2014 Election LA County Board of Supervisors LASD Sheriff Lee Baca

Baca, Tanaka, and Olmsted…Inmate Phone Rates Cut…Students & Leaders Champion School Discipline Bill, and the LA Police Commission’s New Faces


“PALACE BLOODBATH” TO COME?

On Thursday morning former undersheriff Paul Tanaka announced his entry into the race for Los Angeles County Sheriff, challenging Lee Baca who will be running for a fifth term.

(Watch KABC’s coverage of the press conference here.)

Tanaka, who has, of late, often been the focus of intense criticism regarding his tenure as the department’s number two man, made the announcement as he stood on a helipad in Griffith Park, backed by a wall of his supporters (some of whom, like LASD Commander Dave Waters and Captain Louis Duran, are not themselves strangers to controversy).

Tanaka’s announcement came just one day after retired LASD commander and department whistleblower, Bob Olmsted, announced plans to challenge the sheriff for LA County’s top law enforcement job.

The two newest candidates join LAPD detective Lou Vince, and retired sheriff’s lieutenant Patrick Gomez. Still more candidates are expected to join what is shaping up to be an extremely contentious and accusation-filled contest.

Meanwhile, blunders and unpleasant revelations continue to pile up for Baca, points out LA Times editorial board member, Sandra Hernandez, in a blog post late Thursday afternoon.

LA Weekly’s Gene Maddaus has a sneak peek of what we might expect to see as the race for sheriff unfolds … Here are some clips:

The race for L.A. County Sheriff is usually a coronation. But this year it has the makings of a palace bloodbath, as two former Sheriff’s administrators have announced they plan to unseat four-term incumbent Lee Baca.

Former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who retired Aug. 1, announced his candidacy this morning at a press conference in Griffith Park. Tanaka vowed to restore accountability, improve the department’s hiring practices and “bring much-needed order to the house.”

On Wednesday, former Commander Bob Olmsted launched his own campaign, and said he holds both Tanaka and Baca responsible for the department’s “corruption and cronyism.”

[SNIP]

Parke Skelton, Baca’s political consultant, took issue with Tanaka’s pledge to restore accountability to the department.

“It’s a little disingenuous for him to come out and say he’s going to be the paladin for reform when he was the greatest obstacle to reform as undersheriff,” Skelton said.

[SNIP]

Tanaka’s campaign expects to have strong support from the department’s rank-and-file. Tanaka appeared at today’s press conference surrounded by supporters, including many active-duty Sheriff’s captains.

Tanaka argued that he was not in the chain of command over the jails during the period of the worst abuses.

“I was nowhere in the organizational chart where that was my responsibility in any way, shape or form,” he said.

[SNIP]

Tanaka declined to comment about Olmsted, but when asked why Tanaka himself hadn’t raised some of Olmsted’s concerns, he said, “I was not raised to be a whistleblower.”


FCC REGULATES EXORBITANT PRISON AND JAIL PHONE CALL FEES

The Federal Communications Commission voted Friday to put a cap on the absurd fees charged to inmates families for interstate phone calls with their locked-up loved ones. The FCC’s new cap of 21 cents-per-minute for prepaid calls and 25 cents-per-minute for collect calls will apply to inmates in prisons and jails, and those in immigration custody. (WLA has previously reported on the issue here and here.)

A sharply-worded LA Times editorial welcomes the end of contracted phone companies “gouging” inmates and their families. Here’s a clip:

Under the new regulations, which were announced late last week, telephone providers may only charge up to 21 cents for a debit or prepaid call within the United States, and up to 25 cents for domestic collect calls made by inmates. That is a huge improvement over the old system, under which telephone companies were free to set rates without any federal oversight. In some cases, a 15-minute call from prison could cost as much as $17 or more. As The Times’ Ricardo Lopez reported, that is more than 10 times the average per-minute rate paid by most phone customers.

The new rule may face legal challenges; one FCC commissioner argued that it would be too complicated and difficult to administer. The solution, however, isn’t to ignore the problem, as the commission did for more than 10 years after the first complaints were filed.

The Associated Press reported right after the FCC vote with an informative story that explaining the specifics of the usurious rates that phone companies have been charging.

And the Atlantic’s Rebecca J. Rosen points out that while the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” accurately depicts how vital regular phone calls are to inmates, it doesn’t mention the incredible financial burden it places on those outside.


STUDENTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS BACK BILL CURBING “WILLFUL DEFIANCE”

Students rallied in Sacramento on Wednesday in support of AB 420, a bill authored by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson that would eliminate “willful defiance” as grounds for expulsion in any grade, and suspension in grades K-5. Twenty-two civil rights leaders also sent a letter to the capitol urging Gov. Jerry Brown to sign AB 420, which is currently awaiting a decision in the Senate.

Fix School Discipline has more on the bill. Here’s a clip:

Saying “school discipline is a civil rights issue,” students from across California told powerful personal stories about school suspensions in a rally on August 14 on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.

They joined the nation’s top civil rights leaders including Rev. Jesse Jackson and Marian Wright Edelman in urging Gov. Jerry Brown to sign AB 420, which will help fix the state’s school suspension gap. LGBT students, students of color and students with disabilities are all much more likely to be suspended than other students, and the impact on their education can be shattering.

[SNIP]

Students delivered a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown asking him to sign AB 420 (Dickinson), which would help protect students’ civil rights and keep students in school.

Currently, LGBT students are 1.4 times more likely to be suspended. African American students are nearly 4 times more likely to be suspended statewide. And students with disabilities are 2 times more likely to be suspended.


MAYOR GARCETTI SWITCHES OUT LA POLICE COMMISSIONERS

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti replaced four members of the civilian commission that oversees the LAPD, leaving only one original commissioner. One thing the new police commission members have in common, it seems, is a lack of experience in law enforcement.

The LA Times’ Joel Rubin has more on the change-up. Here’s a clip:

The most notable name on Garcetti’s list of nominees was real estate developer Steve Soboroff, one of the city’s power elite and a staunch supporter of Garcetti during his run for mayor.

Along with Soboroff, Garcetti tapped Paula Madison, a former journalist and media executive; Kathleen Kim, a law professor whose work has focused on human trafficking and immigration issues; and Sandra Figueroa-Villa, the executive director of a nonprofit community group.

The choices lack experience in policing issues. Although such knowledge has not been a prerequisite for past appointees to the board, the arrival of these four all at once to the commission equates to a dramatic loss of institutional knowledge of how the LAPD operates.

Being pushed out by Garcetti, for example, is John Mack, a civil rights leader, who has served on the commission for several years and is well-versed in the department’s troubled history of abuses and its push to reform itself over the past decade. Also leaving is Andrea Ordin, a former federal prosecutor who long has been involved in efforts to reform the LAPD.

116 Comments

  • Warning to all Tanaka ,Olmsted, or other candidate supporters:

    The Sheriff and his command staff are retaliating against all personell who do not support him. Be careful and watch your back. Please seek legal assistance during this unchartered time. There are many attorneys ready to (succesfully) defend you. I am not endorsing any specific attorney; many are out there. The Sheriff has already retaliated against department members who he identifies as “Non Supporters.”

    Celeste, please monitor.

    Good luck to all the challengers and thank you for making a difference.

  • C: No one will ever get to see the background of many of Tanaka’s supporters! Too bad as nearly all of them have tats from one of the deputy clique gangs! All too many with serious acts of violence against the community. Add, that many nearly lost their jobs for serious breaches of the law. It is NO wonder that these type of personalities are attracted to Tanaka! These deputy gang cliques know that it Olmsted or Gomez get become sheriff the party is over!
    And you are right, the same person keeps posting with different sign ins. Typical Tanaka and his ilk!

    I have posted before we are in a war for the soul of this once great organization! If the bad guys win we will see an exodus of honesty never before seen in Law Enforcement. LASD would have become the Chicago of the days of Al Capone!

  • “I was not raised to be a whistleblower…..”‘ WTF does that mean? Don’t correct issues? Don’t do the right thing?

    PT, you are walking talking negative campaign add. I promise you that will surface in a deposition.

  • What is the Sheriff’s Department’s regulation regarding on-duty personnel attending a political function? Not all of these people shown in the photograph are retired. And I’m sure they drove their county issued vehicles to this event as well. Is this permitted?

  • Perhaps I’m a bit naïve, but who pays Steve Whitmore’s salary – The County of Los Angeles or the Leroy Baca for Sheriff Campaign? Should not his dealings with the media concerning this election, be referred to the “campaign”? How can he be a spokesperson for both?

  • #’s 4 and 5, you bring up some very valid points. It will be interesting to see if anyone investigates these potential violations of Department policy.

  • At least this website identified the Dear Leader’s active duty supporters:

    http://www.loscerritosnews.net/2013/08/15/paul-tanaka-blasts-lee-baca-with-opening-salvo-for-la-county-sheriffs-campaign/

    Where’s Rifkin, Guyovich and the others?? I guess Napolean needs to keep some double agents on the inside to feed him info and dirt. I gotta admit, Tanaka learned history lessons well……install your supporters at all of the key positions in the organization and if the leader opposes you, overthrow him from the inside…….Everybody saw it coming except Sheriff Co Co Puffs.

    I like some of the folks standing behind the little tyrant. I guess they owe their promotions to him and they want to demonstrate loyalty. True reform will only come through the removal of BANAKA.

    Olmsted is the only real choice!!

  • As time progresses, I’m sure Bob Olmsted will put together a great team. For the time being though, with what they are saying to the media, Paul Tanaka and Steve Whitmore are the hardest working members of the Olmsted Instead Team!

  • Since these “active” department members were not attending “county” business, they should have used their own personal time off to attent this farce, and yes, used their own private vehicles. Now, how much do you want to bet that thes individuals did neither.

  • GREAT point about Whitmore. He arguably had to defend the sheriff (and Tanaka) and their shenanigans when it wasn’t formally campaign season and Whitmore was arguably defending their actions as those of department leaders. But now that it’s campaign time, Whitmore’s statements should really be limited to relating search & rescue ops, updating the status of the missing M-16 (and any other missing weapons…), and other official matters. It’s time a political spokesman start carrying the sheriff’s water. (And how remarkable how much Whitmore’s tune on Tanaka has shifted in so little time…)

  • Sure thing, Olmsted has a great team. Just look at his video with LASTPA leader Villaneuva and washed up Juaquin. That shows his judgement is still as good as it was at CJ. He told the commission he was appalled at the graffiti he saw in the control booth when he walked the floor. He was so appalled he did nothing to the deputy in booth. He opened no unit level investigation to find out who put it in the booth or how many deputies let it remain in the booth. It is the broken window theory. He let these smaller infractions go until CJ blew up. He then found religion and blamed everyone except himself, THE COMMANDER OF THE UNIT.

  • Take responsibility, let’s compare teams, shall we?

    A team of Bob Olmsted, Joaquin Herran, Bill Martin, and Alex Villanueva in one corner.

    A team of Paul Tanaka, David Waters, Bernice Abrams, and Louie Duran in the other.

    One team is known for principle-based leadership, integrity, courage, and decades of patrol experience at multiple ranks.

    The other team, well, I’ll let you figure that one out…

  • #2 London..where do I start…Never mind it wouldn’t do any good.
    #4 & #9. Those active that went were well aware to be on their own time and in their own personal vehicle. they knew it would result in an immediate IA to do other wise.
    #12 Principled based leadership, integrity, courage and decades of patrol experience? I know you can’t be talking about 2 of Olmsted’s video friends. There are more than a few people who know where their shoes have been.

  • “My comments on internal affairs bureau have always been consistently the same. For many years. I don’t appreciate their process.”
    Paul Tanaka to Bert Deixler during his CCJV testimony on July 27, 2013

    If Paul had appreciated the process maybe the department could have gotten rid of  Dan  Cruz, Bernice  Abram, Greg Thompson, David Waters, and  the rest of the people that have run amok. 

    People can call Bob Olmsted, Pat Gomez, those who testified before the CCJV and federal grand jury whistleblowers all day. Voters would rather have department leaders and employees  with  common sense to realize this is a law enforcement agency.  Not a criminal enterprise.  

     Paul is no better than Leroy.   He   made  decisions that benefited himself and his donors rather than the well- being and integrity of the dept. 

  • Olmsted is a remnant of Block’s old, white mans club. He is from the bygone era of racial and gender discrimination that kept department members that were women or people of color from being promoted. The old, white mans club is now the minority on the department and the minority of residents in Los Angeles County. They are going the way of the Republican party and the Dodo bird in California. No one is going to vote for a member of the club that caused a federal judge to take over the department promotion process because of discrimination against women and people of color. No one wants another federal judge to oversee the coveted testing process to ensure that more than white males were assigned to elite units. We now have women, gay and African American Captains of stations and specialized units. We don’t want to go back to the Olmstead/Block era. Sorry old, white, guys, those days are over. We prefer, and will get, someone far more progressive.

  • I am a fan of diversity and facts too, No Surprise. I used this thing called the internet and went to LASD.org. I found the following:

    A/S
    Helmmond, James (White & Young)
    McDonald, Terri (White,Female…)
    Rodgers, Todd (White & Kinda Old)

    Well that is 75% Caucasian at Moon Beam’s highest rank next to him. Not seeing the diversity here so lets go the next one.

    Chief
    Abner, Roberta (White & Female)
    Betkey, David (He counts as a true old white guy… You got us here)
    Dragovich, Glen
    Fender, David
    Goldman, Buddy
    Laing, Thomas
    McSweeney, William J. (Your my boy Blue!!)
    Sexton, Ted

    The math tells me 8 out of 13 equals 61.538% which is solid majority. I have no idea what they make in combined salaries and benefit packages. It is not reflective of the rest of the profile of the department per cap.

    Yep, Baca is really showing that diversity in practice. He always converts the “progressive talk” to direct action within his inner circles.

    I for one really want to see another Captain assist gang members sell drugs and jeopardize the lives of our peers. That was a lot of fun….

    Then there was the beacon of diversity in the background of the PT and Sons rally.

    Check it out for yourselves. I think you get the point.

    http://www.lasdblog.org/sites/page_render.aspx?pagename=org_execs

    The old white guys haven’t gone anywhere. Sheriff Baca is going to give another plaque for racist “wisdom” before he produces anything that resembles diversity or change.

  • J. Dawson – Don’t cherry pick the stats. Look at the entire department currently, and compare it to the Block/Olmsted era. Look at specialized units now versus then. It is not the white man club anymore. Look at the women out hooking many guys in patrol. They were supposed to be to weak to work patrol. Why didn’t the federal judge believe your internet stats? Why did he take over the promotional process because of the discrimination? Was the internet not available to him? Or was there actual discrimination. Olmsted and Block are yesterday. The Republican party is dead in California. No 64 year old white guy will be elected Sheriff in Los Angeles County. Sorry Olmsted. How does it feel?

  • I was not raised to be a whistle blower…. vile disgusting trash. What a loathsome statement. He will literally pay for that statement, in lawsuit settlements.

    I wish someone who was standing there when he said that had the balls to ask “if you weren’t raised to be a whistle blower, what WERE you raised to be?”

    Celeste, if you ever get a chance, please ask that question.

    Being a cop is being a whistle blower. Both titles involve standing in the face of wrong and saying “no.”

    If you can’t blow the whistle, turn in your badge and gun, you’re useless garbage and have no business being a cop.

  • Jack & No Surprise — I THINK you two are saying the same thing, but I’m not sure. If you look at all of the Command Staff, meaning Assistant Sheriff, Chief, Commander, & Captain, I believe, but am not positive, the large majority are white.

    In looking at your comment, JD, the numbers are higher at those 2 ranks than 61.53% — you said 8 out of 13, but I believe Hellmold, McDonald, & Rogers are white, leaving only Cecil Rhambo at A/S, but you also forgot a few Chiefs…. Goran (Black) & Rothans (White)…. Not sure if I’m forgetting anyone else; with the recent movement, promotions, & retirements, it has sort of been a game of roulette trying to keep track of everyone.

    Still, I don’t care what color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or “race” — I just want the best person for the job. A LEADER (which Baca has PROVEN he is NOT) of any race, creed, s/o, color, mix, gender,,, please be ready to take the reins!

  • Yep, she got me. I cherry picked the stats and the facts…

    I forgot my own personal observations of the demographics pertaining to stations, regions, and units. Nothing but diversity, diversity, diversity on Sheriff’s Hill, Admirality Way, or others to name a few.

    While we are on the topic of race, why are there more white executives at SHB, but it does not reflect our community, our jail population, or our Department?

    Wasn’t Baca at the helm for Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton?? Please name another inmate that was a minority who got that treatment…. Anthony Brown, but he was famous for other reasons 🙂

    Race and gender are serious concerns for LASD, but Baca isn’t solving anything nor is Tanaka. They have already promoted and proven their pudding.

    Bernice Abrams for Sheriff 2014!
    If you can’t catch them, join them (Paid for by Front Hood CC)

  • There were eight custody facilities when Olmsted was captain of MCJ and including MCJ, yet the remaining seven did not have any issues. It seems that Olmsted did not do what he was supposed to do, so he shifts the blame to everybody else. He is your typical excuse maker rather than an action taker. Maybe if he found some solutions there would never be a CCJV. Tanaka instead of Olmsted/Baca/Gomez/Vince….

  • I was watching the news the other night and I heard a comment that Tanaka made, “I was not raised to be a whistleblower” Could a pro-Tanaka person seriously tell me how this is a good statement for him to make. He was not raised to right wrongs? to do the right thing? to bring mis-conduct to the forefront when no else will? I think a whistleblower in most circles is a good thing. Politician Paul slipped on this and reverted back to his philosophy of don’t snitch, work the grey area, pay to play etc.

    I was impressed on how many stood tall (lol) with him on the mountain. I respect the people who stand uo for what they feel is right thing to do. If there are 10 executives with him, there are 10-15 more behind the scenes. Where was Guyovich, Leavins, Daly, Carey, J. Gonzalez, Becker, Goran, Cecil, Betkey, Hoffman, Bearse, Chase, Hartschone, Corina, Sutton, Thatcher, Wolak(s), Nunez, Fedele, Long, Abrams, Gooden, Brackpool, and a cast of others.

  • Jack D. – What does “I for one really want to see another Captain assist gang members sell drugs and jeopardize the lives of our peers” have to do with a discussion of the old white Olmsted crowd discriminating against women and minorities? Do you think women and minorities are tied to criminal conduct more frequently than others? Your true colors are showing. Keep your posts shorter. You might be able to hide it.

  • Surprise Surprise! You do know that Block has been dead for 15 years? DEAD??!! What does anybody got to do with Block today? The only one that had any connection to Block was Baca! Name a time when Olmsted, Gomez or Tanaka discriminated against someone? Now, Tanaka disparaged a female African-American at Century using profanity and racial overtones. Tanaka did some serious time on the bricks, go ask! And all the witnesses were minorities! Ask Tanaka about that and many others! Are you really Al Sharpton? Try something else!

  • No Surprise and Remember CJ, let me see if I understand your theory: Bob Olmsted is a racist because he’s old and white?

    Let me stop rolling on the ground laughing for a second and ask you a few simple questions:

    1. Did Olmsted make any promotional decisions during Block’s time in office? If he did, were they bad ones?

    2. Who do you think promoted the mug line up of male white “All Stars” standing behind Tanaka?

    3. If Hispanics are 50% of the county population, 40% of the sheriff’s workforce, why do they account for less than 15% of supervisors, managers, and executives?

    I’m all ears…

  • LATBG,,, Along those lines, who is the highest ranking Hispanic on the Dept right now? And if what you say is true, that 50% of the County is Hispanic, I think the bottom line is you are saying the Dept should reflect the areas we serve. Correct? But Baca is known and has said he has a hard time promoting minorities. I think that might be reflected in the command staff if what you say & your reflected stats are correct.

  • Guys, you have to stop engaging with No Surprise. I’ve done the same thing myself and looking back, I feel silly. He throws out ridiculous assertions as if they’re facts and then proceeds to draw ridiculous conclusions. It’s like arguing with a 390, you can do it, but you’re never going to get anywhere because there’s no connection to logic.
    It boils down to this. The Department is in shambles. The elected leader was off doing God-knows-what while the real power behind the throne led us into this mess. Now, he wants to portray himself as the solution to the problem? And his followers, sensing the disconnect here, have no choice but to race-bait, throw out wild accusations and slander the man who tried to fix part of the problem and now stands ready to tackle the thankless task of getting us out of this hole.
    Tanaka or Olmsted? To anyone keeping track, it doesn’t even sound like a real question. It’s like asking whether D’Antoni or Jackson would have a better chance of rescuing the Lakers. You’re kidding, right?

  • #21, the names typed regarding their absence that day is pretty clear:
    J. Gonzales retired and the others were in their offices, out in the field, vacation, sick, training or the big drum roll……stayed out of sight and laying low.

    I know for a fact a handful of those listed stayed put in their offices for obvious reasons. Smart? Maybe….just maybe.

  • 08/15/2013 Battle is officially on!!!

    Debate’s:

    1. Baca won’t debate because he’s the Incumbent and too afraid he would be hurt even more than he already is.

    2. Olmstead doesn’t stand a chance in a debate, he’s never held any ELECTED position and what can a Commander say he’s done to prove he’s CAPABLE and can lead the department into the future with a plan. Olmsteads plan is to fill his office full of folks RAISED to be WHISTLE BLOWER’s just like him!!!

    3. Gomez – Forget about it!!!

    4. The other’s need not even be mentioned. Quit now. Save your money!!!

    5. Tanaka – Baca will not survive a Baca / Tanaka debate.

    Olmstead – don’t forget that you have skeletons!

  • @28 “POWS”: Again with the accusations of Olmsted and Skeletons, with no facts to back it. Can’t you get past that “Campaigning Deflection 101” in which you seem to be stuck.

    However, I do agree with some of your points.

    -I think Baca would be wise not to debate. He risks losing the incumbent edge.

    -I’m not sure it would be wise for Olmsted either, because he would have to get down in the gutter, with Tanaka and more “no based accusations” (deflection) would likely be used, which I might add is actually a pretty good strategy, when you have nothing else. And, there are plenty of ignorant people who might believe accusations without realizing they are meant as deflection.

    -I don’t think Gomez should, simply because it would come out that he really doesn’t have the experience.

    And, once again your ignorance is showing, but that is to be expected because “your Boss” Tanaka just told the press that “he wasn’t raised to be a “whistleblower!” Well, I hope you guys keep on that path. If you look up the meaning of “whistleblower,” it is defined as “a person who exposes misconduct, alleged dishonest or illegal activity in an organization.” Oh, no we can’t have that! Exactly which part of the exposure is leaving you feeling naked to the public? I think Olmsted should quote Tanaka and add the definition and repeat it to the public over and over! There was never a truer statement, especially since he was guiding the organization.

    I hope you and your Tanaka supporters continue to post, because every time you do your blind loyalty and ignorance comes through in the end.

  • Baca will debate his immortality and EBI program….Olmsted will debate his Whistle Blowing or better known as excuse making….Gomez and Vince not so much….Tanaka will show the County he is the best qualified candidate….

    Baca has been wasting the tax payers monies for years….enough is enough….he is not fiscally sound…Olmsted can’t balance his own check book….Gomez and Vince, not so much….Tanaka has a great financial mind and knows what the taxpayers want when it comes down to fiscal responsiblity…..

    Baca wouldn’t know the difference between a felony arrest and traffic citation…he has proven the taxpayers that he is more concerned about inmates than the hard working taxpayers, who deserve to live a life with little to no crime…..Olmsted wants to whistle blow about the jail problems…..who cares…as long as those thugs, terrorist and the scurg of society remain in jail…..Gomez and Vince, not so much….Tanaka has taken the bull by its horn and never forgotten that taxpayers deserve to live without the worry of a crime ridden county….He has held those directly (captians) responsible and accountable for crimes in their respective cities to protect the hard working taxpayers…. Tanaka is an action taker not an excuse maker…Baca and Olmsted are excuse makers not action takers…Taxpayers want actions takers….Tanaka for Sheriff 2014

  • #28 – B.O. has no skeletons. He has been up front with his actions when his wife had cancer. Nothing illegal there, and nothing that would not get rid of half of the department if it was illegal. He is now a religious man. If that bothers people, too bad. More people should follow that course.

  • Baca has a history of wasting the TAXPAYERS money, enough is enough….EBI is another waste of money, while public schools suffer from budget cuts….as for the jail scandal, who cares, as long as the thugs, terrorist and the scurge of society are off the streets and away from our neighborhoods…Baca has lost touch and cares more about those that are in jail, as opposed the taxpayers of the county. As for Olmsted he is hanging his hat on the jail scandal, who cares…..really, he sounds more like a mirror image of Baca….Taxpayers care more about fiscal responsibility and public safety…..There is nothing like living in a crime free neighborhood, having the peace of mind knowing that our Sheriffs department is keeping us safe and doing it as fiscally responsible as possible….Tanaka is an action taker not an excuse maker….Olmsted is your typical excuse maker and not an action taker….He should have taken action when he was the captain of MCJ, like his peers at all the other custody facility’s…..I have never heard of any other custody captain having any issues….so a whistle blower he became to shift the blame on others….the typical Olmsted way of doing business…..I for sure would not want a Sheriff, who does that….wait we already have one….Baca and Olmsted are all one in the same…..The Baca/Olmsted/Gomez boot lickers will continue to blast Tanaka, but there is no way getting around his credentials of being a financial genius and holding those accountable for doing their jobs, exactly what the taxpayers want….Tanaka for Sheriff 2014….

  • What rank must someone attain before they have enough qualifications to run for Sheriff? A captain is essentially a police chief. Olmsted had more personnel under his command at CJ than are on all but a handful of Departments statewide. Then he promoted to commander and was responsible for multiple jails and more personnel than on any agency in the state with the exception of LAPD.

    And please don’t return to the B.S. argument about Olmsted not holding his people accountable or opening up any investigations. I worked there with him and saw him do it. He also recognized that some time teaching was more important than punishing and employed creative methods to improve attitudes and performance.

    Having heard Olmsted speak on many occasions, I also have every confidence in his ability in a debate. However, I agree with many others, the Sheriff has nothing to gain and everything to lose in a debate. He won’t participate.

    The tragedy here is that there are good people in all three camps. I worked for and know many of the people standing in the picture behind Tanaka. They were great supervisors and I would be honored to work for them again. I also have respect for many of the people backing the Sheriff.
    The bottom line is, where are we as a Department and who brought us here and do we want to continue to go in this direction? We have reached the edge of the cliff because Baca and Tanaka drove us here. Olmsted is the only viable candidate who can steer us from the precipice.

  • #31: “What rank must someone attain before they have qualifications to run for Sheriff?’

    Basically, that is determined by the electorate; state law proscribes anybody without law enforcement experience from running, and that’s about it–nothing else really required.

    I do wish Olmsted had more information about himself (education? Military Service?) in his website because I am pretty well convinced that if the electorate sees what you and I see–a deeply principled man who can change LASD for the better–then he will be elected.

    A start in that direction would be a more informative website that the public can access 24/7.

  • Let’s say all three: Baca, Tanaka and Olmsted have wronged us in the past??? Olmsted would be the better of the evils. But then again, there is no evidence Olmsted messed with anyone. If you were ever wronged by Mr. Olmsted, “speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  • Taxpayers want a candidate who is fiscally sound…not somebody that is gonna hang their hats on some jail crisis…Baca has wasted hard earned taxpayers money on such projects as EBI and his personal airplane…..The economy is still recovering and the only truly qualified candidate is Paul Tanaka….As far as Olmsted goes he has done nothing with his career other than use whistle blower tactics to shift blame on others…..really, that says a lot about his character….a do nothing excuse maker of a supervisor….if things were so bad in custody, why weren’t the other custody captains whistle blowing?…It seems pretty logical to me….Olmsted made to many excuses and never took action….Remember in the end it’s who the citizens of Los Angeles County want as Sheriff….Baca, who has continually wasted taxpayers monies….Olmsted, who is riding on his whistle blower persona and the jail crises….Gomez and Vince, who are just hanging around…..or Paul Tanaka, a fiscally sound expert, who will give what the taxpayers want, financially sound spending….Paul Tanaka for Sheriff 2014…..

  • #31 insider – “I worked there with him. He also recognized that some time teaching was more important than punishing and employed creative methods to improve attitudes and performance.”

    I have to disagree insider. You don’t deal with gangster deputies with teaching and creativity. You fire them. Olmsted let CJ and the department down. He let that place blow up.

  • Well, we are waiting for you to make some S up!! Baca and Tanaka have more skeletons that any thousand deputies! Or should I refer you to witla and the LAT?

    Go Bob!
    Go Pat!

  • The Olmsted webpage will be complete very shortly. A technical problem with the webmaster prevented the site from being what we want. Should be resolved shortly and then fully 10-8. Interesting, provocative and amusing comments. It would be nice if everyone simply acted like adults, state their positions of support for whomever they think is the best person to lead LASD. The mud and slime being flung at Olmsted is so out of line it sounds like a desperate attempt to paint a picture of a very decent and honorable man as something he is not, nor ever has been. Your comments speak volumes of you, not Bob.

    Vote for your candidate, that is your right, stand by your convictions. We have had 16 years of Leroy, so you know what 4 more years will bring, 4 more years of the last 16. A vote for Tanaka will bring us 4 more years of the last 8. I’m not even going to go into it all, we all know what he is, what he has done and what he will bring to the table.

    Olmsted is as pure as the driven snow and his ONLY agenda is to restore pride and integrity to LASD, and fix the problems. I defy anyone to bring forth one situation where he has screwed anyone. Mistakes? Who hasn’t made them, but this bunk questioning his ethics is laughable. Bob can write volumes about leadership, fairness and how easy it is to do the right thing. Wouldn’t it be great if folks received job assignments based on merit and not donations? Wouldn’t it be great if folks were promoted based on merits and abilities and not how well they could roll a cigar and drop change in the bucket. And wouldn’t it be great if you came to work, went 10-8 with pride in LASD and your Sheriff as opposed to wondering what is the next scandal that is going to break in the Times and when the indictments are going to be handed out.

    We all will be better off as individuals and as an organization if we had a complete overhaul of the 4th floor and had a leader who truly cares about us and actually lead LASD from the front and not from a hotel room out of country. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has a vote. For me, Olmsted is the best candidate and he is someone who earned my respect. For those who are drinking the Kool-Aid, drink up, you are entitled to your opinion.

  • Remember CJ, not everybody who screws up requires termination. But certainly some do and while I was at CJ under Olmsted’s command I know of two deputies who were terminated. And that is just the ones I have personal knowledge of. Let’s back away from this “He was asleep at the wheel” nonsense. It simply was not the case.

    Also, some of those deputies who slipped into thuggery on 3000 floor worked for me. That floor and those deputies were not out of control when I left or when Olmsted handed over command of CJ to Dan Cruz.

  • “I wasn’t raised to be a whistleblower” as Paul is blowing his whistle about his buddy Baca to Channel 7/David Ono. Tanaka, what is a 22 year old Deputy supposed to think when he hears a statement like that from an executive (former)? When that kid witnesses egregious violations/acts and knows after a statement like that he would be ostracized by you and your cronies if he came forward? Way to lead! The thing is, Paul has never been tested, never been there, ever. Paul is the Fred Roggin of Law Enforcement can TALK about sports but has never picked up the bat or put on the pads!

  • We can judge Olmstead by the “team” he’s assembled. Herran?, seriously, are you kidding me? Word is the biggest thing he “put his hooks on” was a Dominicks Pizza on Foothill Blvd in CVS. Maybe he and his Commander friend will be forthcoming about the huge $$$ they received from our County in a recent lawsuit, it is public info and you have to ask yourself if that’s really the type of influence we want with the next Sheriff?
    The way I see it, Olmstead went public about problems at MCJ, but aren’t those the same problems a Commander of our Department should’ve been able to handle? How can he claim he couldn’t do anything about it, he was a Commander! Give me a break here! The fact he couldn’t handle it, tells me very clearly that he is not suited to be the Sheriff, not even close!
    Sheriff Baca is a well intentioned individual who clearly should’ve retired a few years ago. Leave social work to those professionals who excel at that, and allow the outstanding men and women of the LA Sheriff’s Dept to continue to do their work of arresting and incarcerating the bad guys!

  • 36. Breaking news – “Olmsted is as pure as the driven snow.”

    Good God almighty! Please don’t drive or operate heavy machinery in your current condition. [Edited by WLA. Next time I’ll delete the whole thing if you can’t stay out of the personal. Last warning.]

  • Let’s be real here. Regarding Olmsted’s inability to handle the problems at MCJ, a Lt. Colonel can’t get anything done if the Colonel above him and the General above him don’t see eye to eye with him or blow off his concerns. They overrule him. That’s how a rank structure works. If Olmsted had run to the media and blown the whistle, all of the people that are finding fault with Olmsted for not handling the problem would be labeling him as disloyal. Such is the nature of a political battle.
    However, the question none of Tanaka’s supporters have asked is: Why didn’t Tanaka put a stop to the sheriff’s buffoonery?
    Same answer. He got overruled. But some people don’t want to cut Olmsted that same slack.
    How can somebody say Olmsted should be held accountable for not solving the problems at MCJ, when there was at least three ranks between him and the sheriff, if they don’t hold Tanaka accountable for not tuning Baca up these last few years when there was only one rank between them?
    Gravy for the goose, gravy for the gander.
    The difference is they’re a Tanaka supporter. So it’s understandable to them that Tanaka didn’t put a stop to Baca’s buffoonery for several years, while they want to hold Olmsted accountable. Politics. Gotta hate it lol.
    Baca needs to go. Everybody is crystal clear on that point.

  • @41 “RU KIDDING ME”: Once again another “blind” Tanaka supporter! First off, “you can judge Olmsted by the team he’s assembled.” Your damn right you can, I hear it’s a good mix of street COPS and admin guys, with integrity. Commentary to you guys would get old, if it wasn’t so easy and entertaining. So what your saying is they “WON” their lawsuit. Gee, maybe there was some basis to it.

    “You have to ask yourself, is this the type of influence we want with the next Sheriff.” Ok, I just did and I answered myself, yes. So let me ask you, do you think if someone is wronged by our Execs they should just shut up and take it. I guess you do, because that’s how the Tanaka side works.

    And, you guys refuse to admit that it didn’t matter what rank you were, if the top two/three didn’t think it was a problem or looked at you funny, then that was the end of it. Anyone who has been on this department more than a minute knows that!

    Try chiming in with something that makes sense. I personally like to be corrected when I’m wrong, because that means I’m learning something. You Tanaka supporters are going to make me dumb, if I use the reverse of that theory!

  • “I worked there with him. He also recognized that some time teaching was more important than punishing and employed creative methods to improve attitudes and performance.”

    Don’t blame Olmsted’s superiors. Olmsted was at fault. He was too busy teaching and employing creative methods to improve attitudes. He should have been less creative and more into stopping gang like behavior. He should have been in briefing and on the floor every day telling deputies gang like behavior would not be tolerated. He should have rolled deputies up on the spot when he saw graffiti in the booth. He did not buck his superiors. No one held him down. He never would have have been promoted to Commander if he was battling his superiors while at CJ. He battled no one. He was happy to go on with his creative social experiment while the place was turning into gangster central.

    Huh- Where did “hear” he has a good mix of support. It certainly doesn’t show in his press release. He had a total of three very marginal people supporting him on his commercial while he wore a silly looking semi-blacked out raid jacket as an executive. It had amateur written all over it.

  • If you want to observe something with “Amateur written all over it” listen to Paul Tanakas interview on KABC7!!

  • Say What…. You’re wrong. He tried to do that very thing. He tried to implement a assignment rotation to split up the cliques. They went straight to Tanaka who 10-22’d that immediately..

  • @#45 “Say What”: Those of us who are being open minded for a better candidate have learned a lot by asking questions of people in the know. As far as the “silly looking semi blacked out raid jacket,” I think that was pretty well thought out, no copyright issues and the general uninformed public probably didn’t notice or care. Once again, ANOTHER Tanaka supporter picking at what doesn’t really matter!

    As far as rolling CJ Deputies up on the spot, did you not hear or read any of the info put forth by the committee reviewing the CJ scandal. There was a part where it was said that the CJ Deps were given permission to skip the chain of command and email Tanaka directly. Tanaka was confronted with that info and, I can’t remember exactly, but he either danced around answering or said he couldn’t remember. You want to see amateur hour, go back and review his testimony.

    Next Tanaka supporter!

  • #48 Huh – Open that old senile mind of yours. If Olmsted was actually trying to discipline the CJ deputies he was in charge of but was shot down by Tanaka, why did Tanaka promote him to Commander. Riddle me that! It makes no sense. Olmsted let CJ run wild when he was in command. He just wanted in the car. After he was promoted to Commander and things started to unravel, he blamed everyone but himself. You can’t say Tanaka hated him and promoted him. It doesn’t make sense. Go to sleep Huh. It is past your bed time.

  •  All the testimony from the CCJV can be found at this link. You can listen and reading and make your own judgements. In the exhibits on 7-27-2013 you will find the emails from deputies to Tanaka. Happy reading and listening.

    http://ccjv.lacounty.gov/meetings/

  • #42 WOW It sounds like you went off the reservation and picked up a POE by Celeste. Why don’t you take some deep breaths, calm down and debate the issues on the facts, like an adult. Not like a 2000 Boyz club member. Act like an adult and you will be treated like an adult. Act like a child by lashing out with ( unknown) cowardly, personal attacks and Celeste will take tour car keys away. My advise is to state your point with facts and be an adult about it. One can disagree without getting personal.

    By the way, anyone catch Olmsted’s interview with Larry Elder tonight? Very interesting and straight talk. Refreshing !

  • Tanaka is more crooked then Lombard Street in San Francisco. As the lead of IAB he would go after those he didn’t like, and get folks he liked off the hook. A sgt from CPT point a gun at another sgt in the locker room. Viking buddy, yea off the hook….

  • SWS: That’s exactly what happen! Move Olmsted out of the way so Tanaka could continue with his criminal syndicate. You truly don’t have an understanding of how investigations work and how Tanaka interfered with cleaning up the place! Unless you are saying that all the witnesses and all the evidence and the entire Jail Commission worked in unison to frame Tanaka? Come on now put down thew kool-aid! That would mean over 200 plus deputy personnel got together to move after Tanaka! You can’t even decide what side you gun goes on!

  • @#49 “Say What”: I’ll take the “attempted insult” of calling me old and senile, because that is all you have, in an attempt to try and save face and bait me into an insult war!

    Now to the point, how many minutes have you been on the department? Do you not get how things have been working! What else could he do with Olmsted except promote him. He couldn’t fire him and he surely didn’t want to leave him “directly” in charge of the unit, where he could witness more wrong doings. And, he surely wasn’t going to make him Commander of a different branch, where he could witness other wrong doings, unrelated to the jails. He wasn’t the first person to get promoted, for the purpose of getting them out of the way. I recall some others recently promoted and were told to retire quietly as soon as they attained the amount of time needed, at the rank, to retire with the pay.

    Go ahead and keep calling me old, because along with that comes wisdom, whether you want to admit it or not. However, I do need to take a nap, because it’s tiring “schooling” you Tanaka supporters!

  • We know what Baca has done and continues to do. Before we cut off the heads of those running for sheriff I want to hear them speak. So far all I am hearing is what the “other” guy did or did not do”. We all need to use this time wisely if they are going to get the citizens of LA and the employees of LASD to come out and vote.

    My questions to them is how would you change the structure of the departments upper rank?

  • Why are all the “coin club” members trying to blame the incidents at CJ on Olmsted? Did he have an office at CJ? I’m pretty sure the Captain at the time did. Maybe HE should have been walking the floors trying to keep his deputies in line. Oh I forgot…”the Sheriff is my boss, but I work for Tanaka”.

  • Enough already with the “CJ ran wild under Olmsted” garbage! It is total BS. I worked at CJ as a supervisor the entire time he was in command. People were terminated. People were disciplined. To say otherwise is not just disingenuous, it is false!

  • #57 you are correct, Tanaka RAN the LASD for years even if he pulled the veil over Bacas eyes as he was doing so. Tanaka promoted and/or assigned people to coveted positions that would never, ever have been assigned there under their own merits. Tanaka literally had Deputy level personnel that would report to him directly about the day to day operations in specialized units surpassing an entire chain of command.

  • Huh #54 – “What else could he do with Olmsted except promote him. He couldn’t fire him and he surely didn’t want to leave him “directly” in charge of the unit, where he could witness more wrong doings.”

    Okay. I see the big picture Huh. It was one giant conspiracy. Banacka had no way to handle this rouge Captain that could see all. They had never dealt with a Captain they didn’t like before. There was absolutely nothing they could do but promote him. It was impossible to move him to an undesirable assignment. That never happens. It was impossible to move him farther from his home. That never happens. It was impossible to add additional projects on his plate to make his life miserable. That never happens. They had to promote him because they hated him, not because he was in the car at the time.

    Put your tin foil hat back on and head back to the compound. Don’t listen to what the toaster is telling you. Once safe beneath the covers you might want to check on the amount of force used at CJ when Olmsted was there and compare it to the current force. It was significantly higher when Olmsted ran CJ. But only the shadow knows for sure.

  • @#59 “Say What”: While your attempt at sarcasm was much appreciated, you just made my point, by stating all the games played by the Exec staff under the watch of Tanaka and Baca. In essence, you just showed everyone the Baca/Tanaka management style and why people are generally afraid to point out problems to them.

    I know people of different ranks(as I’m sure do you, but will not admit) who were moved into better positions and/or promoted, because the goal was to remove them as the immediate threat to their agenda. This was done, because some people don’t roll over and play dead like others or are to smart to put up with the BS. Olmsted proved himself as one of those guys by retiring and revealing the BS.

    I, for one, don’t have the CJ force stats, but since you brought up the subject, why don’t you enlighten us with some “real” numbers instead of an unsubstantiated accusation.

    Keep the insults coming, because they only, reflect your immaturity and blind loyalty.

  • Huh 60 – Who am I blindly loyal to? I just made negative comments about 3 of the candidates in the same post. The only thing I am blindly loyal to is the truth. Your crackpot conspiracy theory is absurd. Olmsted was in the car until it crashed. That is how is was promoted. He is no different than the rest of that crowd. Name another Captain on the department that was promoted to commander to “remove them as threat to an agenda” as you stated. It doesn’t happen. If it did there would be Captains lined up for a mile using that tactic to get promoted. Most of them would do anything for a promotion, which is very similar to many of the crowd on this blog.

  • Olmsted was promoted by Baca, not Tanaka. In fact, Tanaka opposed the promotion because Bob was not “one his boyzz.” Way back when he was a lieutenant, Baca asked Olmsted to become involved In developing his leadership project because of his formal education in this area. He was later promoted to captain and was assigned for several years to Commercial Crimes Bureau. When Tanaka rolled up Capt. Clark and Lt. Bald from MCJ for trying to deal with the cliques, Olmsted was brought in. Baca was impressed with the improvements Olmsted made at MCJ and he promoted him again, despite the objections of Tanaka. Tanaka won the argument in naming Olmsted’s replacement, despite Olmsted’s objection. Now Tanaka had complete operational control of MCJ as most of his sergeant’s, lieutenant’s and his captain were “hand selected.” Well, the rest is history.

    I just don’t get the vitriol that is spewed on these comments. It’s like listening to a sanbox 415. Perhaps some folks feel their perceived juice is slipping away and feel threatened. After all, some of those folks became Master Cigar Rollers and promises were made, souls were sold, blind allegiance was pledged. Fortunately, the majority of folks know that the leadership of LASD must change and honor must be restored. Four more years of the last sixteen? I think not.

  • The excessive force over a period of years in Los Angeles County jails — and in particular Men’s Central Jail — was due, in no small part, to significant failures of the senior leadership in the Sheriff’s Department. Both Sheriff Baca and Undersheriff Tanaka have, in different ways, enabled or failed to remediate overly aggressive deputy behavior as well as lax and untimely discipline of deputy misconduct in the jails for far too long. It is the Commission’s view that absent strong, engaged and informed leadership over Custody — and a more direct line of authority and accountability emanating from the Sheriff — the Department is unlikely to achieve a lasting reduction in excessive force within its jails. CCJV Report September 2012

     The candidates may in the options of some not be prefect, but a few more than others clearly have less issues. Blind loyalty  to a flawed individual in law enforcement can be dangerous and empty. Is a federal indictment or loss of a career worth blind loyalty to someone?

  • @#69 “Breaking News”: Thanks for clearing that up. My explanation for his promotion was hypothetical, since I am not privy to the details. I never new Olmsted to be “in the car,” as “Say What,” suggests.

    @#68 “Say What”: Although I agree with “Breaking News, about the “sand box 415,” I have to attempt answer your question. First, if you go back and read what I said you’ll see that I said “various ranks.” Second, as far as people getting promoted to “Remove them as a threat to the agenda,” you could very well be right that it doesn’t or didn’t happen “exactly” as I stated, but for their agenda, how about a Commander promoted to Chief (and then given walking papers, to lower the risk of her suing the department) a Captain promoted to Commander (because he was suing the department after having run for Sheriff), a Sergeant promoted to Lieutenant (because he was suing the department, after having run for Sheriff), a Deputy promoted to Sergeant (because he was going to sue the department for wrongful termination). I could be mistaken, but I think there is an agenda pattern. The agenda is “Agreed promotion” so they can remove the threat of being sued for more money. Although I don’t believe Olmsted had filed a lawsuit when he was promoted, all the other incidents I mentioned had already occurred. Some thick headed Execs actually learn from some mistakes.

  • #69, Great post regarding how the movement of personnel and promotions were conducted during that time.

  • B-News: you are correct in your judgement of the current thread. When you have NO evidence you have no evidence and no candidate! Baca and Tanaka are essentially empty suits and this campaign will get very ugly before it’s over. Those who sold their souls didn’t think that they would come under suspicion. Sadly, the kool-aid has gone too far into the bloodstream. What would you think if you were one of the cigar smokers and your hero Tanaka got arrested? No doubt you would start to sense that they will soon come after you and your family’s resources. Ask yourself, would Tanaka give up his fellow cronies to save himself? Yeah! He would!

  • So while the Sheriff was away and Tanaka was running things and offering pay for play promotions, you are telling me that somehow Olmsted got promoted over the objections of Tanaka. In addition to getting promoted to Commander he was also assigned to Custody, again after Tanaka didn’t want him promoted at all. But I thought you said Tanaka had total control of CJ. None of this adds up.

    Really Olmsted was going along with Tanaka and his crew while he scratched for promotions and smoked a few cigars. However, when things went south at CJ he was smarter than all of them. He sang first, like many smart crooks, and brought down his benefactors. Smart man, but just as dirty and corrupt as the rest of them. Don’t let him smooth talk you. The first crook that sings usually skates, or at least gets the best deal.

  • Tanaka and Baca has a better chance winning an INMATE WORKER position in Federal Prison, then for Sheriff. Uncle Olmsted, my money is on you.

  • @75 “Really”. My information is solid, let’s just say at my rank, I’m in the know. Once in a while, Baca actually made decisions. Baca took a tour through MCJ while Olmsted was the captain. The facility was clean, over two thousand lightbulbs had been replaced and force was down. His Chief touted Olmsted as a problem solver and task master. Tanaka wanted his people promoted to cover the vacancy but Baca said Olmsted was to get the nod AND remain in the division. Baca knew of some of the MCJ problems but trusted Tanaka to handle it. Tanaka was pissed he didn’t get his pick, but he PT, still had operational control of MCJ and TTCF. Things went South at MCJ and Tanaka ran interference for Dan Cruz. “I don’t work for you…..” statements were made and the rest is history. Tanaka was finessed when he became too much of a political liability. Bob’s Chief and A/S provided no cover so Olmsted’s hand was forced. Olmsted’s actions had a direct impact on Tanaka being finessed. No spid, pure fact. Bob never smoked a cigar, never got ink, never joined the boys on the patio, never bought a coin, never drank the Kool Aid, never sold his soul. He languished at his options and at great personal sacrifice, made a decision for he betterment of LASD. Can ANYONE imagine what things would be like now if Olmsted never exposed the truth and nothing changed?

  • #77, don’t waste your time with “Really”. I have seen things happen in another division on this department (last 4 years and counting) where Baca approved promotions against what Tanaka wanted for his pick.

    Also I have witnessed SOME people getting promoted (rightfully so) just to prove there was no evidence of retaliation and to keep them QUIET. So yes, people who Tanaka does not like and/or were rightfully wronged do get their wish so there is no evidence for a possible lawsuit in the future. And I think those who work Civil Litigation can probably agree with those tactics, procedures and/or what ever terminology one would like to use.

  • #77 – At your rank, as you say, you are just as suspect as Olmsted, Tanaka and Baca. If you have any kind of rank, what are you doing in the comment section of a blog? Why aren’t you in public supporting your candidate, whoever that may be. Why aren’t you fixing things instead of sneaking around the comment section. How did you get promoted? Are you another executive that was rightly promoted while Tanaka and Baca were only promoting their pay to play buddies? Now you and Olmsted are the exceptions. You sound like you are scratching for one last promotion before you go out the door.

    #78 – Don’t waste your time with “Really”. – Very typical of the executive attitude we don’t want anymore. I make a very logical statement about what has been described as the past promotional process and I am wasting your time. If that is the attitude of the Olmsted crowd, I don’t have time to waste on him. That attitude is what we are trying to get rid of.

    You can’t have it both ways. No one is buying that Olmsted, and now you two, are the only people righteously promoted and everyone else smoked a cigar or was part of a master plan to avoid law suits.

  • #78, you are absolutely correct, settlements have been made and a few more in the hopper. Sam Dacus is a prime example. The more Baca realizes what Tanaka has done, the more evidence we will see of settlements as you refer to. It’s all evidence of massive dysfunction and corruption. Baca is so clueless and now he is trying to portray “I’m in charge,” and he makes it worse.

  • @79 “Really”: Instead of coming in here and trying to put down “Breaking News,” because you can’t seem to dispute what appears to be a truthful explanation, why don’t you offer your solution to our leadership problem! Who do you think is the best candidate for Sheriff, and why?

  • 81-Huh – No one is putting anyone down, but you have to open your mind. By reading the other posts on this page you will see there are two basic stories put forth on how Olmsted was promoted and what he did at CJ.

    #1 – Olmsted went along with Tanaka and his crew while he scratched for promotions and quietly took a few puffs off of the cigar. However, when things went south at CJ he was smarter than all of them. He sang first, like many smart crooks, and brought down his benefactors.

    #2 – Olmsted was doing a good job and would not listen to Tanaka’s nonsense. Although he did not listen to Tanaka, He somehow called the Sheriff home, slipped through Tanaka dragnet and was promoted to Commander. Olmsted somehow also was able to stay as a Commander directly over CJ against the will of Tanaka because the Sheriff liked him so much. The same Sheriff that Olmsted said refused to listen to him about CJ.

    No one has offered one bit of actual evidence to support either promotion theory. However, several other posters who claim they are executives that were promoted to that level based on merit and not the usual pay to play, say that Olmsted was also promoted without a puff on the cigar or a trip with the Sheriff. This seems hard to believe. The Tanaka clan has had an iron grip on promotions and assignments for years. How did Olmsted and all these other posters make it through by being alter boys.

    I don’t believe any off them are clean. They are all positioning for the next promotion. To answer your other question, I am leaning towards Pat Gomez. He is the one inside LASD candidate that unquestionably has ZERO connection with the Tanaka or Baca or Banaka pay for play background. You will not find one poster that has made mention of any connection with that crowd. He also has none of the moral/family issues that have been posted about Olmsted, Tanaka and Baca.

  • #82: “…I am leaning towards Pat Gomez.”

    O.K.

    But where’s his website? Before he can get elected the Good Folks of L.A. County must get to know him, otherwise he’ll be consigned to the dark part of the room–people know he’s there, and that’ll be about it.

    If he’s a better candidate than Bob Olmsted the electorate will want to know why.

  • Really, doth protest too much. You’ve spent most of your ink trying to poke holes at Olmsted, yet you’ve neglected to discuss the mountain of stuff in the Baca and Tanaka camp. I’m sorry, unless you have evidence of unethical conduct from Olmsted, your barking up the wrong tree. If you believe he’s unfit for the job, put your name out there and publicly state your case if you have the courage to do so.

    If you’re leaning towards Gomez, then you must have been asleep when he was interviewed on the Larry Elder show. He came across just like Lou Vince, not ready for primetime, and with a big chip on his shoulder. Voters are not looking for settling scores, they want reform!

    Pat Gomez may mean well, but he is not a viable candidate and never was. It takes more than a lawsuit to establish viability in the eyes of the voter and the editorial boards.

    My guess is you are on the campaign rolls of either Baca or Tanaka (no difference) and your job is to try to discredit the true threat to Banaka: Bob Olmsted.

  • #79. Oh my goodness, please learn how to read and comprehend my message. I did not type everyone promoted like that and I never typed I was promoted or even an ‘EXECUTIVE”.

    Stop making assumptions about me vying for anyone specific person running for Sheriff. It is a fact SOME were promoted after the truth was revealed and again I am not referring to anyone specifically related to the JAILS. Did you forget there are other UNITS/DIVISIONS on this large department besides CUSTODY DIVISION?

    You probably did.

    Thank you #80 for acknowledging the numerous lawsuits right now. Plus the passing of police officers being allowed to sue their police agencies for retaliation of “whistle blowing” is going to open a larger can of worms and hitting the media soon. Hell of a lot of money being paid by tax payers. Not to mention peace officers being personally sued in addition to the police agencies. Hold on tight because it is going to be a wild ride.

  • #82, “He doesn’t have the moral/family issues that Olmstead has” are you F##K’n kidding me? You actually wrote that? Olmstead is the only player in this game with morals! This will be played out, and soon enough. Either Tanaka gets indicted or he rolls over and snitches to save his arse, it is a win-win situation for Olmstead! I just hope Tanaka agrees to a public debate with Olmstead.

  • LATG 84 – Are you dyslexic? I said I am leaning towards Gomez and you accuse me of being in the Banaka camp. Learn to read. And use your true name before you spout off about me not using mine. Same nonsense. You see someone who may not favor your candidate and you attack them. That is what we are trying to get rid of.

    Stuff 82 – The moral issues are talked about in round about ways in several of the earlier posts. Read them. They concern the facts surrounding Olmsted’s religious conversion. Complete details are not possible because the site will censor them. I am sure you have heard them.

  • Rhambo does not live here. He just used the FRONT address so he could run for Compton Mayors Run.

  • Really, all I’m doing is challenging baseless attacks, of which you seem to keep offering one with every post. All of the hits on Baca and Tanaka have a wealth of details and are available from sworn testimony, news articles, and published sources. “Complete details are not possible…” give me a break.

    So far you have nothing that any responsible journalist would bother printing, so your motives remain suspect.

  • LATBG – Please don’t help us. Your rants can only hurt Olmsted. There is no reason to attack Really or others for supporting Gomez. That is their right. You are out of you mind if you think someone who writes into a blog has to meet some type of journalistic standards. This entire blog lacks basic journalistic standards. Comments are frequently censored or deleted to steer discussions to or from certain subjects. Most of the articles are cut and pasted from real news outlets. Stick to supporting Olmsted and not bullying others. That type of behavior is not representative of the Olmsted campaign.

  • EDITOR’S NOTE:

    #91, Although I let your comment through, I am noting for the rest of the commenters that you are coming in under a false flag in that, in a previous comment, you were one of the people who made not-very-veiled ad hominem allegations about Olmsted’s personal life.

  • #93….

    Ah, I see. Well, then, you in turn, might want to rein in that other nefarious person who is making use of one of your multiple IP addresses, as it leads to you being tarred with his brush.

  • C: I just heard Gomez on Elder and I must say very good. Of course this is an opinion like everybody else. I’m sure we all would interested in your view? Of course I understand if you stay out of the fracas! By the way when the time comes will Witla endorse a candidate?

    There are too many details about crime and corruption with Tanaka and Baca! Just imagine if both these shady characters ran against each other. I can see the debate now.

    Baca: It was tanaka’s fault! I left him in charge
    Tanaka: No! It was Baca’s fault and Baca is corrupt!

    Tanaka: If I’m so bad why did you promote to second in command?
    Baca: Same reason Block promoted me, I’m a minority!

    C: Block really did say that!

    Baca: You are a fool!
    Tanaka: No! You are a fool!
    Both campaign platforms will be to blame each other for the same crimes and misconduct! How can anyone vote for either?

    Go Olmsted or Gomez!

  • Is anyone curious about the “finesse” used by Baca on Tanaka? Surely he knew Tanaka would run for Sheriff, he spent the last 7 years putting his people in places. A quick look on the 4th floor reveals several prior supporters.
    And who knows more about Baca than Tanaka? And Baca surely knows Mr Tanaka. So what was the finesse?
    Just prior to retirement there were some transfers of Tanaka true supporters to various key positions.
    I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I do not trust either of them. Both are narcissistic, and both have money. So how did mister personality (lol) finesse the chosen one?

  • With all the arguing about who’s candidate is better and such, I’m REALLY curious to see who ALADS is going back. My bet is that like usual, ALADs will take the marshmallow approach and not back any of them.

  • WLA – It’s hard to keep the nefarious off of a public computer, but I will do my best. Remember, just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean someone isn’t watching you.

  • EDITOR’S NOTE:

    #99 & 100, I’ve not intentionally spiked any of your comments. What time of day did you put up the missing comment? I looked through all today’s SPAM twice and didn’t see anything with your screen name. And I’ve not trashed anything with your screen name attached either. So I’m perplexed.

    If you can post again, I’ll keep an eye out for it and put it right through.


    And in answer to J. London, yes, I did think Pat Gomez was good on the Elder show. And, no, WLA is not going to formally endorse a candidate. As we do with many issues, we’ll do a lot of analysis of of the candidates and issues, and will do the equivalent of editorials on election for sheriff.

  • Celeste,

    Thank you very much for your response.

    Not sure exactly when my post was input.

    Thank you.

  • Im saddened WLA will not be endorsing a candidate for Sheriff. The 10 people who read this blog need some sort of direction.

  • @Suprised well the ten of us that read this blog must be very powerful people then, because the ten of us, thanks to this blog, exposed the corruption of the Baca/Tanaka administration. The ten of us are responsible for expediting Tanaka being “rolled up” faster than a rug my dog pissed on. So without endorsing a candidate, we will change the future of the LASD and that my friend is the “sort of direction” we need.

  • Tanaka for Sheriff 2014……He is the best qualified candidate and the best experienced…….

  • Of the candidates running for the Sheriff’s seat, It will be down to a Baca and Tanaka election.

    Tanaka has:

    1. 32 1/2 years of Law Enforcement experience
    2. held every rank up to and including the rank of Under Sheriff.
    3. Held elected office in the City of Gardena for 5 terms
    4. Fixed Gardena’ financial insolvency.
    5. Kept the LASD in Budget

    Baca made it to Chief. Promoted Paul and was never around to run the department.

    Olmstead: You have not done anything!!! you think your clean, But you have some skeletons ready to pop!!!

    Olmstead your supposed to surround yourself with people smarter than you. Pippin can’t even mail a gun to himself!!!

    James Carter: Your right, Tanaka for sheriff 2014!!!

  • Pink Owl don’t stop at number #5:

    6. Created and condoned a culture of corruption as a Sergeant as an inked member of the “Vikings”

    7. Pay to Play promotions and assignments to coveted positions to those who financially contributed to his campaign.

    8. Created another “Group” of misfits and issued them numbered coins (just as the Viking tattoos are numbered) that allowed them and only them access to Tanaka’s Cigar Club.

    9. Obstructed a Federal investigation involving the hiding of an informant that he may still be indicted for.

    10. Finally lets clear up the 32 1/2 years of Law Enforcement experience. 30 years of that was boot licking and crunching numbers on a calculator as an accountant. Tanaka has never Enforced any Laws!

  • 6. Didn’t realize at the rank of a Sergeant, he weilded that much power to condone the power of corruption. I wonder if anybody was federally indicted for corruption? Why didn’t Olmsted blow the whistle?
    7. Pay to play? Don’t you need to take a test to promote? and doesn’t Baca make the final decision, because his name is on the bottom of the JDIC messages.
    8. Never realized smoking cigars was a crime….really
    9. I haven’t seen or heard of any indictments……
    10. And finally I would hope Tanaka is on a calculator crunching numbers, because thats what he gets paid to do the by the taxayers. At his level/rank he is not supposed to be in a radio car and enforcing the law, he suppposed to be crunching numbers in order for the department to be fiscally sound.

    You see there are always gonna be detractors and pungents, who can’t face the realism that Tanaka has a skill set that makes him the best candidate for Sheriff of Los Angeles County. His resume and body of work speaks volumns. Mr. Tanaka is an action taker (problem solver) not an excuse make.

    Tanaka the best candidate and best experienced for Sheriff 2014.

  • James- PLEASE!!!!!
    Tanaka there are far to many people who knew about the “Tanaka list.”
    Smoking cigars is not a crime, building a smoking patio and then using it for power gatherings is not a crime, but I think the integrity part of our job becomes into question.
    So if someone robs a store and isn’t caught, there is no crime, is that your logic??
    And no debate on MR. Tanaka’s ability to crunch numbers. He has done well with budgets.
    He also is a pro-active person, another good point. He likes people who work, another good point.
    He only believes real cops come from RII, bad point. Alienated the other regions deputies.
    Doesn’t under that in a department as big as ours we have to provide service to ALL communities, and the policy of we are the Deputies do what I say, is not what every community needs.
    Does not understand that we need 10,000 civilians to help run the department. Does not understand that we have to have a procedure to do things, nor does he understand that if your point of view is different it does not make you stupid.
    So if you can write a three page dope toss report, grunt, have an outsized ego, and think any other deputy outside RII is a slap, odds are good that you love Tanaka.
    Good luck with that.
    Not sure who is the best candidate for Sheriff yet, but Mr. T has a lot to prove he is the best for EVERYONE in the department.

  • James in reference to your comment regarding,”Don’t you need to take a test to promote?” I think the Deputies who took this past Sergeants Test saw how this promotional process works. It appears to be a fact that Supervisors handed out the answers to the test before hand. Thus the test was compromised. Who is to blame for this? Who put those Supervisors in their positions. I predict a mass of people protesting this test and filing a lawsuit regarding the answers being leaked to selected Deputies. This is absolutely embarrassing to LASD and blow to the morale of the 99% of the Deputies on the Department. Who is to blame? Who should be held accountable? Who should be disciplined? I can not blame Baca for this. I do believe the Sheriff should do the right thing and reform the promotional process that is in place. To proceed with tainted test results is not right.

  • When I say I can not blame Baca for the cheating scandal, I am asking people to look at the organization chart of the unit that created the test from the get go. Who is connected to who? Who in reality was chosen for those positions by who? To simply say Baca is the Sheriff and it all falls on him is simply not looking at this mess objectively.

  • Funny how detractors and pundgents can be creative….How about this: Tanaka called a power meeting in the patio, while smoking a cigar and told those who attended to give out the answers to the Sergeants test….Now that’s a pretty good conspiracy….I guess that is why the Department is going forward with the next phase of the test, that was announced via JDIC, with Baca’s name on it….

    Now getting back to reality, Mr. Tanaka does believe in hard work. Hard work is what makes this Department successful. And that is what the voters want in a leader. He holds executives, managers and supervisors accountable for their productivity and non-productivity. The voters want a strong leader that makes a great county government successful. Fortune 500 company’s are run with strong leadership, which makes those company successful. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is no different. It is currently lacking in that department. Mr. Tanaka brings his hard working/success oriented attributes to the voters of Los Angeles County, to give them a county goverment that they can trust and be proud of.

    Mr. Tanaka compared to the other candidates, has that leadership quality, through his experience as the Under-Sheriff and Mayor of Gardena.

    Tanaka the best qualified and best/most experienced for Sheriff 2014.

  • Great business model, Jimmie —- lawsuits, corruption, investigations, grand juries, arrests, demotions, stolen/lost property, mass defections, terminations — go smell the elephants. The circus is in town.

  • #114, You forgot resignation and early retirement (minus medical retirement). Then again…let all retirement be included to this list.

  • James Carter and Pink Owl, you both are smoking some powerful stuff. Let me break it down to you in a way that voters will appreciate:

    Manslaughter under color of authority,

    Perjury,

    Obstruction of Justice,

    Malfeasance,

    Misuse of Taxpayer Funds,

    Rampant Cronyism.

    These are not qualities voters are looking for in the next sheriff. Tall Paul has a hand in all of them, and pretty well documented. On top of that he is responsible for the sad state of affairs of the Department while our illustrious sheriff was globetrotting. I’m sorry if your career aspirations are based on the Tanaka model of pay to play, but I suggest the two of you take ownership of the damage this small man with a big ego has done to our reputation. The Citizen’s Commission on Jail Violence was not a witch hunt, it was an honest effort and getting to the bottom of a big problem. They were just the start.

    I would encourage you to think of more than your own self-interest in this upcoming election. You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.

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