Schwab was In the Press After the Shut Your Mouth Payment

He said:

Schwab who covered up this potential scandal in 2003 said “He wanted to avoid embarrassment to the city. We have never had even a hint of scandal in the history of Grand Terrace. To have our assistant city manager charged with falsifying documents and embezzlement would have embarrassed the city. I basically asked the Sherriff’s Department not to pursue it. I should have fired him, but he seemed genuinely remorseful and pleaded with me for a second chance.” Many employees remembered the incident and the day that Berry groveled for his job. The sobs could even be heard down stairs,” said one employee.Schwab’s admission he made an “error in judgment” in not bringing this incident to the attention of the city council has raised the question why bring it up now. Berry believes It is an attempt to assassinate his character. The battle between Tom Schwab and Steve Berry over the City Manager position has been over since May 26, 2009 when Schwab took a retirement package of $177,000 and was no longer interested in battling with Berry. When asked who would provide this damaging information against Steve Berry? Schwab replied “The list is long and distinguished and I have found Steve severely lacks a sense of ethics and integrity.”

In the Investigators report he added he was motivated by the fact there was an election underway and he did not want to have a scandal to effect that.