A former cop outlines a culture of corruption, silence and doing "whatever it takes" to get a conviction in the Bakersfield Police Department, Gov. Newsom calls Bako the murder capital" of California and Traco Matthews gets his own church

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... POLICE CORRUPTION? A disgraced ex cop has leveled a series of accusations against the Bakersfield Police Department, claiming a culture of corruption in the early 2000s led officers and officers to lie, cover up and "do anything" to make a case stick. The charges came from Demacio Diaz in a

remarkable interview with KGET this week, and even if you consider that Diaz's own credibility has been called into question, his charges about a culture of corruption at BPD are troubling. Diaz was convicted and sentenced for his role in stealing drugs from the police evidence room, and has been linked to a 2013 shooting in which a police informant was killed in the Four Points Sheraton parking lot. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Diaz told KGET the culture at the department was to "get the  case closed by ant means possible." What that meant, he warned, was "your own business." Now retired Greg Williamson was chief at the time and did not comment for the KGET story.

 * ... BLAME GAME: Here's a question for those of you who live in Bakersfield and Kern County: do you feel as if you are living in the murder capital of California? That's exactly how Gov. Gavin Newsom refers to Kern County as he trades political barbs with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his 23rd Congressional District. Newsom was asked if he had spoken to McCarthy since the mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, and he dismissed that notion and added this: “Of course, he represents the murder capital of California,” Newsom said of McCarthy.

 * ... HAGGIN OAKS: When crime spikes in times like these, there are few neighborhoods that are immune from its poison. So it wasn't really a surprise when we learned that an elderly woman in Haggin Oaks suffered a home invasion robbery recently. But in Haggin Oaks? Police said several young men ransacked her home and made off with money and jewelry, temporarily turned the quiet neighborhood into a crime scene. When it happens in Haggin Oaks, you know it is happening just about everywhere.

* ... TRACO MATTHEWS: Congratulations to Traco Matthews who has just been installed as the new pastor of the Church of God Bakersfield. Matthews, a CSUB graduate and among a group of young leaders emerging in Kern County, will preside over the church along with First Lady Jessica Mathews, his equally accomplished wife. Previously Matthews worked for Area Energy, the Kern Superintendent of Schools, Community Action Partnership and State Farm. He currently serves as chief health equity officer at Kern Health.

 * ... WHAT A VIEW:  Check out this lovely drone photo of the hills of Kern County taken by German Cervera. And we wonder why cyclists love to traverse this county on two wheels.

 * ... MEMORIES: Two more great historical photos of some familiar streets posted by the folks over at Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

Central Valley sweet potatoes gain in popularity and another burglary hits Haggin Oaks

 * ... SISTER CITY: Good to hear that one of Bakersfield's sister cities - Wakayama, Japan - escaped serious damage from a recent typhoon. That's the word from Susan Stone, president of the Bakersfield Sister City Project, who noted that her contacts in Wakayama all seem safe. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Bakersfield and Wakayama, whose mayor will visit Bakersfield in November.

* ... SWEET POTATOES: The Los Angeles Times featured a front page story on the growing popularity of sweet potatoes, many of which are grown here in the Central Valley. According to The Times, Americans have doubled their consumption of sweet potatoes in the last decade, and exports to other nations are also skyrocketing. Most of California's sweet potatoes are grown in Merced County. (photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times)

 * ... EUREKA!: Speaking of food, folks in the Southwest are looking forward to the opening of new Eureka! Burgers and Craft Beer at the Shops at RiverWalk. This Fresno based franchise features gourmet burgers, craft beers and an engaging atmosphere and should be a good addition to the growing Southwest area. Earlier reports indicated this new Stockdale Highway location should be open by the end of this year. It joins other longtime tenants PF Changs, The Elephant Bar, BJ's and California Pizza Kitchen.

 * ... BREAK IN: There was yet another burglary in Haggin Oaks over the Labor Day weekend, the third burglary in a matter of just a few days in the Southwest neighborhood. In the latest case, the homeowners were asleep inside when the intruder broke into the garage through a window but could not gain entry into the home because the door leading inside was locked. Meanwhile, there continues to be a rash of car break-ins across town, particularly in Olde Stockdale, La Cresta and Westchester. Remember: lock your doors and keep your alarms on.

 * ... OVERHEARD: Twenty-something woman at Starbucks tells the barrista to "hold the whip cream" on her morning caramel machiatto (about 250 calories) because she is dieting, then decides to order a 440-calorie scone to go.

* ... GOOD SERVICE: Reader Sheri Warfield wrote to praise the customer service at New City Cleaners, which has been in business for more than a century.  "They are a five star cleaners known for their great quality and customer service skills. They know most of their customers by name and have developed friendly relationships with many of them over the years. A very courteous, knowledgeable staff makes for a pleasant trip to the dry cleaners."

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Glenda Geissel writes that you may be an Oildale old timer "if you remember the Cottage Hospital that was located where the Mish Funeral Home is now. I know from experience because my sister and myself were born there in 1946 and 1949. I was born an '08er and no doubt will die an '08er. Thanks for all the memories your column brings to mind."

Sarah Palin and Bakersfield a dream team and a business born in the recession booms

 * .. LIKE THROWING RAW MEAT TO WOLVES: You have to hand it to George Martin, the local attorney who is bringing back the once wildly popular Bakersfield Business Conference. Martin scored it big by landing former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to be a headliner at the event, which is now scheduled for next October 9. Say what you will about Palin, but she is a red hot commodity right now and bringing her to Bakersfield's conservative audience is like throwing raw meat to a pack of hungry wolves. Meanwhile, no word yet on where the one-day conference will be held, but I hear Martin's first choice is the amphitheater at the Park at River Walk over off Stockdale Highway. The old venue over at Cal State Bakersfield appears to be out, partly because of the construction of the new student recreation center and the new bike path that winds around it.

 * ... A BUSINESS BORN IN THE RECESSION: If you're looking for some good news in the depth of this recession, consider Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchants over off Truxtun Extension and Empire Drive. The business, owned and run by David and Tami Dobbs, is beautifully done and features a full wine store as well as a tasting area where you can sample wines by the ounce. The couple bought the building in July 2008, gutted and renovated it and opened Imbibe in March in the absolute depths of the recession. How are they doing? Tami tells me they are well ahead of their revenue goals and could not be happier with their growing clientele. The couple (she graduated from Bakersfield High and David from North High) spent 20 years in the wine business in Glendale before moving back in 2006 to be closer to family. This is a true entrepreneurial couple who built a business through sheer sweat equity against all odds in a recession. More power and all success to them.

* ... OFF TO HAITI: I saw Evan Evans, a local Allstate insurance manager, at Starbucks on 24th Street Monday morning where he regularly meets for coffee with his old high school pal Harry Starkey, head of the Berrenda Mesa Water District. Evans told me he was off to Haiti with 20 other members of the Olive Knolls Church of the Nazarene to build and work in a clinic. Apparently this is a 10-day trip and another example how many folks in this community give back in untold number of ways.

 * ... BOBBY'S BRIGADE FUND RAISER: If you're  looking for a good cause to support, drop over to B Ryder's sports grill this Thursday for an event supporting Relay For Life. The event is named for the son of CeCe Cross who lost his battle with leukemia. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and includes trip-tip dinner, salad, beans, bread and a drink. B Ryder's is located at 7401 White Lane. Call CeCe Cross for details at 661-703-2050, or Vanessa Cierley at 661-246-8886. The event starts at 6 p.m.

 * ... RIP KURT YAEGER: I heard the other day that Kurt Yaeger, a local attorney who left town in the year 2000, had passed away in Riverside. Kurt and his wife Andrea Yaeger lived in Haggin Oaks and were avid golfers at Seven Oaks Country Club, where they were charter members and Kurt was the first head of the Board of Governors. Kurt was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and died at Loma Linda University Medical Center on November 10. He was 53. Keep Kurt, Andrea and their daughters Jacqueline and Elizabeth in your thoughts.

Ecstacy, cocaine and the local doctor

The story of the arrest of Dr. Jeff Freesemann and his wife Shelly on multiple drug charges has to remain one of the weird stories of the day. He's the (now former) chief of staff at San Joaquin Community Hospital and she's the attractive yoga instructor who - at least to their neighbors in Haggin Oaks - lived the typical quiet suburban life: two kids, a dog and a nice home. That was before they were busted Sept. 17 in connection with an investigation of Ecstacy, meth and cocaine in local night clubs. They've been charged with two felony counts of conspiring to commit a crime, three felony counts of transporting a controlled substance and one felony count of transporting/selling a narcotic. Others were nabbed in the case but this one's a head scratcher right out of "Desperate Housewives." Stay tuned to bakersfield.com for what's up next.