Commission suspends San Bernardino officer Hector Victoria for three years after video showed repeated strikes during arrest

The Peace Officer Standards and Training commission voted to suspend Officer Hector Victoria of the San Bernardino Police Department for three years after reviewing video evidence and an investigative summary showing repeated knee strikes and punches during an arrest that followed a vehicle pursuit.

The division presented body‑worn and bystander video that, it said, showed Officer Victoria delivering multiple knee strikes and closed‑fist punches to a suspect who lay prone and indicated compliance. The division described resulting injuries including a closed fracture of the left orbital socket, lacerations and chipped teeth; the city later settled a related civil claim for $450,000. The department's internal review found the officer's force violated policy and imposed a 40‑hour suspension (20 hours held in abeyance) and deescalation training; the advisory board voted unanimously to recommend revocation of POST certification.

The division framed the conduct as physical abuse and excessive force under Penal Code §13510.8 and Commission regulation 1205 A3. Division presenter Michael Marshall described additional service records and other incidents the division considered as aggravating factors.

Defense counsel asked the commission to weigh remoteness and chronology and noted the department imposed discipline and training; counsel also cited multiple letters of support from supervisors and peers. Officer Victoria addressed the commission, accepted responsibility for the incident, described completing training and said he had no further use‑of‑force complaints in the year and a half after the event while he continued patrol duty.

After public comment and deliberation, the commission voted to impose a three‑year suspension of Officer Victoria's POST certificate; commissioners noted the department had already demoted the officer to a civilian community service assignment and that the commission retains jurisdiction if conditions warrant future action.

Next steps: POST staff will prepare an order reflecting the suspension. The officer's demotion to community service remains in the department record; reinstatement to sworn status, if sought in the future, would require department action and any background checks and steps required by POST rules.