FAIRFIELD – Solano County Rotary Clubs honored a Solano County Sheriff’s Deputy – who showed support for the far-right Three Percenter movement – at the clubs’ annual law enforcement recognition night last week, according to a schedule of events obtained by the Vallejo Sun.
The clubs held the 29th annual event Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield, each honoring an officer from 13 Solano County law enforcement agencies.
This included Solano County Sheriff’s Deputy Dale Matsuoka, the department’s homeless outreach coordinator who also posted his support for the Three Percenter movement on his Facebook page before an investigative report from the last year reveals that Matsuoka was one of at least four deputies who had shown the movement badge.
Sheriff Tom Ferrara refused to investigate the presence of extremism in his office, saying instead he had personal conversations with deputies who told him they intended to show support only to the second amendment. He said the FBI cleared his deputies of extremist support, which the FBI later disputed.
Vacaville Rotary Past President Mike Viera, a retired California Highway Patrol officer, was the master of ceremonies for Friday’s rally. The Rotary International website describes itself as a worldwide organization with more than 46,000 local chapters that “promote peace” and “support education”, among other goals.
Last year, the Canadian government classified the Three Percenters as a “terrorist entity,” and the loose movement has been linked to violent plots, clashes, and attacks across the country, including the plan to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in October 2020. The “III%ers” are also one of many right-wing groups linked to the US government’s attempted insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Two North Bay men who have also shown support for the Three Percenter movement are awaiting sentencing on terrorism-related charges for allegedly amassing a stockpile of firearms and pipe bombs and planning to attack corporate headquarters. California Democrats, Facebook and Twitter after Jan. 6. attacks on the US capitol because they believe the 2020 election was rigged against former President Donald Trump.
The Rotary Clubs of Vacaville and Fairfield did not respond to requests for comment regarding their recognition of Matsuoka. It is not known if the clubs chose the winners themselves or if they recognized the members submitted by their departments.
Other officers who were honored at the event were Det. Benicia police station. Rory Logan, CHP Officer Pat Ensley, CHP Officer Keith Tuller, California State Prison Correctional Officer Lainey Brown, Det. police force from Dixon. Brent Dawson, Josh Bender, Fairfield Police Officer, Darrel Aquin, Travis Air Force Base Special Agent, Aaron Dillon, Solano County District Attorney’s Investigator, Bruce Norton, Solano Sheriff’s Corrections Officer, Matthew Swoyer, Constable Suisun Police, Vacaville Police Constable Matthew Taylor, and Vallejo Police Sgt. Joshua Caitham.
This is not the first time Rotary clubs have honored a controversial officer.
In 2016, Corporal Dustin Joseph, then a Vallejo police officer, was named the Vallejo Rotary Club Officer of the Year. Joseph and then Vallejo Police Officer Sean Kenney shot and killed Mario Romero in 2012, resulting in a $2 million civil rights settlement for the city. After the shooting, the department promoted Joseph, who has since been implicated in the Vallejo police badge bending scandal. He later became a police officer in Fairfield, where he was prosecuted for allegedly violating people’s civil rights.
Matsuoka has also received several accolades since the revelations that he showed his support for the Three Percenters. The Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District recognized Matsuoka through a proclamation in March for its role in reaching out to people living in homeless encampments ahead of Coastline Cleanup Day last year.
Matsuoka used the handle “Matt Daley” on Facebook and left his posts supporting the Three Percenter movement for weeks after they were posted. He has since deleted most public posts from his profile and is now called Joe F. Tatanka. His profile currently prominently features a photo of hip-hop artist Kanye “Ye” West and conservative pundit Candace Owens wearing “White Lives Matter” shirts.
