Brandon Nail
Service Record
San Rafael California Police Department
| Rank | Officer |
| Dates of Service | Terminated June 28, 2023.[1]. Reinstated |
| Salary | $191,842 (2021)[2] |
| Last Known Status | Active |
Commendations
2020 Letter of Commendation
On October 13, 2020, a lemur named Maki was stolen from a zoo enclosure.[3] On December 13, 2022, Nail and other officers received a Letter of Commendation for the case.[4]
Incident Reports
2022 Arrest of Julio Lopez
Response Timeline
On September 2, 2022, the officers were placed on paid administrative leave.[5]
On January 25, 2023, Lopez filed a claim against the officers, alleging assault, battery, negligence, false arrest, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unreasonable search and seizure, and excessive force by police. Lopez also alleged that the city failed to properly screen, hire, train, supervise, or discipline the officers.[6]
On May 11, 2023, the agency announced their intent to fire Nail for a failure to deescalate and that his strong language brought discredit to the department.[7]
On June 27, 2023, the agency terminated Nail. Nail appealed his firing.[7]
On June 29, 2023, Nail was charged with assault by an officer under color of authority and making false statements on a crime report.[8]
On July 24, 2023, Lopez filed a lawsuit against the officers, the department, and the city, claiming the use of excessive force and unreasonable searches and seizures in violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.[9]
On August 12, 2023, Nail was arraigned on charges of assault by an officer under color of authority and making false statements in a crime report. Nail pleaded not guilty.[1]
On October 7, 2024, the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) temporarily suspended Nail's certification after he was terminated and criminally charged.[10]
On December 16, 2024, an arbitrator ruled that there was insufficient evidence that Nail had violated any department or city policies, and ordered that Nail be reinstated and given back pay.[7]
On October 14, 2025, a jury acquitted Nail.[11]
On October 17, 2025, the POST commission reinstated Nail's certification.[10]
On October 28, 2025, the city settled the civil lawsuit for $999,000.[12]
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Adrian Rodriguez, Marin: Former officers arraigned on assault charges in bloody arrest, Marin Independent Journal, 2023-08-11
- ↑ Brandon Nail, Police Officer, San Rafael, govSalaries
- ↑ Maki, Beloved SF Zoo Lemur Who Was Kidnapped in 2020, Dies at 22, CBS, 2022-03-04
- ↑ Awards, Commendations and Promotions, San Rafael Police Department, 2022-12-13
- ↑ Dan Noyes, San Rafael police officers placed on paid leave after bloody takedown of gardener with open beer, ABC 7 News, 2022-09-22
- ↑ Alex Gecan, San Rafael hit with claim over bloody police arrest, Marin Independent Journal, 2023-01-31
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Julia Fox, San Rafael Police Officer Reinstated After Unjust Termination, PORAC Legal Defense Fund, 2025-03-03
- ↑ 2 San Rafael police officers involved in 2022 excessive force case receive felony charges, DA says, ABC 7, 2023-06-30
- ↑ Dan Noyes, Marin Co. gardener files federal lawsuit over beating by San Rafael police due to open beer, ABC 7, 2023-07-24
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Certification Actions, California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
- ↑ Not Guilty Verdict in the Criminal Case against San Rafael Police Officer Brandon Nail, City of San Rafael, 2025-10-14
- ↑ Albert Gregory, City Will Pay $999K To Man Injured In Violent Arrest In This Marin County Town, Patch, 2025-10-28
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