Corrupt Rohnert Park Police Officers Face Sentencing in May

Federal sentencing set as former officers convicted in cannabis extortion scheme that shook public trust and triggered lawsuits.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:38pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police badge or handcuffs lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a stark, gritty, and investigative mood around the police misconduct case.A harsh flash-lit close-up of police equipment symbolizes the corruption and abuse of power that eroded public trust in the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.Rohnert Park Today

Two former Rohnert Park police officers, Brendan "Jacy" Tatum and Joseph Huffaker, are scheduled to be federally sentenced in May for their scheme of using their power to extort cash and cannabis from drivers they pulled over. The officers were indicted in 2021 for conspiracy to commit extortion, with Tatum also facing charges of falsification of records and tax evasion. Tatum pleaded guilty, while Huffaker was convicted by a jury last July.

Why it matters

The officers' actions have shaken public trust in the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, leading to a civil grand jury report questioning law enforcement oversight and resulting in over $1 million in settlements for racketeering lawsuits filed by victims. The case highlights the importance of strong oversight and accountability measures within police departments.

The details

Between 2015 and 2017, Tatum and Huffaker, who worked on the drug interdiction team, would stop drivers along U.S. Highway 101 and extort cash and marijuana from them by threatening arrest if they didn't turn over the items. The officers never reported the seizures, put the drugs into evidence, or destroyed them, instead selling the cannabis for profit. After the interdiction team was disbanded, the officers continued their 'enforcement' activities, which were captured on body-worn camera footage. Tatum also failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash deposits and purchases on his taxes.

  • Tatum and Huffaker worked on the drug interdiction team at the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety between 2015 and 2017.
  • Tatum and Huffaker were indicted in 2021 for their extortion scheme.
  • Tatum pleaded guilty in 2021, while Huffaker was convicted by a jury in July 2022.
  • Tatum and Huffaker are scheduled to be federally sentenced on May 6, 2026.

The players

Brendan "Jacy" Tatum

A former Rohnert Park police officer who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, falsifying records, and tax evasion.

Joseph Huffaker

A former Rohnert Park police officer who was convicted by a jury of extortion, falsifying records, and impersonating a federal officer.

Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety

The police department in Rohnert Park, California, where Tatum and Huffaker worked and whose oversight was questioned in a civil grand jury report following the officers' misconduct.

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What’s next

Huffaker's attorney filed a motion for a new trial in March, which was denied. Both former officers are now scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of strong oversight and accountability measures within police departments to prevent misconduct and restore public trust. The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety must continue to implement reforms to ensure such abuses of power do not occur again.