Three Riverside police officers have been fired over the disabled-veteran license plates on their personal cars, escalating a long-simmering internal fight into a full-blown showdown involving suspensions, a lawsuit, and closed-door City Council talks.
The officers - Timothy Popplewell, Richard Cranford, and Raymond Olivares - are military veterans with 100% disability ratings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. They were placed on administrative leave last May and later sued the city for discrimination. The lawsuit says the men were targeted after refusing an order to take the plates off their cars, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Police Chief Larry Gonzalez moved to terminate the three after a closed-session City Council discussion earlier this year and a decision not to settle the case, local reporting shows. An internal affairs investigation scrutinized whether the men had improperly obtained the specialized tags, according to Police1.
The department has argued that the plates - which come with meter and registration exemptions - send the wrong message when bolted to the cars of officers the city insists are fully able to work patrol. Riverside officials have declined to get specific while the personnel process is still underway, citing the confidentiality of employment matters, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles.
How Disabled‑Veteran Plates Work In California
California’s Disabled Veteran (DV) plates are available only to veterans who meet strict eligibility rules, such as having a 100% disability rating from the VA or other qualifying conditions that significantly limit mobility. The plates can come with fee and parking meter exemptions. To get them, applicants must provide certification from a medical professional or a veterans agency, and the DMV warns that false information, forged signatures or other misuse can lead to revocation and penalties, according to the California DMV.
Officers' Legal Argument
The officers’ attorney argues that a 100% VA disability rating can reflect several service-connected conditions combined and does not automatically mean someone is unable to work as a police officer. Pushing to fire them over the plates amounts to discrimination, the lawyer says, according to the Los Angeles Times. Their lawsuit, filed in July 2025, claims they were singled out because of their veteran status and disabilities after they refused to remove the tags.
City officials have called the matter a confidential internal employment dispute and have kept public comments tight. The clash intensified after council members rejected a proposed settlement, followed by formal termination notices, reporting shows. Union and defense attorneys say the officers plan to fight back through administrative appeals and other legal avenues, according to Police1.
The controversy is landing on a department already dealing with public-relations headaches. Popplewell was previously seen in widely shared video smashing a resident’s skateboard in January 2025, an incident that resulted in misdemeanor charges that were later dismissed after he paid fines and completed community service, according to ABC7. Critics say episodes like that have only intensified scrutiny of the force.
The three officers are entitled to a Skelly hearing, where they can review and challenge the evidence behind their terminations. Union lawyers say they are prepared to press administrative and civil claims if needed, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles. Veterans’ advocates are watching closely to see whether the case becomes a template for how cities handle employees who receive VA disability benefits.
Local television coverage shows the department has already moved to separate the men from the city payroll while the personnel process continues, and Riverside has not released a detailed public explanation, citing the confidentiality of the employment action, according to CBS Los Angeles. For now, the fight appears headed toward a prolonged round of hearings and courtroom battles.
