Cathedral City police officer charged with felonies after naked pool incident

Officer John Fox Jr., 37, faces one felony count each of attempted sexual penetration and assault under the color of authority.


He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery and one count of indecent exposure in the Sept. 29 incident
The charges stem from a 3:45 a.m. noise complaint that prompted Fox to knock on a door in the 35-000 block of Maria Road.


During his investigation, Fox stripped out of his uniform and jumped naked into the backyard pool with three women, according to Riverside County District Attorney spokesman Michael Jeandron.


The homeowner called 911 to complain about the officer. Fox put his uniform back on and left before a supervisor arrived, Jeandron said.


The women told The Desert Sun later that day they had jokingly invited the officer into the pool but were stunned when he stripped off his uniform and holstered gun.


Fox — who has worked for the department for about nine years — was placed on paid administrative leave later that morning.


He will remain on leave until the criminal case or an on-going internal investigation concludes, police spokesman Lt. Chuck Robinson said.


Robinson did not know Thursday how much money Fox makes, but a police union pay schedule indicates his annual salary ranges from $64,000 to $73,500.


City Manager Don Bradley declined to comment, citing personnel privacy.


It is the second time in department history that a Cathedral City police officer has been charged with sexual misconduct. The previous case, which was filed in the early 2000s, ended in a hung jury, but the officer no longer works with the department, Robinson said.


The complaint filed against Fox is otherwise an anomaly, Robinson said.


“People know they’re not supposed to do that. So when a guy does it, you go, ‘Obviously there’s got to be something going on,’” he said. “About the only thing you can do in those circumstances is you hold that guy up as an example of what not to do.”


Robinson declined to say whether Fox — who will appear in court Monday to enter a plea — has ever had a complaint filed against him, citing personnel privacy.


“I can’t stress enough that we rely on the public trust, that we’re going to do our job, and we will police our own officers and make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” Robinson said.