Austin Grabish traded in winter boots for a surfboard. He joined the ABC 10News team as a reporter in January 2023 after reporting for CBC, Canada's national public broadcaster, for six years.
The City of San Diego hired a San Francisco law firm to conduct a confidential investigation into workplace allegations made against Police Chief Scott Wahl , Team 10 has learned.Police sources told Team 10 the investigation was launched earlier this year.
Invoices obtained by Team 10 reveal taxpayers spent $37,400.92 on legal fees charged by the Renne Public Law Group.In July, Team 10 submitted a public records request to the city, asking for all invoices from outside law firms hired to conduct workplace investigations into allegations made against Wahl in 2024 and 2025.The invoices show investigators with the firm were paid $300-$450 an hour and started their “fact-finding” work back in January.Nothing in the documents suggests any wrongdoing on Wahl’s part. The police chief was sworn in last June.The police department has refused to disclose what allegations were made against the leader, who has been with the force since 1998.Dave Rolland, a spokesperson for Mayor Todd Gloria, said the mayor has “full confidence” in Wahl.He refused to say what prompted the city to hire the law firm. “As a matter of policy, we don’t comment on internal personnel issues.”The invoices obtained by Team 10 show that at the end of April, the law firm billed the city for legal support expenses, including proofreading, edits and comments related to a “report.”As part of their investigation, lawyers were tasked with interviewing SDPD command staff, witnessing officers and the complainants, according to the contract between the firm and the city.Investigators were asked to determine if city or department policies were violated and were paid to write a final report that concluded whether the allegations were true or unfounded.The City Attorney refused to release the report to Team 10 in a public records request.“We have no comment and cannot provide any additional information,” said San Diego City Attorney’s Office spokesman Ibrahim Ahmed.Records obtained by Team 10 show Assistant City Attorney Jim McNeill approved the contract with the law firm in January.San Diego police refused to release the report to Team 10 and didn’t return a request for comment sent last month.But after we obtained the invoices for the firm’s work late Friday, the department finally responded.Ashley Nicholes, a spokesperson for the police department, said the law firm’s work has finished. She called the issue a “personnel matter.”Asked if it was appropriate for taxpayers to spend thousands on an outside law firm, she defended the city.“It is not uncommon for the city to hire outside law firms to conduct independent investigations to ensure impartiality,” she said in a prepared statement.Team 10 Investigative Reporter Austin Grabish is a government watchdog. He covers military investigations, the Medical Board of California and the border. If you have a story for him to investigate, email austin.grabish@10news.com
Scott Wahl Team 10 Allegations Chief Investigation
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
City of San Diego lifts ban on summer construction near beachesFor years, construction in beach communities was stopped between Memorial Day and Labor Day to allow for the busy tourism season.
Read more »
San Diego seeks redevelopment of dilapidated 'City Operations Building'The building is more than 50 years old and beyond repair, city officials said. It's one of five blocks of city-owned real estate in downtown that leaders hope to revitalize.
Read more »
City Council revives controversial housing project in southeast San DiegoThe Klauber Avenue housing project brought to light a controversial footnote in the city code that allowed developers to build single-family homes at a higher density in parts of southeast San Diego than the rest of the area — a law that some residents argued amounted to discrimination.
Read more »
AUDIT: City of San Diego's flawed response to historic January 2024 floodsMax Goldwasser is ABC 10News' weekend evening anchor and forecaster. During the week, he reports on stories as an MMJ.
Read more »
San Diego’s Weather Forecast for Friday, July 25, 2025: Sunny San Diego FridayMoses Small joined ABC 10News as a Multimedia Journalist in 2022. He was born in Birmingham, Ala. and raised in Portland, Maine. He's elated to spend time here and learn more about the community.
Read more »
Tsunami advisory canceled from San Diego to San Luis ObispoA tsunami advisory was canceled Wednesday morning for coastal areas from San Diego County north to San Luis Obispo County following a powerful earthquake off Russia's coast.
Read more »