Crime & Safety
Hayward Cop and Former After-School Program Teacher Arrested on Suspicion of Abusing Students
Livermore police arrested a Hayward police officer Saturday on suspicion of abusing minors for nine years when he worked at an after-school program for middle school students.
Police believe Richard McLeod, 38, abused numerous female victims while he was employed as a teacher at Kids Zone, a program run by the Livermore Recreation and Park District, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. On Monday, McLeod was being held in lieu of $750,000 bail at Santa Rita Jail.
McLeod was a teacher at Kids Zone from 1992 to 2007, when he joined the Hayward Police Department. Police believe the abuse started in 1998.
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He is on leave from the Hayward Police Department and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. McLeod is a Livermore resident.
Here is the full text of the press release from the Livermore Police Department:
On Saturday, September 28, 2013, Detectives from the Livermore Police Department arrested Richard Scott McLeod, who resides in Livermore, for the above listed charges.
The arrest stemmed from an extensive sexual abuse investigation. The sexual
abuse occurred in Livermore between 1998 and 2007. During that time, McLeod was employed at the Kid Zone in Livermore as the lead coordinator/teacher from 1992 to 2007.
The Kid Zone is an after school program designed specifically for middle school aged children. While employed at the Kid Zone, it is suspected that McLeod sexually abused multiple female minors between the ages of 12 and 14 years old. McLeod, who is currently a Hayward Police Officer, was arrested without incident and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
The crimes being investigated occurred prior to McLeod becoming a police officer. At this point in the investigation, LPD Detectives have not discovered any evidence to suggest that McLeod has committed any sexual abuse while employed as a police officer. Hayward Police Department has been and will continue to cooperate with LPD in this investigation. Hayward Police Department will be placing McLeod on administrative leave. The investigation into the sexual abuse is ongoing.
If anyone has information about this case, they are encouraged to call the Livermore Police Department at (925) 294-7531. Those who wish to remain anonymous may do so.
Here is the full text of the press release from the Livermore Police Department:
On Saturday, September 28, 2013, Detectives from the Livermore Police Department arrested Richard Scott McLeod, who resides in Livermore, for the above listed charges.
The arrest stemmed from an extensive sexual abuse investigation. The sexual
abuse occurred in Livermore between 1998 and 2007. During that time, McLeod was employed at the Kid Zone in Livermore as the lead coordinator/teacher from 1992 to 2007.
The Kid Zone is an after school program designed specifically for middle school aged children. While employed at the Kid Zone, it is suspected that McLeod sexually abused multiple female minors between the ages of 12 and 14 years old. McLeod, who is currently a Hayward Police Officer, was arrested without incident and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
The crimes being investigated occurred prior to McLeod becoming a police officer. At this point in the investigation, LPD Detectives have not discovered any evidence to suggest that McLeod has committed any sexual abuse while employed as a police officer. Hayward Police Department has been and will continue to cooperate with LPD in this investigation. Hayward Police Department will be placing McLeod on administrative leave. The investigation into the sexual abuse is ongoing.
If anyone has information about this case, they are encouraged to call the Livermore Police Department at (925) 294-7531. Those who wish to remain anonymous may do so.
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