The state commission tasked with ensuring California’s law enforcement officers meet training and selection standards informed the city of Montebello this week that it is closing its case against the city’s Police Chief Luis Lopez, officials said.

The move came after the city provided the California POST Commission with findings from its own investigation that “fully and completely exonerated Chief Lopez against the false accusations that were made against him,” according to a city statement on Wednesday.

Unnamed city personnel filed the undisclosed allegations to the state’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training against the advice of the Montebello Police Department’s special labor law counsel, Liebert, Cassidy and Whitmore.

The allegations were made when Lopez was a captain, in 2024. Some found their way to social media, but they appear to be no longer available on the web. City officials did not elaborate on the allegations.

The city’s lawyers found the allegations did not fit within the categories of findings that need to be reported to the commission. The statement said Raul Alvarez, Montebello’s city manager, and City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, were not notified of the action, which was in violation of city personnel policies, they said.

“It’s very concerning that personnel went against the advice of their legal counsel and reported inaccurate information to the POST Commission,” Alvarez said. “These actions violated our internal policies on handling confidential investigations and personnel matters.”

He said the action could expose the city to potential litigation.

City officials further lamented what they said was the release of alleged parts of itsinvestigation on social media, saying the city will investigate any unauthorized release of confidential documents and report it to appropriate authorities.

Sworn in Feb. 26 as the city’s 12th police chief, Lopez started as a police cadet with the Montebello Police Department in 1992, serving as captain before retiring last year.

Lopez followed the tenure of former Police Chief Paul Espinosa, who served as chief from 2022 until he was fired in February.

Attempts to reach POST Commissioners were unsuccessful.

When asked for further comment, Alex Gillman, public affairs manager for the city of Montebello, said the city’s announcement Wednesday contains all the information the city has to share on the matter.