On the morning of April 16, 2012, Paulino Juarez testified in front of the Citizens Commission on Jail Violence about three cases of deputies beating inmates he said he had witnessed during his time working as a Catholic chaplain at Men’s Central Jail. Juarez is a diminutive, soft spoken man who has worked in the county’s jail system since July 1998. This meant he had fourteen years of jail work under his belt by he spoke to the commission, so he was hardly new to custody ministering. Nevertheless, his hands frequently trembled as he described the third and most harrowing of the beatings he said he saw.
(You can read Jaurez’ testimony before the CCJV about the reported beating here, starting on page 162.)
The third incident that chaplain Juarez recounted to the CCJV forms the basis of the federal indictment announced last Friday morning in which two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies—Joey Aguiar, 26, and Mariano Ramirez, 38—-were charged with illegally using force against an inmate, and then attempting to cover up the incident with false reports that “formed the basis of a false prosecution initiated against the victim.”
These new charges bring the number of department members indicted by the feds to 20—with more assuredly to come.
The notion of two deputies allegedly brutalizing an inmate who is already handcuffed and waist-chained, and doing so in front of an experienced civilian witness, and then reportedly trumping up criminal allegations against that the same inmate—despite the witness—is alarming enough.
But this indictment points beyond itself to four other issues that should, if anything, alarm us more.
1. PEOPLE ON THE TOP OF THE LASD FOOD CHAIN KNEW ALL ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, YET NO DEPARTMENT SANCTIONS RESULTED
Juarez said that he recounted the incident verbally and in writing to a host of people within the sheriff’s department’s command structure—plus the Office of Independent Review—but no sanctions appeared to result. In July 2011, nearly 2 years after the incident, Juarez even managed to meet with Sheriff Baca and Assistant Sheriff Cecil Rambo, at which time he relayed what he’d seen.
According to Juarez, the sheriff told him that LASD investigators had determined that the inmate/victim’s bruises were not caused by a beating at all, but by being hit by a car before he ever got to jail. So nothing to see here folks.
No one mentioned the fact that, as Rena Palta reported, there was an LASD video of inmate/victim Brett Phillips lying injured and unconscious—or barely conscious—after the beating.
But, heck, why deal in evidence?
2. AFTER A SCATHING ACLU REPORT AND A PILE OF BAD PRESS, THE DEPARTMENT DID TAKE ANOTHER LOOK INTO THE BEATING IN OCT. 2011, THEN RAN OUT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS CLOCK.
After the ACLU issued its September 2011 report about violence in the jails, including a declaration and video by Paulino Juarez (among other civilian witnesses)—all of which made national news—the LASD decided to reinvestigate the matter.
Not that it did any good.
According to documents from the Integrity Division of the LA County District Attorney’s office, the LASD’s criminal investigative unit, ICIB, didn’t finish their investigation into the 2009 beating until January 28, 2013—nearly four years after the original incident. In other words, they didn’t finish until they’d neatly run out the clock on the statute of limitations regarding any punitive actions or charges that the LASD or the district attorney might bring.
Whether or not the DA’s office was interested in the case is unclear. But what is very clear is the fact that, by time the DA’s people were belatedly given the paperwork by the LASD, they had no choice but to decline to proceed:
“…Violation for Penal Code section 149, Assault Under Color of Authority, must commence within three years after commission of the offense,” the DA’s office wrote in their official rejection of the case. “We are legally precluded and therefore decline to file criminal charges in this matter…”
3. THE FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
The younger of the two deputies facing these new federal charges, which could result in decades in prison, is now 26. Doing some quick math, this means he was around 21 at the time of the 2009 incident, presumably not very far out of the academy.
Yet, despite the existence of independent witness to the event, it appears that every supervisor who came in contact with the 2009 beating incident, and its alleged criminal cover-up, either denied the existence of any wrongdoing or winked at it—from the sergeant directly above the deputies, through Internal Affairs, ICIB, up to Sheriff Baca. Once has to ask what kind of message all these supervisors imagined they were sending to their young deputies—and the rest of their rank and file—with such actions, or lack thereof.
“We’ve got your back, no matter what trouble you stir up! Don’t worry about the blow-back!” is neither good leadership nor good parenting.
The other jail brutality incidents from the previous round of indictments occurred in 2010 and 2011. Those charges too suggest a pattern of abuse and criminal cover up that had been roundly ignored by supervisors for years. This is the catastrophic failure of leadership that the Citizens Commission on Jail Violence described so scathingly in their September 2012 findings and report.
Certainly, a few department members tried to raise red flags. In 2009, Custody division commanders, Robert Olmsted and Stephen Johnson asked for and received reports by Lt. Mark McCorkle and Lt. Stephen Smith, that each delved into the growing number of incidents of force used against inmates, and outlined a troubling lack of accountability, and worse. But, reportedly when Olmsted tried repeatedly to shake department leadership awake, again, those at the top of the LASD adamantly declined to act.
(For the Smith and McCorkle reports go here and start on p. 27. For our previous detailed reporting on Olmsted’s lengthy testimony at the CCJV, go here.)
We know that uses of force in the jails have gone down, and investigations have, at times, been far more rigorous. Assistant Chief Terri McDonald has made some strides. But throughout the department, custody included, under the past regime, accountability has been highly selective. Too often it has been for show, not for real change.
I watched the Los Angeles Police Department go through a such a period of selective accountability, post Rampart, in 2001 and 2002. The result was that officers stopped pro-active policing for fear of being disciplined, and crime actually went up. Nobody was safer.
Then Bill Bratton came in. The department had real leadership. The rules were the rules for everyone. (It wasn’t about whom you knew.) Crime went down. Officer moral rose.
(Just to be clear: we aren’t saying the LAPD is perfect. For example, we agree with the LA Times editorial board that keeping the names secret of those involved in the Torrance officer-involved shootings that occurred during the Dorner nightmare, is not an acceptable stance for the reasons the Times states. Nonetheless, the core culture of the LAPD has fundamentally altered because of clarity of message and action at the top.)
In these very early days, Sheriff Scott has shown strong signs of wishing to do the same.
May it be so.
The LASD presents a unique challenge. It has corrosive factions within its culture that are formidable.
4. INDICTMENTS MOVING UP THE FOOD CHAIN?
And speaking of accountablity, in the case of those indicted this past December for their part in hiding federal informant Anthony Brown from the FBI and any other federal agents, the failures of leadership were not of omission, but commission. To put it more plainly, the two lieutenants, two sergeants, and three deputies criminally indicted in relationship to the Brown operation did not assign themselves to the task of hiding Brown. That little caper was reportedly overseen by either former undersheriff Paul Tanaka or former sheriff Lee Baca (depending upon which one of them you ask). Or both.
And yet it is deputies and sergeants (and two lieutenants) who are facing serious prison time.
With all of the above in mind, we await the next round of indictments and cannot help but hope that at least relatively soon the charges will begin to move further up the ladder of command.
U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte has stated unequivocally that his office intends to follow the investigations wherever they go.
We are counting on just that.
AND IN OTHER NEWS…..JERRY BROWN WANTS SPLIT SENTENCING AND WE DO TOO (AND SO DOES THE LA TIMES)
Governor Jerry Brown was in town late last month telling everyone that they needed to save water (obviously). Equally importantly, he was also meeting with various criminal justice agency heads—probation, the judiciary, the DA’s Office and more—-in the hope of persuading them to get with the program when it comes to the policy of “split sentencing” for many of the AB109 defendants that are now landing in county—not state—supervision.
I talked at length with Probation Chief Jerry Powers after he met with Brown, and he said and his people are totally on board for split sentencing. Certainly all the criminal justice advocates are for it, as is WitnessLA.
So what is split sentencing? Why isn’t it happening? And why should you care?
Sunday’s LA Times editorial explains:
While he was in town late last month to talk with local water agencies and policymakers about the drought, Gov. Jerry Brown also had a lower-profile but just as urgent meeting with Los Angeles County’s top criminal justice officials. What is it with you L.A. people, the governor asked, and your resistance to split sentencing?
It’s a good question, even if it requires a bit of explanation. Under California’s AB 109 public safety realignment, low-level felons do their time in county jail instead of state prison, and courts have the option to split their sentences between time behind bars and time under supervised release. An offender sentenced to four years, for example, may get out after only two — but then be subject to another two years of structured reentry into society, with intensive oversight and required participation in drug or mental health treatment, anger management or other such programs. Counties administer those programs, but the state pays for them.
Several counties are taking advantage of split sentencing with promising results. In Riverside County, for example, 80% of AB 109 felons leave jail for mandatory transition and supervision programs, and early figures suggest lower rates of recidivism. In Los Angeles County, only 6% of felons have their sentences split, and the rest walk out of jail on the final day of their terms subject to no search and seizure, no supervision, no mandatory rehab or services, no management or oversight of any kind.
The problem, explains the Times, is that prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges are dragging their collective feet because…..well, they can’t really say why. Most defendants don’t want split sentences, they mutter.
Um, really? And so we’re letting the lawbreakers call the shots? Even though every piece of evidence suggests that some enlightened supervision would be—on average—-in the defendants’ and everybody else’s best interest in preventing recidivism, and facilitating success after release?
Mostly, says the times, LA has been slow-dragging on the policy because the judges, lawyers et al are “used to doing things a certain way.”
(Honestly, the resistance to this obviously necessary policy change is about that dumb.)
Jackie Lacey is, at least, putting together a group to study the matter.
As for the rest, like Jerry said, it’s time to get with the program.
This entire situation is the doing of the one and only Paul Tanaka. This is the environment Paul Tanaka envisioned, where MCJ deputies could beat inmates without fear of repercussion. Little Paul wanted to curry favor with MCJ deputies, as he did with Lynwood, Century and Lennox Station. Paul played every one of you folks for fools, absolute fools. His goal, political power and that power would be obtained through the Office of the Sheriff, Paul’s long term goal. Little Paul wanted to be Sheriff in the worst way, he was obsessed. Strategically, he began to move the chess pieces years ago. Promoting “weak” individuals who would do his bidding at a snap, regardless of the mission, regardless of the unethical suggestion, regardless of the risk. “Anything you want, Paul. I’m your man.” All the back slapping, the meetings Tanaka had with the young folks at the commands I mentioned above were simply to obtain the support of ALADS, “that” was the ultimate goal. When you control the unions, you control their money. ALL of this was to control the unions. It didn’t work with PPOA, the silent majority saw it for what it was, a manipulative plan to dominate. The silent majority stopped that plan right in its tracks. So now Paul and his henchmen move to an easier target, ALADS. Easier because the membership are young, easy to manipulate with hollow promises and control of the Board. You have all been played, to this very moment, you are being played like fools.
Now we come full circle and as all plans of this unholy nature unfold, it imploded. The body count will be off the charts. The Greg Thompson’s of this scenario are trying to figure a way out, but there is no way out. Greg, the ICIB folks and the folks behind the “hide the inmate” caper, you guys are sooooooo up to your eyeballs in this stupid, foolish display of arrogance and corruption. Did you guys really think this through? Was the allure of “make the little man happy and you will be rewarded,” motivate you? Or was is raw fear, fear that your careers and your job assignments would be in jeopardy if you didn’t march in lock-step? What kind of “leader” would EVER, EVER, EVER put his/her people in harms way with such foolish, arrogant and unlawful orders to go to an FBI agents residence to “rattle her cage?” What kind of leader would order Operation Pandora’s Box to unfold. An operation that took down a “close friend” (Thompson) and several foolish deputies who just wanted to please the little man. If you folks are convicted, this I know, you ARE going to Federal prison. Not probation, not a “deal” (unless you give the FBI/AUSA what they want) but the joint, the big house, prison. All the while the little man is holding fundraisers, smoking cigars, enjoying weekends with his wife, living life large. He has turned his back on you as evident by his denials and finger pointing, all with a straight face. It’s all about him, it always has been.
So Boomer, continue to live your fantasy, dream about being a floor Senior at CRDF where you can talk about working in the hot years, speak your foolishness and support for the little man, your hero, your meal ticket, while all the MCJ folks who have been indicted sweat bullets every night and look at their families and wonder how they got into this mess. To the silent majority of ALADS, its time to come to Jesus. Its time to realize “your” union is about to endorse a candidate for Sheriff under YOUR name. Are you proud of LASD, are you proud of what has happened to a wonderful institution, are you proud that you’ve been played? Hellmold is simply a mirror of everything that is wrong with LASD. He will tell you what you want to hear, right out of the hymn book of Paul Tanaka. Rogers, he has sold his soul for a promotion and he stands for nothing but politics as usual. McDonnell, not the right man for this job, he thinks he can “charm” his way into your grace. The only person on the ballot who can restore the honor and dignity to LASD is Olmsted. You, the silent majority, can be heard loud and clear with your vote. Tanaka will do all he can to rig the vote, he tried to do so with PPOA. But it is your choice, your vote. Olmsted will clean house, captains and above have been put on notice, Chiefs and Assistant Sheriff’s, retire or demote to commander, your choice. You let everyone down for your own personal gain. You folks doing the Lord’s work in the field and on the line, you have nothing to fear, the problem is the leadership and those who have gone rogue. It’s your choice, don’t be played anymore, your tired of it all, we are all tired. It’s your choice, stand up and do the right thing. You will be happy you did.
Searchlight, well said! You’re right on target. ALADS members need to stand up. Younger ALADS members in custody are being misled, being told if Tanaka is elected, he will immediately reverse all of the recent changes that have been made in custody division. GET REAL!
As for the ALADS board, Armando and Floyd, we know Paul is courting you both. Are you actually contemplating giving him member’s money? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? He is behind the mess that got current members in irreversible trouble. Their carreers are over because of Paul’s ego! And let’s not forget he’s on the verge of getting indicted. Great way to throw away union money!
Searchlight, you have lost it. A career at Court Services or sucking fumes at TST has rattled your brain
No #3, Searchlight is spot on, I can see that you are young and misled by your comment, hell those are some of the same juvenile cracks we used say while we were drinking beer with Tanaka on the hood of cars at Lynwood station and telling the new guy how long he should keep his new Viking tattoo covered in the shower!
Nope, searchlight is spot on. As for me, I will tell every fellow Deputy I know to contact their rep, and vote no on Tall Paul.
Doing my job:
Whats seems to be the problem partner, doesn’t ur coin get you in the cigar club anymore? I also wonder why you are “bagging” on Court Services and TST. I guess they don’t qualify as “ghetto cops.” Your lack of maturity, and vocabulary, is apparent. Stop embarassing yourself. Go back to school!
Should ALADS give Tanaka any money it’s just time to vote them out! I too am spreading the word! Vote them out!!!
I agree, Tanaka is a weasel and would be the worst choice! But with your preachings on Olmsted, im not sure if I should be praying to Jesus Christ or Bob Olmsted anymore. That sure makes you wonder if Olmsted himself is not posting under some of these user names.
Why would you throw good union money after bad by giving it to anyone who may be indicted, that like putting it in bondfire, If you have so much money to burn give to the widow & kids fund, at lease it would be for a good clause!
#1,
I agree with some of you statements, but I would caution you to pump your brakes re the obstruction case.
They have already offered deals to some of those guys, and they turned them down. Why would someone do that if the Feds are so cautious with their indictments?
Maybe they have great defenses? Maybe they are innocent till proven guilty.
GT, has issues but don’t lump them all in the same pot.
Bill of Rights Amendment #10. Check it out, and you might learn something about Federalism.
Don’t hurt yourself with the truth or jumping to more conclusions.
Questions for those young MCJ and “ghetto station” deps. that continue to support Tanaka and claim that he is a “Cop’s cop”.
Why is that you continue to support a man who seems to be letting his “parttners” take the rap and face prison time, while he’s not coming to their defense?
Is that your definition of a ” Cop’s cop” or “Man’s man”? To let your “partners”, “friends” or subordinates ride the beef without you coming to their defense?
Do you think Tanaka will testify as a defense witness for any of them?
How is it that you can, with a straight face, refuse to admit that Tanaka is just another politician who only cares about climbing to the top and will climb on the backs of deps. if need be to achieve his goal of being sheriff? How can you deny that in the face of his silence while those indicted are facing prison? He’s denying he gave the orders to hide the snitch. Do you think Thompson and the deps. acted on their own?
I use to be ambivalent where Mr.T was concerned. Now, as I watch him deny responsibility and let others swing in the breeze I am no longer ambivalent about his candidacy.
A cop’s cop doesn’t abandon his partners when things get messy. If a cop’s cop gets in a caper with his partners that goes bad, he’s right there with them till the end.
A politician? He does what is politically expedient. I’ve got some sad news for you youngsters. Paul Tanaka, with every passing day that he doesn’t go to bat for those indicted deps. is PROVING that he’s a politician first and foremost. Sorry to break the news to you. You’ve been hoodwinked.
You youngsters support whomever you wish. But save the machismo b.s. about Tanaka “backing the deputies”. He has PROVEN that he will leave deps. swinging in the wind to ride beefs on their own. There’s several of his subordinates finding that out the hard way as I type this.
You can tell me all the reasons you are supporting Tanaka, and that’s your prerogative. To each his own. But the next guy that tells me he’s supporting Tanaka because he backs deputies is going to get laughed at and told he’s full of shit.
He’s PROVEN otherwise. Talk is cheap. So are opinions. The facts are the facts.
@1: I actually agree with your assessment of Mr. Tanaka. It’s seems very accurate. However, your dream of Olmstead as sheriff is misguided. He won’t even make the run-off. It’s actually sad that Olmstead is trailing Tanaka in the polls. What does that say about the electorate? Unbelievable.
I’ve also noticed that you have written past posts that describe your eager anticipation to attend EPC and meetings with Sheriff Scott. We have a question? – When do you have time to type these long diatribes while performing your duties as a chief or higher? Your last shout-out was nearly 1,000 words!
You are either neglecting your duties “chief” or a charlatan (or both).
Feel free to insult me, but fair-minded souls would have a hard time arguing with my assessment. Lastly, you should retract your insult to CRDF seniors. If you are a chief then you are a total embarrassment for demeaning positions within the organization. Bam!
@10, Jack. I understand what you are saying, I’m not convicting anyone, thus my statement, “IF you folks are convicted…….” I don’t know Thompson on a personal basis, he has never worked for me, been in my office a few times over the years, so I have no personal animosity towards him. But I will say he was knee deep in Pandora’s Box and one would think at some time into that operation, he would have bellied up to the bar and told the little man to pull his head out of his ass and take a deep breath and think about what he, PT, is telling his people to do. Thompson, who was responsible for every single sergeant and deputy working for him should have protected his subordinates from Baca or Tanaka (or both) in this foolish operation. Folks tried using the, “I was just following orders” during the Nuremberg trials, it didn’t work.
If any of these folks are as pure as Colorado snow, they should NOT take any deal, play it out in court and present their case. But if they have liability, stand-by to stand-by. Let the chips fall where they may. We already know PT is going to say, “I had nothing to do with any of this, I gave no orders and in my 33 years, I have never condoned any misconduct.” Well, you folks out on bail know where your “leader” stands, and it is NOT with you.
J.london. what makes you think a.l.a.d.s. is backing tanaka?. If your knew that every deputy is split among 5 tan & greens, you would just shut up. Did Paul personally slap you or denied you to join his club? I’ll bet your true and weak identity that the boys @ a.l.a.d.s. won’t vote for paul. So stop being a weenie!
Veritatem, in your words: ” However, your dream of Olmstead as sheriff is misguided. He won’t even make the run-off. It’s actually sad that Olmstead is trailing Tanaka in the polls. What does that say about the electorate? Unbelievable.”
It’s more a statement about yourself. There has been only one poll to date, already reported on this site, and those numbers were favorable to Olmsted even with Baca in the model. Now with seven declared candidates and no incumbent, the entire model has to be redone. My guess is that McDonnell and Olmsted will be favored to make the runoff for obvious reasons, they have made a name for themselves as either outsider, reformer, or both. The more the candidate is associated with the Baca administration, the less likely they are to succeed. Do you have the results of another poll, if so please share.
Too funny! For Paul to slap me he would have to get on a six foot ladder! LOL
When you cut through all the garnishment on the plate, you are still left with:
Tanaka is a narcissist. He used a lot of people to build his empire.
He manipulated people, controlled promotions, assignments and transfers. He demanded loyalty from those in his circle.
He identified MCJ as his, and let everyone know that it was.
So in fairness most of the current moral and legal problems can be directly tracked to Tanaka, his policies, or his people.
Im not endorsing anyone for Sheriff, I am not in anyone’s “camp”
I even admired Tanaka’s pro deputy attitude and the mantra that everyone should work, and do their job. Baca seemed to be a Sheriff of the world, and left the department off his map, which allowed Tanaka the opportunity to identify with some and begin his master plan.
To me anyone who denies the above, is a simple minded fool. Even Tanaka’s own people will own up to the above. I cannot believe a leader would allow any of his soldiers to needlessly fall for them. But Mr. Tanaka has other interest and will leave them in the wind. So by his own mantra he should be held accountable, and by what is just plain right he should be accountable.
No endorsement from me, no mud slinging, just facts we all know. So would someone please tell the Feds to knock on his door?
This mess is LASD’s own version of A Few Good Men.
Code Red———–Hide the inmate
@TheBall…I agree with you 100%.
I agree with leftAtTheBall, at one point Tanaka’s mantra was admirable and needed. There were/are some overzealous,sgts and lts. with “contempt of supervisor” attitude. They are too quick to pass judgement and throw deputies under the the train. They act on personal reasons, rather than factual. Tanaka’s approach was taken by some beyond context, and began doing their thing, with Tanaka looking the other way, in the gray area. Tanaka’s own creation brought the Baca/Tanaka regime down, and a bunch of deputies intoxicated with Tanaka’s mantra, down…Most of the indicted are Tanaka’s worshipers,shocking, he gave them the answers to the exams for promotions, and yet they brought him down…
17,
Great post, but the Feds may not have what they need or gotten the reaction they expected out of the obstruction case.
One of the defendants has the former US Attorney for Christ sakes. You think they saw that coming?
None of us did.
He is punching holes in their case, and unfortunately that helps Tanaka on this particular incident.
Tanaka is what he is, but he is also a lucky liar.
Karma won’t forget him though.
#20 Didn’t the most recent Sgt’s test prove to be corrupted? How many were under investigation for cheating, having a copy of the exam prior to the test? A Lt. with a conscience admitted forwarding the test to her study group. How many were disqualified from the banded list, none that I am aware of. Didn’t the last of band one just receive notice of the intent to promote them. Business as usual: liars,cheaters, immoral, inexperienced ass kissers that work for special people in special units all promoted,the future of the dual track Dept.signed off by the Interim Sheriff.
LAT: Please show the pol that Tanaka is ahead of anyone. The recent pol clearly shows Olmsted has the advantage.
Searchlight, Jack Dawson, Left at the ball et all, I salute you
To Veritatem… once again, son , you are playing in the wrong league. I might suggest double clutching your brain before engaging your mouth. The difference between you and me is I know I am not real smart )
It is refreshing, on the other hand , to see leaders raising their heads. It is easy to say ” why didn’t someone stand up to Tanaka and take charge. Easily said., but the reality is the efficacy of that tack by a member of the command staff would have been zero . They would have been vetoed by the man and in all likelihood ostracized . Certainly some were hand picked and would have remained silent anyway, but there still remain some leaders.
Some who are willing to speak up. I have no idea who any of you are, nor does it matter. Searchlight, you strike as one wanting to do the right thing and has been frustrated by “hand picked’ If I am wrong it certainly would not be the first. However ….. here it comes Veritatem , for someone to be critical of an executive who speaks out now when you probably have no idea of the BS he/she had to tolerate in EPC, you make me want to puke.
I have to wonder , Veritatem, are you really an active Department member ? i am being very serious, because you sound like a very unhappy and unfulfilled individual. I am really not trying to be an asshole ( which is easy for me ., I guess i just a bit bewildered.
Captains,Lieutenants, and sergeants ….. different story. These people are directly responsible for the folks who work for them. For them to obey orders which are prima facia criminal and then either participate in the carrying out of those orders or standing on the sidelines while their people carry them out is inexcusable. To deny knowledge of those orders and stand idly while their men and women swing in the breeze ………… well, Jack you said it: Karma will rein. Unfortunately all the karma in world will not restore the lives of those deputies and their families destroyed in the process. I really have to wonder how those responsible for their behavior can sleep at night. We all watched A particular LAPD sergeant who allowed his men to derail their careers by his participation and inaction as a supervisor. Yep Rodney King , circa 1991. Was Rodney King worth any of it. Hell no.
OK, I’m done . and once again I wish you all well and hope the best for you. Even you, Veritatem.
Look folks , I am certainly no saint and made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions, , but I NEVER intentionally and with a bad heart laid anyone out like has happened in this corruption. As said before ; The view from the bleachers is a lot clearer than on the field of play. It’s also easy for me to voice my opinion openly because I am just a PROUD OLE RETIREE .
I like many have seen better times. This Department has hit “year zero” where it is going to have to shaped and formed into the Agency it once was. Unfortunately, we have suffered from poor leadership at the journeyman levels all the way to the top. What is most irritating is seeing active Department members bite on each other own this blog. Remember folks, this Scab Sheriff is not the answer. Shame on you retirees for stirring he pot. Stay out of active LASD business. Paul Tanaka for Sheriff!!!!!!!!!
We can debate, relate & agitate on this blog. The bottom line is which tan and green is going to be in the run off with Mcdonnel. It’s divide and conquer. While we split hairs about the tan and green, big bad blue will slip right on through (the side door).many of you don’t like tanaka, but you would be foolish to count him out. The Feds will not get him. Any bets? Has the news hit the press with [EDITED BY THE MANAGEMENT WHO IS GETTING EXTREMELY ANNOYED, AND WILL NEXT TIME JUST TRASH THE COMMENT IF YOU PERSIST IN MENTIONING PERSONAL LIVES!] The Feds have weak cases…don’t expect many more.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
NEW RULES: I’ve asked everyone to stay away from disparaging comments about personal appearance. And for the most part, everyone has obliged. Thank you for that. However, this also means height.
Yes, I realize I’ve let height references go by unchallenged in the comments. That was a mistake. It has set a bad standard. So no more of it. Okay?
Okay.
Also, if you spend your whole comment viciously attacking another commenter, or trying to out his or her identity, expect your comment to be trashed.
Scream, yell, carry on, argue (cyberly speaking), but let us stay civil.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
C.
PS: For the record, nearly all of the identity outers get it dead wrong, including the author of the comment I just trashed.
21,
Jack
I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Hence it’s no surprise that I’m a little bit confused by your statement of holes being punched in the Feds. case re: Brown.
It seems cut and dried to me. Does the hiding of Brown not meet the elements of their obstruction charges? The evidence is either there or it isn’t re: the paper trail and documentation of Brown’s name, booking number and charges being changed. If that documentation does exist, I can’t see how that can be refuted. THAT either happened or it didn’t. As far as him being moved around clandestinely and locked down at various facilities under guard by a select group of deps. assigned to the detail, that also seems fairly easy to determine whether or not it actually occurred.
Couple that with the statements both Baca and Tanaka have already given on camera to news reporters, it seems to me a fairly easy case to make.
What am I missing, other than the fact that the Feds. are often incompetent in their investigations? Even with such being the case, if the paper trail and documentation are there, would that not be a smoking gun? The only questions remaining after that would be who ordered it and who participated in it? Again, help a dummy like me out. Is it not a crime to knowingly book somebody under a false name and false charges? Is it not a conspiracy if there were several people knowingly involved? I just can’t see how anything but smoke screens can be used by the defense in order to try and muddy up the waters regarding why it was done or who ordered it. The fact that it WAS done doesn’t seem to be in question so I have trouble seeing how holes could be punched in the Feds. case.
Unless of course, as I asked earlier, the actions taken by the involved parties does not meet the elements of the charges filed.
For better times. stay out of active LASD business. Sheriff Scott… retired LASD, Bob Olmsted… retired LASD……..Neal Tyler. retired LASD.
Seems to me that RETIRED LASD may restire LASD to it’s former self. Doesn’t sound like you’ve been around long enough to know the diference
@Proud Ole Retiree: It’s sure easy to pull your chain. Far be it from me to chastise an “alleged” Chief for bad-mouthing a position on this department. Yeah, I’m the bad guy for pointing that out. Spare me the lecture because you know darn well the “Chief” is wrong! What kind of executive would divulge such personal information on a public website? Wise up.
I look forward to the end of this election so retired guys, et al. can go back to, well, being retired? Please let it go. Consider yourselves dismissed. You can sob and bellyache at the next Retiree Roundup. I heard it’s in Laughlin next year. Yippee! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu6BfV2wpx8
You may want to invest in a copy of The Penguin Dictionary of English Grammar. As YOu previously stated, “You’re not very smart.”
Amazing how people can say what GT should or should not have done,,,you don’t know him,,you were not there,,,you did not work for him,,with him etc etc,,No need to be rude…Last time I checked he isn’t guilty unless proven…
#27…I erred by naming names, however I was not dead wrong. …The truth will be exposed…….SOON!.
C: I agree to the new rules about personal attacks. So, remove 30
Veritatem, Last time I looked this was a PUBLIC site, Not
one limited to the opinions of active LASD members. I’m done . No sense getting into a pissing contest with a skunk,i
#31,
Then why is he not a captain still on the department today? You are right about his criminal case, but spare us the good dude speech.
Just head down to ccb to watch “innocent men” walk out of the courtroom everyday…
Hey, Veritatem, I’m not a retiree, and I’ve been around a while, so hopefully you won’t mind if I weigh in. I’ve observed Retiree in action at several ranks – he doesn’t sign all his posts but he’s signed a few. He was a good cop and outstanding supervisor, I never knew a single person to speak poorly about him and many of us who worked for him thought supervisors don’t come any better. So save your dismissive tone and condescension. Some of us who have been around the block a time or two value the opinions of those who have come before us and are relieved they still care about this Department. Your derision says a lot more about you than it does about any retiree.
Enough already. Thanks for the back up an d know I appreciate it and I had tons of great people to work with.
O’B
..Breaking”924″news will take out “you know who” before any ( if any) indictments take out tanaka. Some fans will be silent as other fans rejoice.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Thin ice.
#32 How SOON is SOON?
All the Minnows have been Scoop up, is it now time for ALL THE BIG FISH TO BE THROWN IN TO THE FRYING PAN?
Please stop giving air time to the wannabe ‘ acting like they support Mr Tanaka… who cares? IIrrelevat. Besides, hard working Deputies aren’t affected by this nonsense. Work hard, shut your mouth, and we won’t have to worry about clowns like PT.
The Sgt Test fiasco is getting better and better. 10-23, we are all about to find out why this test and banded lists were shoved down our throats. I can not figure out why promotions are coming off it since there are numerous red flags surrounding the entire process .
Is anything really fair on this department?
#42, the answer to your question is a big fat NO! Just feel bad for others having to work under supervisors who don’t have knowledge and/or experience.
#43 – And that’s a fact, Jack! Oh, since about 2001 or so. Completely worthless promotees, (about 80% off of each list), which explains department failure in answering to the public as far as professionalism goes…
If you look back at the promotion process you will find that on average many of the executives only had 5 to 7 years on when they made sgt. Probably 3 as a Lt. After that it was all politics. My TO told me years ago, if you want to promote get a high written score. Put the time in and study. There are many excellent deputies that would make outstanding sgts however, they choose not to take or complete the exam process. The department needs those individuals and their knowledge. Don’t complain about supervisors with no experience or knowledge. Become part of the solution and promote.
The whole promotional process is a scam……maybe if the good ol’ boys gave Sue Bowman her just do and left her alone, we wouldn’t be in this situation now. L.A.S.D. screw themselves with arrogance and cockiness. Remember the Narco Majors incident? Pure greed and carelessness!
Truth serum, I agree with you on arrogance. Ask any deputy with a prior department and I’m sure that they would say the same. Hell! Even many that started here say that. FYI we may be the biggest game in town, but not the only game in town. A game changer is past due. One can only rest upon their laurels for so long.