A former San Diego County Sheriff’s deputy — who admitted to sexually assaulting multiple women while on the job before becoming a Christian police group chaplain — was removed from that position on Tuesday.

The Voice of San Diego first reported the story last week.

Richard Fischer was convicted in 2019 after admitting to assaulting 16 women while on duty and in uniform, including women who had called the department for help or to report a crime.

Fischer was on track to start work as a chaplain this year with the San Diego Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship, or CLEF, a nonprofit that provides support to members of the law enforcement community through spiritual outreach.

CLEF President Jerry Hara released the following statement on Tuesday:

On behalf of Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship, we want to apologize for making a flawed decision to allow Ricky Fischer as a missionary chaplain for our organization.

In retrospect, we were overzealous in our desire to help him through his redemption journey. Regrettably, we did not give sufficient consideration for the unintentional damage we caused the victims, law enforcement agencies in the County, as well as the taxpayers.

Effective immediately, the Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship Board has removed Ricky Fischer as a missionary chaplain and has completely separated him from our ministry.

We ask for grace and forgiveness from the community of San Diego, law enforcement agencies, victims and anyone who was adversely affected by our actions.

Again, we are sorry for all those who were negatively impacted, and we will endeavor to do better.

A former sheriff’s deputy who admitted to preying on women for his sexual gratification, is now working as a chaplain for a Christian police group. NBC 7’s Omari Flaming talked to the police group about their decision to hire Fischer.

Previously, Hara said of Fischer, “He’s going to seminary school as well. He’s given his life, and he’s a changed man.”

Fischer received CLEF’s help while going through trial proceedings for his case involving 16 women he pulled over or who called the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for help from 2015 to 2017. He was originally charged with 20 counts before pleading guilty to seven on the day his case was set to go to trial.

His crimes cost San Diego County taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements.

To read the full report on Fischer, click here.