Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

A First Look at Fresno State’s Quarterback Battle

11 hours ago

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

11 hours ago

Tesla to Roll out Bay Area Robotaxis With Safety Drivers, Report Says

12 hours ago

Thailand and Cambodia Exchange Heavy Artillery Fire as Border Battle Expands

13 hours ago

California Cannot Require Background Checks to Buy Ammunition, US Appeals Court Rules

2 days ago

TikTok Will Go Dark in US Without Chinese Approval of Sale Deal, Lutnick Says

2 days ago

Fresno County Authorities Still Searching for Missing Mother and Infant

2 days ago
District Probe Faults Slatic in Clash With Army Recruiter
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
July 19, 2019

Share

A tense confrontation between an on-campus Army recruiter and Fresno Unified board member Terry Slatic, a retired Marine officer, was conduct unbecoming a trustee. However, Slatic’s actions didn’t rise to the level of racial discrimination, concludes an investigative report commissioned by the school district.
An independent investigator hired by Fresno Unified’s law firm looked into a Jan. 7 incident at Bullard High School. Slatic — then in his first month as the trustee representing the Bullard area — had a confrontation with Staff Sgt. Jeremy Cooper after they happened to meet at the school’s office.
The results of the investigation were released Friday afternoon.
Cooper, who is black, filed a formal complaint three weeks later alleging that Slatic harassed him, belittled him and talked to him “like a child.” Cooper, in an interview with investigators, said Slatic’s behavior might be racially motivated.

Policies Violated, Report Says

A 173-page report by the law firm Adams Silva & McNally LLP found Slatic violated board policies for management oversight, governance standards, and limits of authority for trustees. It called Slatic’s interaction with Cooper “confrontational and aggressive.”
However, the report concluded Slatic did not racially discriminate against Cooper. The report pointed out that Cooper also said, “Slatic’s conduct may have been motivated by the fact that SSG [redacted] is a member of the Army, whereas Trustee Slatic was a Marine.”

Slatic: Investigative Procedures Are Flawed

Slatic, contacted late Friday afternoon, disputed the investigation’s conclusions, saying the school district allows its hired investigators to follow their own procedures.

“They are told to do an investigation and allowed to write their own (rules). Naturally, they proceed to, ‘What kind of investigation do I have to do to stay on the payroll?'” —  trustee Terry Slatic
“They are told to do an investigation and allowed to write their own (rules),” Slatic said. “Naturally, they proceed to, ‘What kind of investigation do I have to do to stay on the payroll?'”
Slatic referenced a board meeting earlier this year at which he asked staff if the district had a procedure manual for conducting risk-management investigations. The answer, he said, was no.
“We haven’t done a (request for proposals) for investigations in 16 years. It becomes like everything else in FUSD, a corrupt, good old boy network.
“This is utterly preposterous. We have administrators making six-figure incomes in a city with a $33,000 median income, and they are not doing their jobs.”
Slatic also alleged the investigator was put off by his insistence that his interview be recorded. “She was upset, and her conclusions are reflective of that.”

New Investigator for Next Slatic Probe

At Thursday’s special board meeting called to investigate Slatic’s controversial meeting with Bullard cheerleaders, trustees approved an investigation into what happened there.
As part of her motion, trustee Carol Mills requested that the district hire an investigator it hasn’t previously used.
“This is so that we can have a report that is completely impartial,” Mills said.
Mills also pointed out that, in addition to its approved list of investigation firms, the district often hires attorneys to conduct investigations.

The Incident

Slatic and Cooper had a chance meeting Jan. 7 at the Bullard High administration office. Slatic asked Cooper what “his purpose” was for being on campus, and repeated the question after not getting a satisfactory answer, the report said.
Tensions escalated between the two, with Slatic allegedly threatening to ban the recruiter from campus. Slatic also berated the recruiter to Cooper’s superior officers.
Cooper, who was interviewed five times by investigators, said he made his formal complaint “because he was concerned that trustee Slatic may treat students in a similar manner.”
During the incident, Slatic asked Cooper repeatedly why he was on campus. Slatic became agitated and started yelling, using the term “shut your mouth” multiple times, Cooper told investigators. Slatic also threatened to have Cooper “banned” from Bullard High, Cooper said.
When Cooper called his supervisor on a phone, Slatic demanded to talk to the supervisor, and said Cooper was “really showing his ass,” the report says.

The Investigation

The report says Cooper “presented as a credible witness,” while Slatic was “not credible throughout” during his interview with the investigative firm.

The report says Cooper “presented as a credible witness,” while Slatic was “not credible throughout” during his interview with the investigative firm.
The investigator questioned Cooper, Army Capt. Aaron Raidt, Slatic, and Bullard principal Carlos Castillo for the report. Raidt was Cooper’s commanding officer at the time.
Raidt told the investigator that Slatic “became belligerent and loud” during a phone call the day after the incident. Raidt alleged Slatic used profanity and threatened to ban recruiters from all high schools if the captain did not meet with him. Despite attempts to set up a meeting, it never happened, Raidt said.
Castillo said Slatic spoke to him shortly after the incident to say Cooper had treated him with disrespect. The principal also spoke that day to Cooper, and assured him he would not be banned from the school.  Cooper told Castillo “he believed trustee Slatic’s conduct was related to his race” and that he had been harassed.

Investigator: Slatic Was ‘Confrontational and Abrupt’

When the investigator met with Slatic, the trustee insisted the meeting be recorded. Slatic was described as “was confrontational and abrupt” during the interview.
While Slatic answered questions with “ a very high degree of detail,” it “appeared to be designed to prove … he was calm during the incident and had the right to ask (Cooper) the questions,” the report says.
Slatic said he asked Cooper to provide details about what he does on campus. When Cooper asked Slatic wanted to know, Slatic said he was a board member and it was his responsibility to know.
Slatic said he cut off Cooper numerous times during the conversation, but that Cooper also cut him off. Slatic also said “that if he did not understand what SSG (redacted) did on campus, he would ask the principal not to allow him on campus until he obtained such an understanding,” according to the report.
Slatic said he may have told the recruiter he would be banned from campus.
The trustee said he did not use profanity in his phone conversation with Raidt. According to Slatic, the captain told him Cooper had a history of being defensive.



DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Tulare Officer Injured in Crash While Trying to Save Unresponsive Infant. Child Dies at Hospital

DON'T MISS

PBS Has a Future by Leaving the Past Behind: Opinion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council Candidate Rassamni Says City Is Investigating Him Amid Allegations by Arias

DON'T MISS

Fresno First Responders Talk Person Down off Parking Garage Ledge

DON'T MISS

Oregon Schools Face Federal Probe Over Transgender Athletes

DON'T MISS

US Judge Reaffirms Nationwide Injunction Blocking Trump Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship

DON'T MISS

White House Will Release $5.5 Billion for Schools, After Surprise Delay

DON'T MISS

Kern County Fire Issues Evacuation Warnings for Pearl Fire Near Lake Isabella

DON'T MISS

Gaza Running out of Specialized Food to Save Malnourished Children

DON'T MISS

New Madera Bypass Project Aims to Ease Traffic on Highway 41 Near Tesoro Viejo

UP NEXT

Fresno Council Candidate Rassamni Says City Is Investigating Him Amid Allegations by Arias

UP NEXT

Fresno First Responders Talk Person Down off Parking Garage Ledge

UP NEXT

Kern County Fire Issues Evacuation Warnings for Pearl Fire Near Lake Isabella

UP NEXT

New Madera Bypass Project Aims to Ease Traffic on Highway 41 Near Tesoro Viejo

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Felon in Connection With Drive-by Shooting

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Julian Jay Haymon

UP NEXT

Tater Is One Hot Potato When It Comes to Adoptable Kittens

UP NEXT

The Entz Era Begins at Fresno State With QB Job Up for Grabs

UP NEXT

Hoover High Coach Arrested on Child Porn Charges, Released on Bail

UP NEXT

Fresno Brewery Teams With Japanese Sister City on Rice Lager Release

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno First Responders Talk Person Down off Parking Garage Ledge

7 hours ago

Oregon Schools Face Federal Probe Over Transgender Athletes

8 hours ago

US Judge Reaffirms Nationwide Injunction Blocking Trump Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship

8 hours ago

White House Will Release $5.5 Billion for Schools, After Surprise Delay

9 hours ago

Kern County Fire Issues Evacuation Warnings for Pearl Fire Near Lake Isabella

9 hours ago

Gaza Running out of Specialized Food to Save Malnourished Children

10 hours ago

New Madera Bypass Project Aims to Ease Traffic on Highway 41 Near Tesoro Viejo

10 hours ago

Key Player in California’s Water Wars Embraces Controversial Newsom Plan

11 hours ago

A First Look at Fresno State’s Quarterback Battle

11 hours ago

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

11 hours ago

Tulare Officer Injured in Crash While Trying to Save Unresponsive Infant. Child Dies at Hospital

A Tulare police officer was injured in a traffic collision Friday while responding to a medical emergency involving an unresponsive infant, ...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Tulare Officer Injured in Crash While Trying to Save Unresponsive Infant. Child Dies at Hospital

Signs supporting NPR outside its headquarters in Washington on March 26, 2025. The Trump administration has accused NPR and PBS of using public funds to produce biased coverage and “left-wing propaganda.” (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
6 hours ago

PBS Has a Future by Leaving the Past Behind: Opinion

AJ Rassamni and Miguel Arias blackstone
7 hours ago

Fresno Council Candidate Rassamni Says City Is Investigating Him Amid Allegations by Arias

Fresno first responders spent over two hours safely rescuing a person in crisis from the edge of a downtown parking garage Friday, July 25, 2025,morning. (Fresno FD)
7 hours ago

Fresno First Responders Talk Person Down off Parking Garage Ledge

United States Department of Education logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Oregon Schools Face Federal Probe Over Transgender Athletes

President Donald Trump speaks to the media, after the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to the power of federal judges by restricting their ability to grant broad legal relief in cases as the justices acted in a legal fight over President Donald Trump's bid to limit birthright citizenship, in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington D.C., June 27, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

US Judge Reaffirms Nationwide Injunction Blocking Trump Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship

Students head to the buses at the end of the day at a high school in Cedar Hill, Mo., on Sept. 14, 2022. The White House will release $5.5 billion in frozen education funds, administration officials announced on Friday, July 25, bringing an end to a chaotic saga of the administration’s making, which had sent school districts scrambling with weeks to go before the school year. (Whitney Curtis/The New York Times)
9 hours ago

White House Will Release $5.5 Billion for Schools, After Surprise Delay

Kern County fire officials have issued evacuation warnings for two zones near Lake Isabella as the Pearl Fire threatens the area. (Kern County FD)
9 hours ago

Kern County Fire Issues Evacuation Warnings for Pearl Fire Near Lake Isabella

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend