Officer Brian Ridenour is a twelve-year veteran of the Fresno Police Department. He was arrested over the weekend in an internet sting in Tulare County.
Brian Ridenour is the current officer of the year for the Central Policing District. But this weekend, the veteran officer found himself in jail after Tulare County Sheriff's Deputies say he got caught in an internet prostitution operation.
For the past 12 years officer Brian Ridenour has worked out of the police station located in Fresno's Tower District. He is well known in the area and a regular at the Chicken Pie Shop.
Waitress, Judy Riley said, "He's a friendly person. He's easy going. Never any problems. I'm just, I'm shocked."
The Tulare County Sheriff's Office says Ridenour was arrested after agreeing to sexual services Saturday and then showing up at a specific location. The arrangements were made over the internet before more than a dozen men and women were arrested for offering or preparing to receive sexual favors.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer issued a statement saying in part quote: "Brian will be placed on modified duty pending the outcome of the Internal Affairs investigation."
Ridenour's picture is included in the most recent Valley Yellow Pages phonebook. The photo was taken when he received the Central District Officer of the Year Award.
The 38-year-old lives in Visalia. He was not at work Monday and did not return calls from Action News for comment.
After she learned of his arrest, Judy Riley said frankly, she's in disbelief. "I'm real surprised. Because all our cops around here are good. They take care of us you know not the other way around. I'm real surprised to hear this. I personally don't believe it. It has to be proven."
According to his profile on the networking site linkedin.com, Officer Ridenour says he worked on several Fresno Police prostitution stings. Ridenour bailed out of jail over the weekend after posting 25 hundred dollars bail.
He's facing charges of soliciting a prostitute.
