A former Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy who shot and killed a suspect in 2022 is receiving a lifetime pension of over $5,200 a month after being granted a service-connected disability retirement.
Per the Press Democrat, Michael Dietrick retired after his fatal shooting of David Peláez-Chavez in 2022. While the Sheriff’s Office cleared Dietrick of wrongdoing, the county’s civilian oversight office recently questioned whether the use of deadly force was justified.
The County had previously settled a lawsuit with the victim’s family for over $600,000.
The pension board approved the disability status, which is typically reserved for injuries or illnesses sustained on the job.