CDCR Jail LASD Prison Realignment Reentry Rehabilitation Sheriff Lee Baca

Interim Sheriff John Scott is Sworn In as Baca Steps Down…ABC7 Investigates LA Field Deputy’s Duties…and California Prisons Can Learn from San Francisco Jails

INTERIM LA SHERIFF JOHN SCOTT TAKES OATH OF OFFICE

Two hours after (now former) Sheriff Lee Baca’s retirement went into effect on Thursday, John Scott, the new interim LA County Sheriff, was sworn in. Scott has taken leave as Orange County Undersheriff, and will head the LASD until December when a new sheriff is elected.

LA Daily News’ Christina Villacorte has the story. Here’s a clip:

“What I’d like to do is restore dignity to the department … and restore the trust and confidence to the office,” Scott said.

“I look forward to serving Los Angeles County and doing all that I can in the next 10 months to bring about the appropriate change that is in order, and to see that the next sheriff — the elected sheriff — comes in somewhat seamlessly.”

[SNIP]

He vowed not to be a mere “placeholder” until Baca’s replacement is elected either during the June 3 primary or the Nov. 4th runoff, and is sworn in Dec. 1. He plucked former LASD Division Chief Neil Tyler out of retirement to serve as his second-in-command and had a ready answer when asked about his top priorities.

He plans to ask all the captains to conduct a “SWAT” analysis, so that he can assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within respective bureaus, and to work closely with the jail chief and county budget manager to implement the changes recommended by the blue-ribbon Citizens Commission on Jail Violence.

EDITOR’S NOTE: New Sheriff John Scott has just 10 months to make his mark on the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. After he took the oath of office on Thursday at Monterey Park Sheriff’s headquarters, he sounded refreshingly clear-eyed about the fact that real changes were required at the department he will now lead, and indicated he felt up to the challenge. Scott was also forthright when asked by reporters about such topics as why he left the LASD in 2005. At that time, he said, he saw the department going in the wrong direction. “I saw inaction and a certain level of neglect,” the new sheriff told ABC-7’s Robert Holguin.

Welcome, Sheriff John Scott!


THREE CIVILIAN FIELD DEPUTIES RESIGN WITH BACA; ABC7 INVESTIGATES (AGAIN)

Three of Lee Baca’s civilian field deputies have retired alongside the former Los Angeles County Sheriff. One of the civilian advisors, Bishop Edward Turner, was relieved of duty after an ABC7 investigation in November found that an illegal marijuana dispensary was operating on Turner’s commercial property across the street from his church.

But the field deputy controversy doesn’t end with Turner.

ABC7 investigated the circumstances of another resigning civilian aid, Michael Yamaki, who took home $171,000 a year. Yamaki seemed to have a questionable working relationship with the super-exclusive Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, and was spotted several times by ABC7 reporters driving his LASD-issued car to and from the golf course. As for his duties as a civilian field deputy, the investigation turned up…not much. Here are some clips:

Yamaki loves the game of golf. He’s appeared on the Golf Channel’s “Golf Central” TV program leading a tour of the legendary Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, where stars like Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg hit the links. And the initial fee just to join the club will set you back a reported $250,000.

Yamaki has been identified in various publications as the “general manager,” the “managing corporate officer” and “chief executive” of the Riviera Country Club.

So we wondered: Is he holding down two jobs?

“No he doesn’t,” said sheriff’s departments spokesman Steve Whitmore. “The only job he has is working for the sheriff’s department. He’s an investor. But he doesn’t have a job there. The only job he has is the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.”

[SNIP]

Michael Yamaki refused to speak with Eyewitness News about this story and we couldn’t get in to see him, because the Riviera is a very private club. But we were able to learn from public records that of the $120,000 worth of gifts Sheriff Baca has received since taking office, there were nine rounds of golf paid for by Yamaki, most at the Riviera Country Club.


LOOKING BACK ON LEE BACA’S 15 YEARS AS HEAD OF THE LA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

The LA Times’ Robert Faturechi and Jack Leonard have a story about the controversial legacy that Lee Baca leaves behind, as John Scott steps in. Here’s how it opens:

For Sheriff Lee Baca, it was a legacy moment. He was on Capitol Hill, testifying before a congressional hearing on the radicalization of American Muslims. Conservative lawmakers were grilling him, pressing him to acknowledge that the Muslim groups he embraced after 9/11 may have had criminal elements.

Baca wasn’t having it.

“We don’t play around with criminals in my world,” he shot back.

With dozens of cameras trained on him, the sheriff made the case that American Muslims were being unfairly persecuted and should be treated as partners, not suspects, in the fight against terror.

The tense exchange in 2011 made national news, burnishing Baca’s image as a lawman who bucked law enforcement stereotypes and embraced a softer side of policing.

Back in Southern California, a different narrative was playing out in his department.

Just two weeks earlier, Baca’s deputies allegedly beat a man visiting his brother in the Los Angeles County jail in an incident that would later result in federal indictments. Baca’s subordinates had recently hired dozens of officers with histories of serious misconduct. And in the Antelope Valley, Baca’s deputies were involved in searches and detentions that federal authorities would later say violated the constitutional rights of black and Latino residents.

Baca’s defense of Muslim Americans on the national stage would turn out to be a high point in his 15-year tenure. Since then, the Sheriff’s Department has been rocked by one scandal after another. And a different take on Baca emerged: a disengaged manager who lacked the managerial skill and sway to get his 18,000-person department to follow his vision.

As a federal investigation into jail brutality grew, Baca admitted he was out of touch.

“People can say, ‘What the hell kind of leader is that?’ The truth is I should’ve known,” Baca said a few months after his triumphant Washington trip…

(Read on…)


WHAT THE OVERFLOWING CALIFORNIA PRISON SYSTEM (AND OTHER CALIFORNIA COUNTIES) CAN LEARN FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO JAIL SYSTEM

While California is desperate for another extension on a federal court order to ease prison overcrowding, the San Francisco jail population has been consistently dropping over the last few years through a more treatment-based approach to incarceration.

Governing Magazine’s Ryan Holeywell has an excellent piece on what California can learn from the San Francisco, several decades after the county faced similar litigation against major overcrowding in its jails.

San Francisco has also taken advantage of realignment funds, using them to bolster their rehabilitation and reentry programs. Some counties have been slow on the uptake, or have used the money to build more facilities to house the state prisoners that were transferred to county custody during realignment.

Here are some clips:

If long prison sentences were a criminal deterrent, [Paul] Henderson [San Francisco Public Safety Director and Deputy Chief of Staff] says, crime would have been nearly eliminated in California long ago, and repeat offenders would be almost nonexistent. That, of course, isn’t the case at all, and it’s why federal judges have ordered California to drastically reduce the number of inmates in state custody. The result has been a dramatic shift in corrections policy called “realignment.” The change came via legislation in 2011 that requires many criminals who previously would have served their sentences in state prison to instead serve them in county jails. Realignment has been painful for local leaders who are charged with huge new responsibilities as they work to prevent their own facilities from eventually confronting the same overcrowding as the state’s prisons.

But it’s also caused many to turn to San Francisco to see if it’s found an approach to criminal justice that should be emulated across the state. That’s largely because in the wake of realignment, the population of San Francisco’s jail is actually declining. It’s the result of a longstanding approach to corrections that predates the state’s crisis. “San Francisco was ahead of the game before realignment ever began,” says Linda Penner, chair of the state’s Board of State and Community Corrections, which oversees county jails. “They had a community that embraced treatment. They had the capacity. And they had the political will. With realignment, they’ve just accelerated and stepped on the gas.”

[BIG SNIP]

San Francisco had a head start in dealing with realignment, largely as a result of litigation in the 1980s that challenged overcrowding of its own jails. That prompted an increased focus on evidence-based practices in criminal justice, aimed at using statistics to determine which methods actually succeeded in reducing crime. The thinking was that the city could beat overcrowding, save money and actually increase public safety if it took an approach that was more nuanced than simply throwing the book at offenders. The result: Even in the wake of realignment, the city’s average daily jail population has declined from 1,954 in 2009 to 1,281 today, says Wendy Still, San Francisco’s chief adult probation officer.

Still represents, in many ways, San Francisco’s approach. When she discusses the population of offenders her office supervises, she refers to them as “clients.” It’s jarring, at first, to hear a probation officer describe convicted felons that way, but she says it makes sense. “We know they have needs,” Still says. “Yes, they’re offenders, but our job is to try to assist them.” In San Francisco, the prosecutors, public defenders and judges have all been trained on evidence-based approaches to justice that can help put them on the same page when it comes to sentencing. “We have a lot of cases that go to trial, and we fight over our cases in court,” says Jeff Adachi, San Francisco’s elected public defender. “But where we agree is once a person is convicted of a crime—particularly a person convicted of a low-level felony—the goal is to find the support and services necessary.”

When it’s time for an inmate to leave prison or jail, San Francisco’s counselors find out what’s needed in housing, employment, health care and drug rehabilitation. The probation department has gone as far as picking people up from prisons to help them return to San Francisco. And little steps—like trying not to release people from county jail in the middle of the night when they’re more prone to slip up—have become part of the culture. “Other counties have taken realignment money and invested it in more jails,” Adachi says. “We haven’t done that.” Instead, San Francisco has focused on alternative sentencing and re-entry programs that hook offenders up with drug treatment, education and employment services.

Krisberg, the Berkeley fellow, says the Bay Area warrants attention from other parts of the state. “San Francisco is, in some ways, a road map for how to get organized and do it well,” he says…

Other states are following San Francisco’s lead. Since 2011, at least seventeen states have reduced their prison populations by a combined 35,000, and in 2013, at least six states closed (or considered closing) twenty correctional facilities, according to a report released on Thursday by the Sentencing Project. Here’s a clip from the report’s offerings on California’s prison population actions:

In California, officials opened a new prison that holds more than 1,700 inmates. The California Health Facility in Stockton reportedly cost $839 million to construct and is designed to address the medical and mental health needs of incarcerated persons. The state opened this prison while accounting for the largest share in population declines in 2012. During a 2013 press conference, Governor Jerry Brown estimated that the prison expansion plan would cost $315 million in the short term and total $715 million by 2015.35 Additionally, to deal with continued overcrowding, Governor Brown has proposed sending approximately 12,000 incarcerated persons to private prisons out of state.

A companion report (also released Thursday) detailed 47 important criminal justice policy reforms that were put into effect in 31 states last year—including two in California. (Take a look.)

65 Comments

  • Maybe they should look into the relationship between Tanaka and the owners of the country club as well. If I’m not mistaken they have been or still are under a major federal investigation. The apple doesn’t fall to far from the apple tree, in either case.

  • Oh by the way Kaneo Watanabe and Noburu Watanabe for anyone’s research. I wonder what the relationship to Wendy is ? The county auditor controller Tanaka had in his pocket !

  • Strange first move, make Chief Tyler your number 2? I get he is not aligned with anyone, and he is retired with no threat of remaining, but he was without a doubt the most lack luster Chief I worked under. He made decisions by committee and he was a little out there. Not in the same orbit as Baca, but the the air was thin.
    But you need to be given a chance to do what you need to do, I hope Mr Tyler will help you in that, not hinder.
    I liked your speech Mr. Scott, but like you I never judge a man on his words, only his actions. Good Luck.

  • Celeste, WLA called it a year ago — a real forensic audit, please.

    (http://witnessla.com/lasd/2013/admin/are-la-county-tax-payers-getting-what-theyve-paid-for-when-it-comes-to-the-sheriffs-department-or-are-some-areas-getting-preferential-treatment/)

    Funny how the topic keeps coming up, but none of our so-called crimefighters, troop supporters, servants, or I’m-not-a-politician types really want to follow the money. Just what the heck were Lee Baca and his crime family using the budget to pay for? inmate canteen contracts? tow companies? community based programs? MDT’s that don’t work and a radio center paying millions for 20th century technology?

    Neal Tyler’s gonna be busy. I bet he uncovers more b.s. with his Franklin Planner than 8 chiefs pushing the latest Crown Vics with tinted windows and brand new hands-free smart phones, not to mention free County gas cards. IJS.

  • Let the top start with rolling up Chief Abner and following the money trail…..Good job Channel 7 news.

  • In regard to Undersheriff Neal Tyler as a little out there as a chief, you need to explain further. I’ve known him as a deputy and a sergeant and he was and is an ethical and highly principaled individual who because of his shyness has been mistaken by some for being ineffective. He is brilliant and some of us wondered why he was not promoted beyond chief, because he should have been. He answer is that he would not play ball and they knew it.

  • Congratulations to the new Sheriff. Aint God good! Yes I said aint(lol). I don’t know anything about the new Sheriff; but I do know he chose a good man Chief Neal Tyler(retired). Man I am so happy for Tyler. Tyler stay humble like I know you will. If you are not sure of something, pray about it. Tyler, God answer prayers.

  • #9: As with most things in life more information on Neal Tyler can be Googled, search words
    “Neal Tyler, LASD.”

    I found it fascinating that he has a Master’s in Library Science.

  • Everyone has had their own experiences with Neal Tyler. To me, Neal is the all-around nice guy type of personality. Yes, he’s bright, has a degree in library science, is hardworking. He’s also anal to a T and easily gets mired in the quicksand of bureaucracy, burying his subordinates in many time, superfluous data gathering and report preparation. Much of the time he misses the big picture. He sponsored other like-minded types for promotion and placed them in specialized positions which they weren’t up to working. I watched Neal make really poor decisions when it came to speaking up, not stepping up to the plate when it took someone of courage to do so. I remember him selecting and supporting for promotion to management ranks, people who really had no business being sergeant-level supervisors, let alone to unit/bureau commands but for their personal connection with him, his sycophants. He didn’t always stand up for what was right and he allowed some pretty crappy things to happen to more than a few very solid subordinates of his, some whom he asked to take a particular assignment only to be speared by Tanaka. Yeah, personally, I like Neal, but I think this is going to be John Scott’s first mistake — expecting Neal to rise to the occasion. I hope I’m wrong; I like Neal and love the Department. Time will show us.

  • @ # 8
    Baca was slim, trim and an avid runner. How did that work out?
    Wake up man. It’s about substance, not appearance. Especially when you’re talking about a person Scott’s age. Sure, uniform appearance is a factor. But it’s not in the top five categories of what a sheriff taking over the LASD from Baca needs to be. I’d put being in shape below:
    Sane
    Ethical
    Experienced
    Knowledgable
    Focused

  • Look at that. I misspelled knowledgeable. Scratch me off the list of potential sheriff candidates. Also, please scratch off the guys that look good in uniform but lack any of the above top 5 mentioned attributes needed.

  • THEY ALL NEED TO GO AND STAY GONE TANAKA, ROGERS, HELLOMOLD,
    WHITMORE,& EVERYONE WHO PAYED & THAT CLIMBED IN TO THE CAR FOR THE EASY WAY UP THE PROMOTIONAL LADDER!
    HOPELY THE FEDS DO A REAL FORENSIC AUDIT!

  • Sheriff Joe A. isn’t in shape and I would take him in a hot second! Just look at many of the turds running for the top spot now. They are in great shape but lack all of the 5 attributes. Scott may be a little round but give him a chance. Proof is in the pudding…….as far as the blonde gal with no neck in the glass house (R.A.), rumor has it the FBI will be coming for you soon. For the out-going donkey, it’s about time………..don’t let the door hit you in the ASS.

  • LATBG- In your January 29th posting you offended the entire African American community and countless Los Angeles church congregations with your sarcastic comments about their culture and religion. As Bob Olmstead’s official spokesperson are you speaking on his behalf and sharing his views about African Americans and Christians?

    Had anyone else posted that you’d be screaming POE and Title VII violations. Please clarify. Thank you.

  • Neal is a very organized person. He will cross the t’s and dot the i’s. He will track everything he assigns and make sure it gets done on time. As a Chief he really didn’t do much to get people promoted or transferred to specialized units. He rarely placed people on loan as required to transfer to a specialized unit. He is very black and white regarding Department policy and discipline. I believe his ideas or suggestions were shot down by Mr. T and other executives. Everyone is well aware that Mr. T never had anything good to say about Neal. So now we will watch as the changes are made within the executive ranks. Good luck to all! Lacera here we come. #8 if you watched the news there are plenty of fat executives so he will fit in perfectly.

  • So today is Assistant Sheriff Todd Rogers campaign kick off. I was trying to figure out how he attained so many facebook likes in a short amount of time. Well it seems that he wants to be Sheriff for Istanbul, Turkey. Funny how a man of integrity, ethics and reform would have to get likes from the people of another country. Is he running a campaign of false pretense????? Is he really a reformist????? or opportunist????? well, I guess he can reform Istanbul, Turkey….

  • Itacaboomer, and your soulmate Veritatem, thank you for your new found interest in the well being of the African-American community and churchgoers everywhere. Let’s keep it simple. For starters, no one on these forums is the official spokesperson for anybody and you know that. Secondly, did Hellmold go to that church after his circular firing squad/pursuit and beg forgiveness for endangering the community? I do recall Baca apologizing on behalf of the deputies, and I believe their attorneys did as well. How many bridges do you think his actions built? Likewise with Tall Paul and his shooting, described by an on-scene LAPD officer as an execution, did that improve relations with the Korean-American community?

    The department has had strained relations with minority communities stretching back decades, and it is because of some of our actions in the field and the decisions of executives that has contributed to it. Of course the thugs who hide behind the good people and claim police brutality to cover their criminal actions force our hand, but spare me your feigned indignation.

    Exhibit A is Bishop Ed Turner. An opportunistic charlatan, he deceived many a congregant to support Baca for his own financial gain. I’m a firm believer in separating church and state, and the lines get blurry when we involve organized religion and politics.

  • Hopefully, Scott looks hard at the audit and ongoing Reserve Bureau and civilian groups that were so closely aligned with Baca and Tanaka. To think, some of those who were directly involved in the investigation of falsifying post reports are still working in the same office that got spanked.

    Not to mention some of these people are never in the office due to oversight of and playing in another role that is not in their job description. I wonder how those timecards look. Maybe like the field deputy?

  • Follow up to my post, when I say “out there”, I never saw Chief Tyler as a leader. He was never definitive. Maybe he was black and white, but that never came across. I am not insulting his intelligence, he appeared very smart. But he lacked the ability to inspire, to share a vision, to point to path. He seemed to ask questions about his own decisions (in open court). It is ok to consult your own personnel staff or other executives, and to listen to the masses, but you must have the ability to make a decision and go with it. Maybe its just me, but he seemed a little out there.
    As for Mr. Scott he has my full support, as long as he isn’t a car nut, or uses this position to rally support for a run at OC Sheriff, and as long as he makes decisions that he sees fit for the department, he has my support. If he comes to work everyday that will be more than the last guy. If I could give him a gift it would be a broom to sweep the 4th floor. Sorry guys/gals the “Tanaka was to powerful to stand up to” excuse is NOT acceptable to be a leader. Its time for you to hear, “Papers please, goodbye!”

  • Oh and skinny does not make a leader, Tanaka was skinny, Baca is skinny, so was Stonich. If you are going to judge a leader judge their ability to lead. If you want to look at skinny bitches, buy a supermodel catalog. (Sorry Celeste no offense to skinny girls, the “bitches” is the pun to correlate the others mentioned.)

  • Almost there: Do us all a favor please and retire! You can change your screen name to “gone and forgotten”.

  • Hopefully it’s the end of Whitmore. Recently posted on twitter:
    “Sheriff Scott @LASheriffScott named Capt Parker @mpLASD as sheriff’s spokesman, adding to duties since 2009 as @LASDHQ spokesman”

  • I TOO WORKED WITH NEAL TYLER AND HE IS REALLY A BRILLIANT MAN. AS HAS ALREADY NEEN SAID, DON’T BE FOOLED BY HIS QUIET DEMEANOR. HE IS A VERY PRINCIPLED MAN WHO PROMOTED THE RIGHT WAY. NOTHING WAS HANDED TO HIM. HE WILL DO THE JOB THAT 4 A/S’S CAN’T . A SOLID CHOICE. AND FOR ‘ALMOST THERE ” I FEEL BAD FOR YOU. YOUR MISERY IS APPARENT AND YOUR NEGATIVITY WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO RETIREMENT. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE.

  • What folks have forgotten is that Yamaki was Gray Davis’ lawyer while Davis was governor. Baca (got to handed it to the thief) wanted to get close to Davis and bribed Yamaki with a Field Deputy position. Baca eventually had a chair in the state legislature. Later Baca would openly endorse Davis, illegally in uniform, when Davis was being recalled. Baca got us, the taxpayers, to pay for his bribe with our money! Can Baca be anymore despicable?

    Where was Myron, Stonich, Waldie or Tanaka? Five million, that we know of, down the drain to feed the rich and powerful! Scott is in office five minutes and dumps the program! Now that’s leadership! Anybody seen our DA Ms. Lacy?? Not likely

  • My theory. And it is a theory only.
    If you got all of Baca’s Field Deputies in a room together their work calendar for anything having to do with the LASD wouldn’t amount to a week’s worth of work. What it would show is that each and every one of them was nothing more than a high priced glad hander and strategist for Baca. Yes, the taxpayers unknowingly paid for it. County cars. County gas. County this and county that. There is enough right there with Baca’s Field Deputy shenanigans for the Feds. to do a forensic audit. There’s enough right there for Baca to go down in flames. Political campaigning is against the law while on county time. Is there really any doubt that this was the only purpose Baca’s Field Deputies served? As stated by others before me, if what they were doing is needed in any way by the LASD, for the good of the citizens of LA County, why would Sheriff Scott (man that sounds good-100 times better than Baca anyway) dump the program as soon as he was sworn in?

  • LATBG- Interesting how quickly you’ve distanced yourself from being Olmstead’s mouthpiece when called out. Any amateur researcher can Google your screen name and find the hundreds of posts you’ve left while preaching on his behalf. The problem is no matter how much you spewed Mr. Olmstead only managed to muster up 250K in nearly a year. My original assertions that “Whistleblowers” don’t win elections sounds pretty accurate. His AARP pamphlet he handed out while the members stood behind him won’t cut it either. And regarding your obsession with pursuits and shootings, I’d recommend you push a car a bit and get it out of your system. You sound like some C.O.P.S. fanatic talking about reality T.V. Do you really believe the voters care about Tanaka’s shooting 30 years ago or some incident in Compton? Is that the best you can do? Also, Bishop Turner was Baca’s project. Baca’s gone in case you haven’t heard. I’m afraid you showed your hand far too early and now you get to live with the consequences. Good luck!

  • Can’t Scott get in some kind of shape. Honestly, he looks horrible. For all you that shined a seat for 30 +, I’m sure you support this and look like Bartlett pears. But at almost 30 years, I still do what I came on to do, take folks to jail. To do that, you have to stay in shape (my opinion of course). Hopefully he will wear a suit the whole time. Also, what has Scott done in the area of Police work during his stellar career. Yah yah, worked FPK in the ole days. That doesn’t mean doodly squat. Was he a street cop or the jailer for four years. Was he an investigator, a narc, a Division Detective. What can this guy do or say that’s gonna make me want to follow him into battle. Yah, I know, I keep harping on the fitness thing, but the public and crooks laugh at a sloppy Deputy Sheriff and it starts at the top.

  • The true test of Scott’s integrity will be this issue

    http://www.policeone.com/chiefs-sheriffs/articles/6730683-Retiring-LA-Sheriff-Baca-to-return-as-reserve-deputy/

    Baca should never return as a Reserve. he will be assigned to the unit that oversees the Reserves, will do exactly what he was doing, and will garner the political insiders and money raising players that has continued to sway the department in the wrong direction. Let’s see what the unit commander at reserve bureau will do with this hot potato. Scott needs to deny the process.

  • Almost there. i suggest you grow some whiskers, boy because if you talk shit on the street like you do on thi s site, you are heading for an asss whipping. I did more time on the department than you’ve been alive. When you are in your sixties, let’s see how you see the world them. Don’t criticize people like Scott who is a leader of men . I don’t think you have any agenda , I think you just like to pontificate like a sophomoric , angry youngster.

    Incidentally , law enforcement consists of a lot more than just “taking bad guys to jail ”

    Grow up up youngster.

  • Mr Tanaka ACTS like a cop. He’s no street cop. Just because you surround yourself with cops doesn’t make you one. He’s probably a great Administrator (he made it to U/S) but he’s no street cop. The funny thing is he acts like he is. Why? Because you shot someone? Ok tough guy, how does that make anyone a good cop? A joke! I don’t agree with most of the crap written this site, but this is true. He’s a joke, and no matter where your allegiance is, everyone knows it. A JOKE…

  • @ # 33,
    I imagine the public and other LE agencies aren’t laughing quite as hard as when there was a svelte insane weirdo idiot running the LASD. Crooks? How many crooks will Scott ever come in contact with?

  • @”Ithacaboomer”: you’re pathetic. You don’t even try to defend your loyalty to someone like Tanaka by disputing his skeletons. Instead you want to assume that the voters are stupid and won’t care about his past. The sad part is you may ultimately be correct, but it speaks volumes about you and your integrity. The fact that you will follow someone like him and his style of bullying people (behind their backs of course) who won’t kiss his ass and rewarding those who will.

    You say “Whistleblower” like it’s a bad thing! Trying looking it up. But then you are probably the type of guy who’s arrest reports should be filed in the “fiction” section. Anyone who has any kind of real integrity would welcome a “Whistleblower” so that we can get away from the perception of “thugs with badges” that the public has of us.

  • Interesting posts about Gary Nalbandian. Did you know he has done nothing with the new HSD regime? In fact, he gave awards without the proper approval a few weeks back.

    Operates on his program with Baca support. Guess we don’t have to worry about that.

    Oh yea, Steve W. where is your new desk these days? I saw our new US took your spot.

  • Selling surplus goods to foreign governments, demanding campaign contributions for promotions/ coveted positions and handing out community “field deputy” positions in exchange for contributions are unique campaign fundraising strategies…….I’m sure this didn’t occur to naive Bob Olmsted…..congratulations Paul!! you have $100,000 more than Olmsted……next time, try selling pot or moving some meth across the border….I’m sure you’ll double your campaign war chest.

    All the money won’t really matter when it comes to Paul…..just play the John & Ken interview over and over…..it’s like watching an old lady slipping on a banana peel.

  • @38, I know who you are and respect your time on. If you read my posts, I’m goin on 30 years, if you did 50 plus years on the Department, I applaud you. I’m know youngster and have never shined a seat. Don’t brown nose, and expect no favors. I go in and do the lords work. As far as Scott, I stand by my statement. He looks horrible. Then he brings in the crypt keeper Neal Tyler. What a goof. His resume’ as far as being a street cop is worse than Scott’s. I worked around both those goofs when they were up and coming. All they did was harrass the Cops and embrace those that drove around in circles for 40 hours a week who got no beefs. So OB, don’t tell me to grow whiskers, they grew out a long time ago. Lead by example Scott, hit the gym, and let the line folks (you know, the backbone of the Department) you support them.

  • EDITOR’S NOTE:

    Any more comments about anyone’s body image will be trashed with extreme prejudice.

    (And to those whose comments I’ve already trashed, what in the world could you possibly have been thinking with that nonsense?!)

    Also, the Whitmore bashing is at an end.

    Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

    C.

  • #43- That’s 130,000 more (significant difference). Plus, Paul Tanaka has been endorsed by the President of the California Sheriff’s Association, Greg Ahern (Alameda County Sheriff), along with others, who will soon come out. The list of people who are endorsing Tanaka continues to grow, and is very impressive. As time goes on, you will see. Why is this important?

    -Because it shows credibility and the potential to fundraise. Good luck to all the candidates.

  • Lol…..don’t forget he’s got the the endorsement of the Cudahy librarian. That will put him over the top. That $130,000 should buy him 30 seconds on KCET. Pauley girl is finished. He strikes out everytime that curve ball is thrown. Whatever happens in the election, I’m grateful that Olmsted took out those two crooked tumors and that some radiation and chemo will get rid of the rest of the cancer.

  • Do  you think federal investigators have an unedited version of the KABC interview Paul gave to David Ono last May? He implicates himself and Leroy  in the  “Operation Pandora’s Box”  fiasco. Funny how a few months later on John and Ken he couldn’t remember how he found out about this incident. When they pressed him in that radio interview he said the federal investigators told him. He may have had sense to protect himself, but this video maybe one factor that sink his ship. A combination of the Ono interview and what  some of those already charged  may tell federal investigators, should  lead to indictments for Paul and Leroy.  The same flaw  that took Mike Carona and Co. down, will take these two down and those that blindly  followed them. Arrogance and Greed. 

    “I get a phone call from the sheriff on my cellphone and he was very upset – and that’s to describe it mildly. He’s upset because he wanted to know if we had confiscated a phone in our jails, a cellphone,” Tanaka said.

    According to Tanaka and other sources, that cellphone was given to an inmate by the FBI and that the inmate was an informant. The FBI was investigating the jails and those who run it.

    “He said, ‘I want you to make sure that thing is locked up and that thing is not going anywhere. Period. And I want that inmate interviewed and I don’t want him to go anywhere,'” Tanaka said.

    http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=9110196

    http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9406856

  • 46: Would you change your vote because Lee Baca endorsed Tanaka? No! You wouldn’t. Would you change your vote because Bishop Turner endorsed Hemmold? No! You wouldn’t and neither will anyone else. The folks that are voting for OLMSTED are going to vote for OLMSTED. And those voting for Tanaka are going to vote for Tanaka. Those in the middle are not swayed by opportunist politicians like the one that just resigned in disgrace! Add, the recent pol of likely voters shows OLMSTED clearly has the advantage. What the article didn’t elaborate on was how much did Tanaka already have in his chest? It won’t matter because as this race get uglier, than it already is, a lot of things and positions will change.

    However, there are things that can help a candidate. I.E. Many years ago a Chief (not Baca) got the endorsement of the LAT and with little to no campaigning. This chief got 20% of the vote and caused Baca and Block into a run off. Do you believe that the LAT or other news and political media outlets will endorse Tanaka? As you say “don’t hold your breath!” Too funny, but you walked right into that one!

    What is the difference between impressive and very impressive? You make that distinction why? The list of politicos is small compared to what Tanaka expected due to his criminal behavior while on the job? And Tanaka’s gang affiliation will continue to be an issue. There will be a lot more coming out (as you assert) and if Tanaka does another interview, similar to the one Tanaka just did on the radio, it’s all over!

    For now, things are already better and our best to Sheriff John Scott! At least we agree that it wasn’t McDonald who was the interim?

  • Almost there. My mistake. I thought you meant you were 30 years old. I then respect you for your tenure on the street. I also respect you opinion and perspective, just not the same as mine. At least you are outspoken and i like that, believe it or not,

    O’B

  • Proud Ole Retire:

    Sir, I am also an old retire having spent 26 years on the Department. You were right the first time with “almost there”. After thirty years, you would expect he/she would have at least gained some insight and wisdom. He sounds like the typical “gunslinger” with two years in patrol and knows everything. I repeat my mantra “retire already, gone and forgotten”.

  • Baca wants to be a reserve? How funny is that? He can’t walk away. He has to try and stay involved. From sheriff, where everybody kissed his ass, grovelled at his feet and let him talk his wacko philosophies and nodded their head approvingly, while thinking to themselves:”The guy is nuts”! He has proven he shouldn’t be in charge of a 3rd grade field trip to the zoo. He gets distracted too easily. Putting him in charge of the Reserve Program? Are you kidding? The fact that Baca, at 71 years old (I don’t care how many miles he runs every day people, he’s seventy fricken one!!!) wants to, and these are his words, “Get back out there” shows he is delusional. You’re done Leroy. It’s over. Somebody tell the naked former emperor that the people are laughing at him. Even those who told him how smart he was while he was wearing the crown are now laughing at him. He believed they really thought he was smart and a “Lawman”. He isn’t smart enough to realize that they weren’t worshipping him because they thought he was smarter than everybody else, it was because he was wearing the crown and they wanted something from him. He’s delusional due to a constant feeding of his ego. It’s about time somebody breaks the news to him.

  • So the A/S Rogers posted on his facebook page that his “likes” was spammed/hacked….Really???? You just now found out about it…..Really????? The “likes” have been posted on his facebook for the past two weeks, if not longer and now he wants to say it was spammed / hacked…..Really????? Cover up? Charlatan? Fake? Fraud?…oh I get it, he just reformed his facebook…..Too Funny…..is that a true reformer or true faker????

  • @Istanbul #21: Those “likes” were likely purchased via the internet. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/05/buy-facebook-likes_n_4544800.html. Ouch! We would “like” to get his answer on that one at a debate. Ewwwww. Todd doesn’t look so squeeky clean anymore, or is it possible that the turks and kurds of Turkey are immensely interested in this election? Word is #turks4todd is trending on twitter. Oh snap!

    “We could have 100 indictments, we could have 1,000 indictments, at the end of all of this, I’m going to be standing.” [Todd Rogers, January 16, 2014]. Excuse me, Mr. Rogers, what exactly did you mean by that statement? Can you clarify?

    Mark my words, Todd will be jumping to the McDonnell ship by March 1. I hope the next sheriff sees him for what he is- An opportunist and a morale killer.

    For a good laugh, please tune to Tanaka’s Massacre at the hands of KFI. Boy was he tarred and feathered. Paul, you can remove the dunce cap, it’s over. Tanaka is, and always has been an amateur. He singlehandedly ruined whatever positive legacy Baca had earned. Yes, Leroy fell asleep at the wheel, but Paul decimated him with his crap.

    Also, for some more comic relief view Ol’ Olmstead’s video where the universally disrespected Herran, Martin, and Villanueuiva mindlessly babble and yak. Couldn’t Bob have picked some people that heed a little respect? Olmstead Retread!

    Scott4Sheriff!

  • I’m so tired of hearing comments by some individuals “yea, but was he a good street cop,” as if that were the only criteria for being a good deputy, supervisor or executive. I hate to blow some bubbles, but some of you may have forgotten what the mandated duties of the Sheriff’s Department are: Transport prisoners and house them if I remember correctly. I know it is dangerous, I know one takes one’s life in one’s hands every time onw go out, but you only find “super cops” on TV, those who know all and do all. The criteria for being a leader or fine supervisor, manager or executive are not necessarily because one was a “good street cop.”

  • Olmstead has a lot of work left a head of him, but it is impressive that he has started a campaign from scratch and reported what he did.

    Tanaka is an “established politician” and the campaign to elect Tanaka is reporting mayor funds as well. For a guy with 90 days on the trial, not bad and should be respected. It would have been disaster for the PT Cruiser if their number were behind.

    You would know that if you worked other campaigns.

    Didn’t the US invade other countries with “global support”?!? Iceland, Chile, Australia, Norway….. Real global powerhouses.

    You guys are so hung up on us being the best and the biggest yet you praise Paul for the endorsements he has. Again, you have to live in Los Angeles and translate people to votes in Los Angeles. Spare me the King’s County support, and show tangible endorsements in LA County.

    God bless Hellmond and his choices, but he is hitting up the wrong crowd for the right money.

    Good ole’ Burbank and Glendale. Just like daddy taught him.

  • Ok, Let me see. Todd Rogers gets popped buying Facebook likes from Istanbul, Turkey. You had to figure someone with 75 followers hardly has nearly 9000 likes. Claiming a hack job after you’re caught is cool, I get it. But how about his old buddy Retired Captain Gregory Lynn Adams who states on Rogers’ website, “Son, you are truly an inspiration to me. I’m here for you and support you 100%. Plz let me know how I can help?” A little closer examination reveals “Gregory Adams Captain LASD, retired” has offered an endorsement of Bob Olmstead. So which is it Greg? You always were weak. A respected OG SEB Scout once said, “Don’t ever trust Greg Adams,” So I never did. Eventually, he lived up to his reputation. Anybody need more proof? For those of you who don’t know, he’s Todd’s daddy!! Hence the word, “Son.” Remember the old saying, “Apples don’t fall far from the tree.” Weak!

  • I’m sure a llot of you folks who are still current members of LASD are more in know than I. If fact whoever the new Sheriff is to be, he would be wise to listen to all of you. I understand that for career reasons you must remain anonymous. i would probably do the same. The mere fact that you are voicing your opinions which have to be at least somewhat based on fact, speaks a lot to your dedication to lASD . You may not even realize it. There are certainly differing opinions of people and that’s only natural.

    #51 and # 52 thank you for your remarks.

    I would like to express 3 of my own opinions. Now remember these are only my opinions.

    We can all thank WLA for this site. I think we are in agreement there.

    There was vague reference to Paul Myron. I never worked directly for him , but he was the chief of Region 1 where I spent a large part of my career. Make no mistake of this : Paul Myron was the most principled and loyal man i have ever met, inside and outside the Department. PERIOD !!!! His loyalty was that which we should always remember and emulate. Loyalty to the organization.

    Because he was elevated to U/S by Baca only speaks to his level of skill and talent. As you recall , he did not stay long. HMMMMMMM ?

    “Non dare say evil of him ”

    #3 Roy Burns. I know Roy has been a topic of discussion and can be a controversial figure.

    When Roy was at SEB, he would frequently stop at West hollywood Station on his way home. and put in few hours ( on his own time ). He was always very respectful and ask permission before he went Ten-8 . I know . I was the W/C

    I went to the funeral of a Santa Paula P.D. ( Ventura co.) officer who was killed off duty She was the friend of a neighbor/ friend of mine and also Santa Paula Sgt. I went really for him, and out of respect for her.
    Guess who was there. YEP, Roy Burns. ( and he did not know her, he did it out of respect.)

    We were the only LASD there, no uniform presence,

    So I guess underneath Roy’s reputation of being gung- ho , there lies a man who really cares.

    Thanks for listening to the geriatric ramblings of a PROUD OLE RETIREE

  • @59, Boomer, this time I agree with you 200%, Adams is a manipulative, self-serving chameleon of an individual. The man is as two-faced as they come, I’m surprised he was not on Tanaka’s endorsement list. I worked patrol with him and I can tell you, the man has issues. He trained Alice Scott at Carson, next thing I know he will be calling her his best friend although he trashed her behind her back over the years non-stop. As far as Burns, he’s not running for Sheriff so why all the ramblings about him, good/bad, could care less one way or the other.

    Tanaka made an appearance on Saturday at a Republican breakfast in El Monte. Lets just say it was a repeat of the John and Ken Show. Too Tall Paul was not a happy camper when he left Goodies Coffee Shop. Just a few more weeks, if not sooner, Paul should be off the radar, one way or another, he has a date with the Feds.

    This I will state to all, the institution of LASD will survive the transition of John Scott. I spoke with him over the weekend, he has an agenda that is strictly for the betterment of LASD. I would be quite worried if I were a cigar club coin holder, apparently names have been named. This will all be played out, to include the election. Everyone just needs to be civil, root for your guy, be an adult, each candidate will have to make their own case on their own merits. Just don’t let the king makers install “their” selection, it’s the people’s choice. I can’t wait to attend EPC this week, first time I’ve looked forward to attending in years, Leroy wore us all out.

  • The last two sentences by Searchlight say it all. Nothing more needs to be said about the state of the department the past 15 years. Relief has arrived.
    Is anybody surprised Ridley-Thomas brings up whether or not the sheriff should be an elected position? Oh how he wants to be one of the kingmakers. The reality is the BOS is almost as complicit as Baca in regards to what happened to the LASD. It was their job to oversee Baca. They get an F. By Baca’s third year in office the writing was on the wall and it was glaring. They stood by while Baca pulled his shenanigans and were disinterested in doing their job.
    Term limits for the sheriff and the BOS now!

  • Ithaca, Boomer and Search: At times there can be a consensus about the lack of character about someone. And that someone is definitely Greg Adams. I have met some despicable people on the department but Adams was the worst! From his spineless acts at SEB,stealing from recruits to belittling one of his ex wifes the lack of integrity was always apparent. Candidates cannot pick and choose where they get their support. But, all candidates better be careful about any endorsement coming from Adams!

  • Searchlight. Your explanation is very insightful. thank you. It is your type of commentary which will help lead LASD to it’s prior prominence. Keep it up.

    O’B

  • I hope Scott and members of his transition team are reading all your blogs. A ton of information ammo here. good luck luck to all of you and know we retirees are watching and thankful for your courage.

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