GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Test results have proven that former City Administrator Paul Eckert did not have any alcohol or drugs in his system in October when pulled over in Gridley by the Highway Patrol.  Charges have been dismissed.  Court proceedings had been repeatedly delayed due to COVID19.

Mr. Eckert is now considering legal action against the Highway Patrol for the botched process and his family’s long-term loss of employment income.  Eckert said that he’s worked very closely with law enforcement for 30 years and had never heard of such terrible performance.

Eckert was making the 5-minute drive from his home in Gridley to his office at Gridley City Hall to collect some necessary items required to work on City business at home.  It’s well known that Eckert worked 50 to 60 hours weekly, including weekends and late nights.  Eckert was pulled over going east bound on Sycamore Street, near City Hall.

Eckert assumed it was Gridley PD.  He introduced himself, thinking it was a GPD Officer.  Eckert said that “he and others consider it unusual for the Highway Patrol to be working in the middle of Gridley”.  Within two minutes he was asked to take a field sobriety test.

Eckert has said that “they were trying hard to find something wrong when there was clearly nothing wrong”. The field testing showed zero alcohol. “It was bizarre that they then wanted to assume I was on meth.  I told the officer he was nuts and reminded him that he was in sleepy quiet Gridley”.

There was a rush to judgment due to Eckert’s prominent role in the community. The social media response appeared largely impacted by the Council election. Eckert subsequently resigned his position.

It’s been unfortunate for Paul Eckert and his family that he was placed in a spotlight due to what he calls “the Highway Patrol’s botched process”.  The event resulted in baseless and highly impactful false social media claims. Eckert has stressed all along that “there was nothing out of the ordinary that night in contrast to baseless politically convenient wild speculations”.  Eckert believes “that the false rumors were politically motivated”.

Eckert is widely considered by veteran City staff to be their best-ever City Administrator.  He is considered by City staff, who’ve spent thousands of hours with him, as highly ethical, professional, and appropriate with everyone.

Paul Eckert consistently received very high rankings by the City Council, including as recently as the month before his resignation. Eckert implemented an array of positive changes, some of which predictably resulted in community pushback. As City Administrator, Eckert also routinely took the heat for City Councilmembers’ actions.

Consistent with his high levels of dedication and professionalism over the past four and half years, Eckert has dedicated himself to assisting the Council and staff has they go through a leadership transition.