LASD

LA County Sheriff’s Department Chief of Staff Tom Angel Resigns Over Racist and Anti-Muslim Email Controversy

Tom Angel, who is the chief of staff for LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, has just resigned his post, according to a statement released on Sunday afternoon by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

The resignation comes after news broke last week via the LA Times about racist, sexist, and anti-muslim emails Angel forwarded between 2012 and 2013 when he worked for the Burbank Police Department. Angel worked for the LASD for 33 years before retiring and taking a position as second in command at the Burbank PD. Then after Sheriff McDonnell took office in December 2014, he recruited Angel to be his right hand.

In the statement released Sunday, McDonell said the following:

“Very recently I learned that three to four years ago LASD Chief Tom Angel shared inappropriate and unprofessional e-mails with others, during his service as Burbank Police Department Assistant Chief. This incident is one that I find deeply troubling. Chief Angel has offered his resignation, and I have accepted it. I thank him for his many years of service, and wish him and his family well.

“Despite the Sheriff’s Department’s many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do. I intend to turn this situation into a learning opportunity for all LASD personnel.”

While Angel was reportedly well liked in the department, and the emails were sent several years ago when he was no longer with the LASD, many in and around the department expressed concern when news of the emails became public, and the sheriff said he did not plan to discipline Angel. Critics argued that, if a higher-up such as Angel was not in some significant way held responsible for forwarding email “jokes” on a work computer that were racist and derogatory about Muslims, it sent a problematic message to the rank-and-file and to the communities policed by the LASD, especially since this administration was elected with a reformist mandate.

Justice advocates expressed even stronger objections to the idea that Angel’s actions were being given what appeared to be a pass by the sheriff.

Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, wrote a letter late last week saying that the So Cal ACLU felt that “the only appropriate response is Angel’s resignation or dismissal.”

Like others, Villagra pointed to the fact that McDonnell ran for office “vowing to clean up a department plagued by decades of corruption, violence and impunity. He has pledged to seek out ‘the right people with the right moral compass in hiring, promotions, training, mentoring and supervising our people.’ Yet here, he has chosen to ignore behavior that is contrary to those goals…”

Advocates also found it disturbing that, as Villagra noted, “Angel’s attempt to apologize was couched in a denunciation of the Public Records Act. ‘I apologize if I offended anybody,’ he told the Los Angeles Times, ‘but the intent was not for the public to have seen these jokes.'”

For a person serving near to the top of a public agency not to understand that all of his or her workplace activity is rightly subject to public scrutiny was….startling.

In Sunday’s statement, McDonnell also said he would be “meeting with constituent groups throughout the county to share thoughts and ideas about improving our understanding of the varied cultures and orientations and deepening our appreciation of the many ethnicities and religions that are part of the vibrant fabric of the population we serve.”

He said the department would also assess existing policies and training to ensure “accountability” on such issues. McDonnell added that the department would implement a new system of random audits of the e-mail accounts of LASD personnel.

LA County Supervisor had this to say after the news broke about Angel’s resignation: “..While I support the deputy’s decision, there is still much work to be done. We must move forward and strive for a law enforcement work culture that values diversity and promotes tolerance.”

56 Comments

  • I could think of a couple of Executives that I would boot out the door long before Tom Angel. We cut off our nose despite our face. Tom, you are another victim of political correctness and our Policy of Equality. How does it feel to be thrown under the bus. Join the long and distinguished list which continues to grown unabated. Although I have no plans for voting for Donald Trump….at least he has the intestinal fortitude to speak the truth regardless of political consequences. Sheriff, you threw Tom to the dogs….hope you sleep well at night!

  • Tom’s a good guy but screwed up. But have no fear, Santa will get to the bottom of this.

    Humbug!

  • True…he violated the sacred POE. My god, how many people do we have to lose to this bullshit policy. In its current form, it is used more often to retaliate against proactive supervisors and beefs with other deputies. Everybody is sue happy and nobody wants to work for a living anymore. Do we need a policy against unwanted sexual/racial harassment, certainly….but this POS needs to go. To many people have suffered its wrath. Yes, bleeding heart liberals will continue to believe anyone who utters a sexual or racist remark has to be a bigot, when quite often the opposite is true. Like I said previously, WTF happened to my country! At least I can still believe in Santa without violating some Department policy…..

  • Don’t they say something in the bible like he that is without sin cast the first stone? Give me a break. How far in to political correct hell have we fallen? I am sure isis makes you turn in your membership card if you do something like this.

  • Think of all the times Ol’Tom sat behind his desk and tossed discipline at folks like throwing breadcrumbs to pigeons. How many times did Ol’Tom open up cases on folks when other options were available? How many times did Ol’Tom turn his back on folks that were getting royally screwed? He can be a nice guy all day long, but we’ve seen lots of nice guys get screwed by bars and stars. How does it feel Tom? The Sheriff tossed you aside because you were a liability to his political career. I’m sure the Sheriff said, “I like you Tom, no hard feelings.”

  • Bandwagon, Amen to that. The list of execs whose sins far exceed Angel’s is long and distinguished, and the damage they’ve done to the LASD dwarfs any mistakes on Angel’s part. Perhaps McDonnell should make a similar effort to reach out to his own employees for input on how to fix what ails the department. That would make a lot of his command staff very nervous, and checking their LACERA numbers.

  • Who is this Tom Angel guy everyone is squawking about. Does he have any ink. If he does, then he gets my seal of approval. I guess his dismissal means they are gonna be harder on everyone else in regards to emails. Oh well, que sera sera. Guess, what, oh ya, my long sleeve will be rolled up, ink showing, while I chew my favorite tobacco product. Don’t like it, come and git me.

  • Neil Tyler the Librarian has to go. Barrantes the Court Services Guru has to go. Just ask the boys at ELA how his recommendation for Captain worked out. Thank God for retirements. Rogers, well what can you say? Snakes are always in the grass. I’d strongly suggest McDonnell open up the good book and check into a character called Judas Iscariot and you’ll see Todd’s face there. Tragic as this is, Angel had no choice. He had to go because he got caught joking which is no longer allowed.
    http://www.cops4trump.com

  • Ah, I’m good with him being gone. He’s brought in as part of a clean-up team at Burbank and does that shit. Stupid with a CAPITAL “S”. And you just know in his 33 years with LASD he hammered someone for something similar. KARMA! Him telling the Times reporter that he felt it was unfortunate that his work emails were made public, verified his brand of arrogant stupidity.

    More importantly, now that we have this IMPORTANT (haha) stuff handled. Who is being held responsible for the nuts and bolts of the everyday job that’s suppose to be done. I just talked to a deputy working the MTA contract, they’ve ALL been told they had to sign up for 12 overtime shifts in May and June, or they will be drafted for their 12. And a WHOLE LOTTA of em’ aren’t happy campers. But hey, it’s only moral…..

    ????? All because a schedule staff doesn’t know how to use a calculator and divide by 12 months the minutes they owe a contract, then manage it properly, monthly.?????

    Don’t we have a Chief over there, watching a Commander, who watches a couple Captains, who watch countless Lieutenants and Sergeants???? Hope no one gets hurt over there from being overworked.

    Wonder if that Chief has submitted a resignation to McDonnell for utter incompetency…. whats you say Sheriff….. are you aware of this? Or are you not supervising your Chiefs? Or are you all OK with working your line staff like their on the front lines in wartime? Or is this a teaching moment? What are the deputies being drafted learning? I’m sure ALADS has told you about????

    I’ll wait for the Letter from the Sheriff for your explanation.

    SANTA…. any word?

  • #6 – You are correct. So many people have been saying what a nice guy Ol’ “Smilin’ Tom” was, but as you know, he screwed over a lot of good people. Smile to your face while shanking you in the back. This was his destiny, payback for his unrighteousness shit. His legacy now and forever is the “e-mail guy”. He had to go since he got national attention and the ACLU put him in the crosshairs. Just remember Ol’ Smilin’ Tom has skeletons and they would have come out if he stayed in the limelight. Adios! Good riddance, asshole.

  • My girlfriend works at headquarters. I wonder if the sheriff offers all the ladies a ride in his car when he is driven on the access road. Game on. Ask him.

  • So here is the rub on this entire event. The Sheriff is made aware of the emails, specifically when, give me a date. How long did the Sheriff know PRIOR to the LA Times breaking this story on April 27 at 1552 hours. Was it that day, a couple of days, a week? When did the know about those emails? Did Tom Angel disclose this information to the Sheriff before he was brought back to LASD? One would think Tom would have disclosed this to the Sheriff before being hired back. One would think the Burbank Police Chief was very well aware of these emails and would have personally advised the Sheriff that this was out there, it was well known inside of the Burbank PD. I find it hard to believe that chief would not have disclosed this to McDonnell to eliminate potential embarrassment to LASD and the Sheriff himself if this surfaced. WHAT DID THE SHERIFF KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?

    Below is an excerpt from the LAT:

    “McDonnell said he was disappointed by the emails but had no immediate plans to discipline Angel, since the messages predate Angel’s current employment with the Sheriff’s Department.

    “Everybody’s got their own take on humor. This was divisive and nonproductive,” McDonnell said. “It’s a shame the whole thing happened at all.””

    So here is my take, based of the quote above, the Sheriff had no intention of doing anything to Tom Angel, nothing at all. The Sheriff was simply going to let this blow over, become stale, and let it die. He takes a trip to Boston to visit family and when McDonnell looks to the West, he sees a mushroom cloud. So much for laying low and letting this thing die. Nope, it takes on a nationwide media story and now it’s political survival……… for the Sheriff. The Sheriff returns and now it’s a “teachable moment, it’s unfortunate, time for additional training (isn’t that always the punch line?) bla, bla, bla.”

    Once again, different standards for the brass. And once again, nothing has changed, has it? Same old, same old. Perhaps WLA, LAT or Lisa Bartley from CH7 will specifically ask these questions of the Sheriff. We all saw what happened when the media covered up, ignored or played dumb with Baca. Hopefully, they won’t make the same mistake because this is an issue worth pursuing. Then it will really be a teachable moment.

  • Take Two: Nothing has changed. Tom can be thankful that he wasn’t known as “The new Waldie!” Once again why didn’t the sheriff jump on this right away? And true what did the sheriff know and when did he know it?

  • I must say, I did not see this one coming, Tom Angel resignation. Well, what will happen next. Will the Sheriff pull another dried up piece of fruit from the ground to join the inner circle of clowns or will he recognize any talent from within the organization? Place your bets, which commander is hoping for the bump to chief of staff? Do we need it? I’m sure the Sheriff will get many visits this week with commander condolences for the loss of Chief Tom Angel as part of the resolution team.

    It sure seems like the leaders of this fine organization are yielding more bad press than the hard working men and women (line folks) who make the department #1.

    Lacera should have a busy few months as people try to jump off this runaway train.

  • A teaching moment will be that all line personnel get 4 to 8 hours training on policy and sign a piece of paper stating you understand the policy. So line personnel will be punished for an executive mistake. It will be easier to start at the top down.. your commend staff needs the training first. Maybe they should be given the training and then pass the information to line personnel. That would be interesting

  • Tom Angel: “Everybody forwards emails they probably shouldnt”.

    Translation: Everybody violates the Department’s Policy of Equality.

    Sheriff McDonnell: “I have no plans to discipline Tom Angel”

    Translation: We only discipline deputies, sergeants, and lieutenants for POE violations. Captains and above get a pass.

    Thanks guys for verifying what we have all know for years. Does the word ehipocrasy ring a bell?

  • A small excerpt from the Sheriff’ letter. “The law enforcement profession must and can demand the highest standards of professionalism, fairness and constitutional policing – from its personnel. We are only as effective as the relationships, credibility and trust we have with our community.” Sheriff, you continue to miss the big picture, until it slaps you in the face in a Times article. You can’t expect this to happen until it comes from within. You have executives that continually play favoritism. The nepotism is alive and well within your executive ranks. When you stop this non-sense, and put these clowns in check, this Department can move foreword. We, the line folks work our asses off for public safety and community trust. We go out each and everyday and make a positive impact within the communities. So when you say we still have work to do, I say, once again get out of your ivory tower and walk around. You might see what we are talking about.

  • Wow…. You are mistaken about the Scheduling Folks at the MTA contract are responsible. The upper echelon at TSB, the Hall of Justice and Contract Law are the ones that created this debacle. The Scheduling people are left to hand out the Shit Sandwich, they didn’t prepare it. It’s the total incompetence of the Upper Echelon and the LA County BOS that creates this crap. Hiring freezes bite us in the ass EVERY time. They will NEVER learn. And the only people getting fucked, after some idiot finally starts tracking minutes 3 months before the end of fiscal, in the line. People with Stars and Bars don’t get drafted and aren’t required to sign up for 6 spots a month. We are truly pathetic!!!!

  • If that’s true about the Transit deputies being drafted for two months it’s due to sheer incompetence by the Chief. Remember, Chief Anda got rolled up at Transit as a commander only to be promoted by Todd Rogers and put back there (she was his Ops lieutenant at Carson). She has no clue about law enforcement in general yet alone transit security. Mr. Rogers doesn’t even know what’s going on in his own Neighborhood yet alone L.A. County’s neighborhoods. Sad but true. And yes McDonnell miscalculated the fallout over Angel only to regain his focus after the ACLU let him have it. The same way they did over his criticism of Prop. 47 before he fell silent about it. East Coast tough guy? Doubt it.
    http://www.cops4trump.com

  • Take Two….Spot on….. How about the Learning Opportunity happens inside the Hall of Justice?!?!?

  • @LATBG- Let’s take a walk down memory lane since you decided to write about “revisionist history.” Here’s a little quote from you a while back:
    18. LATBG Says: November 4th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
    “Please, okay, we got the part where you think your spine is bigger than everyone else’s, but you still haven’t answered the question: Then what? Retire on principle? Baca’s still laughing about that one…”
    I have a couple of questions for you. 1. Are you still mocking the one you believe may have retired from Baca/ Tanaka’s corrupt regime based on principle? 2. Do you think Baca is still laughing? Please answer these two questions if you plan to have any credibility left on these blogs. And I’m not trying to be confrontational. I want a serious answer from you without ego. And it’s ok to retract statements, admit they were wrong, or give credit where credit is due. You don’t always have to be right.
    And Celeste, please don’t censure this. They’re legitimate questions. Peace. http://www.cops4trump.com

  • Santa’s helpers have been data-mining the FBI data network for conversations in the executive offices at the Hall of Justice in which the name Tom Angel were used this morning. The following conversation was discovered in the Sheriff’s office which actually contained references to the post of “There’s No Santa?” yesterday ( #66, May 1st, 1036hrs, under banner ” A Top LASD Official’s Racist and Sexist Emails”). Santa, in good conscience is compelled to pass the aftermath of that post on to his readers as his posts my be limited in the future:

    Chief Mannis: You wanted to see me, Sheriff?

    Sheriff McDonnell: Sit!

    Mannis: Is something wrong sir?

    McDonnell: Just that I overheard someone in the hall mentioning “Poppies” this morning and everyone laughed.

    Mannis: Let me explain………

    McDonnell: I’m in no mood this morning for any bullshit. I want the truth. Who have you been talking to?

    Mannis: No one sir. You told me not to and I haven’t mentioned it to anyone.

    McDonnell: Well it doesn’t take a mathematician to add two and two. I talk to you last week about replacing the bear on our badge and patch with a poppy and I hear staff talking about.

    Mannis: But sir, it is just coincidence. Let me show you this.

    sound of papers ruffling

    McDonnell: You and Neal TALKED about THIS, THIS trash?

    Mannis: But……

    sound of phone numbers being pushed

    McDonnell: Neal, get your butt in here!

    Mannis: Sir! This Santa person makes this stuff up! He writes on the WitnessLA blog and it’s not the first time he’s written fictitious stuff about Neal or me. No one reads it.

    McDonnell: I do! I’ve seen his – I assume it’s a he – stuff. Kind’a funny too. But maybe he really does have a way to listen to our conversations…..

    Undersheriff Tyler: You wanted to see me boss?

    McDonnell: Have you seen this?

    sound of paper ruffling

    Tyler: Yes, my staff showed it to me this morning.

    McDonnell: Did it happen?

    Tyler: Well, I did go and take some great pictures of the wild flowers……..

    McDonnell: NO, the conversation between you and Karen!

    Tyler: Well……

    McDonnell: Why are you smiling?

    Tyler: The part about Smokey The Bear……..

    McDonnell: YOU THINK THAT IS FUNNY????

    Tyler: Well, I don’t think you really think…..

    McDonnell: Neal! Damn it! DID YOU AND KAREN TALK ABOUT REPLACING THE BEAR ON OUR BADGE AND PATCH WITH A POPPY. YES OR NO?

    Tyler: No, but I think it’s a good idea.

    McDonnell: THANK YOU! Now, Karen, who is Santa?

    Mannis: Auh, the real Santa or our Santa?

    McDonnell: He’s not OUR FUCKING SANTA! Who IS HE?

    Mannis: I don’t know sir.

    McDonnell: Well find out. He, ok or she, somehow has access to what is going on around here. I want you to pull out all the stops. Get it done.

    Mannis: Yes sir. IAB or ICIB?

    McDonnell: Both, and get Major Crimes involved as well. This shit has to stop. Now get going. Neal, stick around, I’m having you and the Assistant Sheriffs in for a meeting to talk about the Tom Angel aftermath. We’ve got a lot beside Santa on our plate this morning.

  • #10..MTA clarification: 3 captains, 3 commanders, and approx. 10 Lt’s plus numerous Sg.t’s still cannot get it right with contract minutes…makes u wanna vomit

  • Cops4Trump, I’m kind of flattered you had the time and energy to quote something I said in 2013! Without understanding the context back then or your understanding of this conversation’s relevance to that one, I have no idea. Whatever you say, dude, it’s okay.

    Wow…

  • @ 24. Copsfortrump-Is is really that serious to quote LATBG from almost two and a half years ago.

    Is this the “online call out” to make him say “UNCLE”? Opinions vary and they come and go. What gives?

  • Santa, just curious if the FBI bug picked up any conversations regarding the dress code for OSS Detectives…..keep up the good work…..my daughter thanks you for the saddle last Christmas!

  • It sure seems that most of our contracts run into this towards the end of the fiscal year. Of course in the middle of when our personnel want to enjoy some vacation time. It is either too many minutes or not enough. I have seen half the shift cancelled due to over minutes calculations. Just as the hot weather starts. Makes a miserable shift for the person working. It is simple miss management. They learn from the executives who also can’t seem to manage a budget. Why do you think they created CARPing. Start holding captains accountable. Thats right, they pass their work off to some poor bastard lieutenant. When they mess up, transfer. Beer can theory of management. Tanaka’s favorite. Use the shit out of them and throw them away. Only the ones who say yes to everything have a chance of making captain. Then the whole process starts again.

    #22, maybe Todd could try working as a chief, he missed that step. He always saw himself two steps in front of his current rank. He also gave Altadena a captain. Again, just say yes.

  • @17, Bandwagon. The problem, as I see it, with your translation, is that the Policy Of Equality is a Sheriff’s Department Policy. Tom Angel wasn’t a member of the Sheriff’s Department when the emails in question (maybe questionable emails is more appropriate?) occurred.

    How could an administrative violation have occurred? Your sweeping condemnation of the Department, by saying that anyone below a Captain’s level would have been punished for the same offense is wrong. Discipline for an administrative violation when one wasn’t under the jurisdiction of that “administration” simply wouldn’t stand.

    Not saying his actions were in any way excusable, and his resignation was arguably the best path forward for the Department, but making a statement comparing his actions while a non-employee with similar actions occurring during the course of someone’s employment is not a fair portrayal of the Department’s discipline system.

    Also not saying there may not be problems in the Department’s disciplinary process, but this case isn’t one of them.

  • @Not Again, excellent post, every point you raised is a valid point. The troops are the ones having actual contact with “the community,” real people of every background. The Sheriff meets with political hacks and self-appointed “community leaders.” I’m so sick of the buzzword of “partnership,” that I want to gag every time it is used in a speech or press conference. Think about it, what has changed? On one hand the Feds cleaned our house of Tanaka, so long chump, but that was pre-McDee, he gets no credit for that. But what does post-McDee do? Keeps the same Tanaka waterboys and girls, promotes two inked Vikings and promotes Hebert. And then, it’s “politics” as usual, inside and outside. So what’s changed other than Tanaka?

    I say every time the brass pulls their business as usual bullshit, put it on blast right here on WLA. Be fair, be honest, but the Quid Pro Quo gets put on blast. This executive Quid Pro Quo, this double standard has got to end. The Sheriff would have done nothing about Angel if not for the media. Celeste: please inquire or your protégés about the Sheriff and Angel affair, What did he know and when did he know it. Was this on the table when McDee recruited Angel from Burbank PD? If not, when did he know. When the LAT posted their first story, it appears he already knew and had a statement ready, “I’m not going to do anything.”

  • Still on: You are reading too much into my comments. Yes, I realize he was not working for the Sheriff’s Department when he sent the aforementioned emails. I was trying to make an analogy sprinkled with a bit of sarcasm. By the way…if you think a two tier system of discipline doesn’t exist…you have your head buried in the sand or you work on the fourth floor.

  • Santa’s helpers have retrieved the following conversation from the FBI data bank which took place in Sheriff McDonnell’s office and was captured directly after the conversation between Sheriff McDonnell, Undersheriff Tyler and Chief Mannis.

    For obvious reasons, the helpers have ceased operations for the time being. However, the data in the FBI’s files will remain for later retrieval.

    Assistant Rogers: Hi Boss, Neal.

    Sheriff McDonnell: Tom, we need to talk about the Angel situation. Did you call for someone from the Custody side?

    Rogers: Yeah, but no one is there. They are both in Sacramento.

    Neal: Yeah, they are “Custody Track.”

    sound of laughter

    McDonnell: Not funny! And I’m in no mood for frivolity this morning.

    Neal: Boss, I thought we were going to let the Tom thing burn itself out.

    McDonnell: Well, that was the plan, but I get back to Boooston and my whole family is talking about it. My aunt Minnie is even asking me if I’ve got any good jokes. It became a national issue and embaraaasssment. He had to go.

    Rogers: Ouch!

    Neal: Yeah, then he gets back an people are talking about the Poppy thing.

    Rogers: That WAS funny!

    McDonnell: You THINK so????

    Rogers: That part about Smokey The Bear…..

    Tyler: Ah, boss, do you want to talk about Tom’s replacement or what.

    McDonnell: It’s to soon to talk about that. Let’s talk about the fact that we had planned to discipline, suspend or fire Tom all along. And while those options were under consideration, Tom offered his resignation and I accepted. Sound good?

    Rogers: Sounds like we planned it all along boss.

    Tyler: Yeah, just like we would handle the line staff.

    Rogers: What do we do for CYA moving forward? Training?

    Tyler: Yeah, that always sounds good.

    McDonnell: Let’s get the in-service folks to work up an in-service training program to put everyone through. 8 or 16 hours?

    Tyler: Geeze, we already have people CARPing all over the place to keep down OT. A full day or two for everyone becomes very expensive and will wear the staff down even more.

    Rogers: Neal, just imagine how it will look in the press though. 16 hours of cultural awareness training.

    Tyler: On top of what we already give? Yikes.

    Rogers: We can’t say we alraady give x amount of training because the public – or at least those who care – will not think it was enough. We need to emphasize it will be 16 ADDITIONAL hours.

    McDonnell: He’s right Neal. Tom, get the Academy to crank out a curriculum. And let’s get going on a new policy as well. Something that is specific to e-mails and printed jokes.

    Rogers: Printed jokes? You mean something that someone might put on a bulletin board?

    McDonnell: Exactly!

    Tyler: How about something that is printed that someone shares with a friend in an office?

    McDonnell: Why not?

    Tyler: Like a comic out of a newspaper?

    McDonnell: Well, yeah I guess. If it’s offensive.

    Tyler: Offensive to who?

    McDonnell: Ah, someone.

    Rogers: Maybe we should say who it is that might be offended. You know: gays, blacks, hespanics, women. The usual.

    Tyler: Did you see Santa’s list?

    Rogers: That was bullshit. You mean short people, tall people, fat people and all that stuff. He even included breast- feeding mothers. What a bunch of crap.

    Tyler: Well, he DID have a point. Where DO we draw the line?

    Rogers: That’s just it. We need to define who can be offended.

    Tyler: EVERYONE can be offended! You don’t think Santa hasn’t offended me by saying I use crappy photographic equipment?

    laughter

    Tyler: That’s the point! Just about anything can be offensive to someone – if they choose to be offended. For instance, I KNOW you shared Santa’s posting about me and Karen with Barrantes. He told me. That offends me. POE time! Let’s say Santa’s stuff is prohibited!

    Rogers: Now you are being ridiculous!

    McDonnell: That’s enough! We need to work together on this. Tom you get the Academy working on that curriculum. Neal, you and Karen come up with a DEFINITIVE policy about what can shared with fellow workers.

    Now get out of here, I have to talk to LaChasse at Burbank to get our stories straight.

    Rogers: Boss, one quick question.

    McDonnell: Make it quick.

    Rogers: Are we going to put poppies on our uniform?

    McDonnell: OUT!

    Rogers: I already miss Tom’s jokes.

    Tyler: Me too.

    sound of door closing

  • @33 Bandwagon, Thank you for the clarification on your sarcasm; it sounded like a pretty straight-forward comparison on your part, so I missed it.

    As far as the discipline thing goes, without any insult about where you might work, I have heard about the double-standard in discipline for over 30 years. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I have never been enough in the know to really know what goes on in the meting out of most discipline. All I’ve known in most cases is the rumors, and I can tell you from the cases I do know, that the rumors rarely reflect the true picture.

  • @LATBG and @Get a Life- Yes it is an online call-out of LATBG because the Court Jester seems to suffer from amnesia. Let me remind him of the context of his statement since I remember it very well and how it contradicts all of his modern posts. LATBG, you were referring to how difficult it was to walk into Baca’s office and tell him he was corrupt for fear of the consequences. However, during that time period there was at least one person(s) who did exactly that and ultimately left the department based on principle. LATBG, you then ridiculed that person(s) and boasted how Baca was laughing about the one(s) who left based on their morals, values, and principles. So my questions were simple and should be answered if you want a shred of credibility. Do you still believe ridiculing people who stood up to Baca based on principle was the right thing to do? And do you think Baca is still laughing? For a person like you who has pontificated on this site for years I don’t think the questions are all that difficult. Unless of course the narcissist in you oozes out and you become flattered someone remembered your bullshit. You’re the first one who blasts the incumbent executives for staying on the department, while at the same time blasting the one(s) who’ve left based on principle. So which is it? Please answer the questions and if you have to eat some cheese just do it. So yes @Get a Life, he’s being called out 2 1/2 years later. You see, because some of us don’t forget. We will forgive. And since he wants a career and I believe he very well deserves one. However, he had better change his ways, repent, and admit when he’s wrong or he’ll always be marveling at Roger’s stars from a distance. Ego will get him nowhere. If he mans up and wants to be part of the movement who sends Rogers packing along with the failed Board of Supervisor’s experiment, then great. If not, he can continue to bloviate about reform, eradication of the current command staff, and all rest of the BS he spews on a regular basis. The choice is his. Man up or weasel out with Clinton/ Obama-like doublespeak. Try some humility/ integrity for once in your life, you may like it.

  • “no Santa” – So glad your helpers have that data bank access! For years, WE have always said “If only the public knew what went on behind those closed doors” – and with your help, now they do!

    I’m sure there are many more such memorable conversations – especially as we head into the Federal Criminal sentencing’s for both future Federal Inmate Baca (6/27) and future Federal Inmate Tanaka (6/20).

    Please keep the transcripts coming –

    P.S. Do you have access to any data bank conversations b/t Waldie & Baca – say 2004 to 2011?

  • Apologies to Assistant Sheriff TODD Rogers and Santa’s readers.

    Santa would like to blame his vast staff (like a typical manager), or he would like to blame a deadline (like a typical journalist – except Celeste), or he would like to blame some discriminating SOB who was mean to him in the 2nd grade. But the truth is that Santa had Tom Angel in mind and completely FUCKED UP.

    And now back to Santa’s work. Ho, ho, ho!

  • cops4trump, based on what you are claiming, and what I recall, I don’t think you have your stories straight. I have the utmost respect for anyone who stands up and confronts corruption, and I’m pretty sure if I said Baca was going to laugh about it, that doesn’t mean I shared his sentiment.

    Now I’m a little curious about anyone who harbors a two and half year grudge about something I said. Usually that identifies someone who was forced to wear the shoe I described because it fit to a “T.” My guess is you are either management or a lackeye trying to figure out who I am and score a point to cash in with said management.

    Either way, I don’t care what you think. I care about the department and the good people trying to put it back together in order to serve the public. I do note, however that your name “cops4trump” was probably something different two years ago, but I’m not going to sleep trying to figure out what it was.

  • @ cops4trump: Is is possible to name the individual who stood up to Baca and left the department based on principal. Whoever it was, I commend them.

  • LATBG- I’ll accept your response that you respect anyone who stands up and confronts corruption, and I’ll also accept that you weren’t sharing Baca’s sentiment of laughter. I wouldn’t refer to my concern as a 2-year grudge, rather a 2-year itch. I’m not management, nor am I a lackey trying to figure out who you are. Let’s put it this way, I still respect you. @Cowboy-I won’t name names because people who do that don’t need notoriety. But I will echo LATBG and say there was a long list of executives who left the department and told Baca what they thought of Tanaka on the way out. They all got the same response, Get the Hell Out! The irony is those guys are living their retired lives while Baca and Tanaka contemplate prison.

  • Still On: I guess your right. We can just blame it all on rumor control…except…I know the deputy and sergeant who responded to a Hacienda Heights massage parlor to rescue a Department Executive from the clutches of law enforcement. I can not however comment on the rumors of his habitual drinking or alcohol related car accidents. I believe he is now retired and where he can enjoy his favorite alcoholic beverage and a massage on his own time. By the way…what floor do you work on…..

  • Continuing: I have unfortunately been privy to some of the inner workings of the Department. I have witnessed the unethical behavior of leaders on this Department….how you can work thirty years and not is beyond me….

  • @45 Bandwagon: never said I hadn’t witnessed any unethical behavior, just that I had never been thoroughly “in the know” on an executive’s discipline matter vis-a-vis a similar discipline situation with a subordinate.

    And I believe the Department executive with a penchant for drinking and massage parlors (if the rumors were true) was punished (or not) under a different administration – an administration whose leader himself needed occasional rescuing (if rumors are to be believed), or at least someone to unlock his County car when he had to leave a private residence (not his own) in a hurry.

    All of this, of course, leads back to the beginning of this conversation, where you remarked on the two-tiered discipline system currently in place by referring to Tom Angel’s non-discipline for something that didn’t occur on the Department’s watch and comparing it to what would happen to someone on the Department below the rank of Captain for the same offense (which I pointed out was a false comparison). There, complete circle. 😉

  • True…It was under a previous administration, but Sheriff McDonnell himself stated ” I have no plans to discipline Tom Angel”. Kinda rings of favoritism. Say hi to all the folks on the fourth floor for me! You are a good company man….I see a promotion in ur future (back to you).

    future.

  • Still on: The two tier system of discipline was alive and well during both the Block and Baca administrations. Nepotism, favoritism and the good old boys network has been around since the dawn of man. I’m quite sure LAPD has had the same issues. At least that’s what my LAPD friends tell me. Perhaps you are right and Sheriff McDonnell has the integrity to break the cycle. Only time
    will tell…but knowing human behavior, my instincts tell me not.

  • CopsforTrump:
    I agreed with you until the end when you start talking about Clinton/Obama and double speak! Give me a break, instead of pointing fingers at others, look to your candidate, apparently you have the same value system as he, pathetic.

  • @MaryHaven, you are right, I shouldn’t have cited the political rhetoric into our discussion. My apologies. Celeste has asked that I leave it out and I will. But for the record, I support Trump because he supports cops.

  • Before Santa and his helpers move their operations to the North Pole – where there are not extradition treaties with the State of California – the helpers made one final sweep of the FBI data network and found this conversation in the office of Chief Karen Mannis

    Tyler: How are you doing in tracking down Santa?

    Mannis: Nothing yet. Don’t forget he’s – he let the cat out when he referred to himself as a “he” in his apology about Todd – using the FBI’s data base. And we are not exactly on good terms with them.

    Tyler: You know what’s funny about that? The Sheriff does call Todd, “Tom” sometimes. I don’t have a real good feeling about this.

    Mannis: You don’t think……

    Tyler: I don’t know. But you said the Sheriff really DID talk to you about using the poppy in place of the bear right?

    Mannis: Yesssss

    Tyler: And now he writes this story in which the Sheriff calls Todd, “Tom” – just like real life?

    Mannis: Yesssss

    Tyler: Like Santa said, it doesn’t take a mathematician to add two and two.

    Mannis: Neal! This is a joke! This guy is sitting in his basement in his underwear making this stuff up! Everyone knows that.

    Tyler: First of all, we don’t have basements in southern California. And second, it is pretty clear he is around here picking up on what is going on……….

    sound of door closing

    Mannis: Jesus Neal! You close the door thinking MY staff is part of this?

    Tyler: Someone is! And how did he know about me taking pictures of the wildflowers?

    Mannis: Oh God! You showed your pictures to anyone who would look! Everyone in the building KNOWS about you taking those damned pictures!

    Tyler: Oh yeah.

    sound of door opening

    Assistant Sheriff Barrantes: Mind if I join you?

    Mannis: Come on in Richard.

    Barrantes: Neal I read about you being in charge of the new policy on offensive material in the workplace.

    Tyler: Where did you read that?

    Barrantes: Santa, in WitnessLA.

    Mannis and Tyler: OH GOD!

    Tyler: You don’t think that’s real do you?

    Barrantes: I like to cover all the bases and from what I read, sounds plausible.

    Tyler: So you think the Sheriff thinks the bear on our badge is….

    Barrantes: Smokey The Bear? Maybe. Who knows what he thinks sometimes. He comes from a different place than the rest of us. Do you think he has an aunt Minnie?

    Tyler: You know Richard, IF Santa is for real, you might not think that was so funny when you READ it!

    Barrantes: Ah, right. Just kidding boss!!!!

    Tyler: Did you want to talk about the offensive material issue?

    Barrantes: Actually I wanted to talk about your logo project.

    Tyler: Good. That’s on safer ground. Shoot.

    Barrantes: Well, you know you’ve sent out a directive to the units advising them to develop logos that feature their initials rather than animals, birds, insects, humans, or other creatures that may offensive to certain groups or individuals?

    Tyler: Yeah, it would be so much easier if we just avoid the pitfalls of someone being offended by some sort of caricature of something that they consider offensive. You know like an Aztec Indian or something.

    Barrantes: Easy!

    nervous laughter

    Barrantes: Actually I am of proud Peruvian heritage and that stuff does not bother me, even if I was from Mexico. Some people need to worry about feeding their families instead of being offended at the drop of a hat….or a sombrero.

    laughter

    Barrantes: Anyway, I’ve got this unit in Metrolink that is working crimes on the west end of the lines. We think is one particular group of individuals who are working the trains. The unit has been doing a great job and I just authorized them permanent status so they have developed their logo per your instructions.

    Tyler: Sounds great.

    Barrantes: They just want to use their initials.

    Tyler: That is what I recommend to our units. That is so much the safer route. So what is the issue?

    Barrantres: They are the Westend Task Force…..

  • Santa: Still waiting for the meeting between Neal and the Sheriff regarding the OSS uniforms! Keep up the good work.

  • Since everyone and everything is under the Sheriff’s microscope…
    Doe he admonish deputies who go to the ALADS Representatives meeting every 1st Wednesday of every month, in uniform while on duty.

    If house cleaning is to be effective, then it must be uniform (no pun intended) and thorough.

  • @Curious: Wow, I thought I had seen it all until I read your post. Did you seriously do the ultimate coward move and just try to throw some Deputies/partners “under the bus!”

    If your information is accurate you must obviously be an ALADS member, attending those same meetings. In case you didn’t know, you damn coward, if they are Reps their supervisors can allow them to go.

    Do us all a favor and go find a new line of work. You think you are anonymous, but based on your post I’m sure everyone you work with already has a low opinion of you!

    I actually suspect you may be a particular Board member trying to do the snitch job to reduce the heat you are currently getting from unhappy members.

  • Get over your affair with “past practices” at ALADS. With a shortage of close to 2000 deputies, do you really think Supervisors have to let reps off to attend meetings. Get real. That’s why two meetings (11am & 7pm) were implemented to accommodate reps who could’nt attend due to work assignments and schedules.
    It doesn’t matter how deep your wedgie is, along with your ruffled boa feathers.

  • Past practices @ ALADS created an empire & atmosphere of cronyism with an uneven playing field. It’s still not good but it would have been worst, had past president Hayhurst not been stopped in tracks to secure executive director position.
    Moving forward will be interesting after the upcoming election in November, in addition to the Alads vs Macias et al trial in October.

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