the potential for fraudulent claims. The city is concerned about a report that was published in the Los Angeles Times about fraud in a sexual abuse settlement that involved both Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. Written By Daniel Diquinzio and Danny Jones