FORMER LA OFFICERS SUE SHERIFF’S DEPT OVER PERSONAL RECORDS LEAKED TO LA TIMES INVESTIGATION
When the LA County Office of Public Safety was disbanded and absorbed the the sheriff’s department in 2010, OPS employees were authorized to apply for positions within the LASD. The sheriff’s dept. took on 280 from more than 400 applicants.
In December 2013, we pointed to an LA Times investigation that found an alarming number of those hired were previously rejected by other law enforcement agencies (or terminations), had been disciplined for serious misconduct, or had other troubling histories.
Now, a number of those singled out in the report are suing the sheriff’s department for leaking their names and confidential records to the LA Times. The plaintiffs say county officials know the identity of the employee who slipped the records to the Times, and have not held the person accountable.
Courthouse News Service’s Matt Reynolds has the story. Here’s a clip:
Named as problem applicants in the story were David F. McDonald, Ferdinand C. Salgado, Linda D. Bonner, and Niles L. Rose, all of whom were hired as jailers. They are among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed this week.
The officers claim that with the help of county or Sheriff’s Department officials an unidentified county of department employee leaked their confidential records to the Times.
Calling the dim view of the Office of Public Safety “widespread and epidemic,” the officers say it is “no secret” that Sheriff’s Department officials treat them with disdain.
After the Office of Public Safety was shut down to cut costs in 2010, its officers were allowed to apply for transfers to the Sheriff’s Department.
In late 2013, the Times published a series of articles highlighting 280 of the 400 applicants to the department.
A Dec. 2, 2013 article was headlined: “Sheriff’s Department Hired Officers With Histories of Misconduct.”
The Times reported that 188 officers had been rejected for other law enforcement jobs; 29 successful applicants had been fired or asked to resign from their previous jobs; and 15 officers had attempted to manipulate the county polygraph examinations.
Others had been disciplined or had or exhibited signs of dishonesty, the Times reported.
A PRISON REFORM ADVOCATE’S JOURNEY FROM HEROINE ADDICTED PRISONER TO CORNELL GRADUATE
Writing for the Washington Post, Keri Blakinger, shares her story of rising up from a heroin addiction and years in prison to become a graduate of Cornell University. And Blakinger believes that the reason she was able to, relatively easily, reenter her community and return to her Ivy League school was because she is white. Here’s how it opens:
I was a senior at Cornell University when I was arrested for heroin possession. As an addict — a condition that began during a deep depression — I was muddling my way through classes and doing many things I would come to regret, including selling drugs to pay for my own habit. I even began dating a man with big-time drug connections that put me around large amounts of heroin. When police arrested me in 2010, I was carrying six ounces, an amount they valued at $50,000 — enough to put me in prison for up to 10 years. Cornell suspended me indefinitely and banned me from campus. I had descended from a Dean’s List student to a felon.
But instead of a decade behind bars and a life grasping for the puny opportunities America affords some ex-convicts, I got a second chance. In a plea deal, I received a sentence of 2½ years. After leaving prison, I soon got a job as a reporter at a local newspaper. Then Cornell allowed me to start taking classes again, and I graduated last month. What made my quick rebound possible?
I am white.
Second chances don’t come easily to people of color in the United States. But when you are white, society offers routes to rebuild your life. When found guilty of a drug crime, white people receive shorter sentences than black people. And even after prison, white men fare better in the job market than black men with identical criminal records.
It was prison that clued me in to just how much I benefit from systemic racism in our society. Until then, I hadn’t thought much about white privilege, which is exactly how privilege works – as a white person, I could ignore it. But sitting behind bars, I saw how privilege touches almost everything, especially the penal system.
JAILING LOW-LEVEL FELONS FOR DRUG POSSESSION PAROLE VIOLATIONS GOES AGAINST 3 STRIKES LAW
California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal has overturned a portion of California’s realignment law (AB 109) that sends former felons under county probation to jail for drug possession. According to the court ruling, this provision was in violation of California’s Three Strikes Law, Prop. 36, which says that non-serious drug offenders can be placed in treatment instead of lock-up.
The SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko has more on the court’s decision. Here’s a clip:
Tuesday’s decision by the Fourth District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana does not affect the central provision of that “realignment” law, which sends lower-level felons to county jail rather than state prison. But the ruling, if it stands, would overturn a section of the law that allows some former inmates to be returned to jail for drug use.
Felons whose crimes were not classified as violent or sex offenses are now placed on local probation supervision rather than state parole after their sentences, and can be jailed for up to six months for violating the terms of their release. But the court said a 2000 ballot measure, Proposition 36, entitles nonviolent drug offenders to be placed in treatment rather than confinement, unless they have been shown to pose a danger to the public.
Prop. 36 can be amended only by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature, the court said.
“The Legislature cannot evade Proposition 36’s amendment requirements simply by passing legislation that purports to pare down the proposition’s coverage,” said Justice Raymond Ikola in the 3-0 ruling.
FURTHER READING (AND LISTENING) ON BUILDING STRONG BONDS BETWEEN COPS AND COMMUNITIES
Frank Stoltze has a good recap of the diverse opinions voiced at a KPCC panel moderated by Air Talk‘s Larry Mantle on the state of police-community relations and how to improve them.
Mantle’s panel included Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna and other law enforcement officers, policy analyst Francisco Ortega, Robert Cristo of the Youth Justice Coalition, among others. (You can listen to the whole forum, here.)
Here are some clips from Stoltze’s accompanying story:
[LBPD Chief] Luna urged people to cooperate with police, even if they are mistreating you. “If you get into a negative encounter with a police officer, don’t fight or resist. Do exactly what they are telling you to do.”
File a complaint later, he said.
Henderson and Cristo said they wouldn’t trust police to discipline an officer involved in misconduct. Henderson also wondered why the burden rests with residents to submit to an officer’s demands, even if they are unreasonable. “Shouldn’t police empathize with me?”
Repeated interactions with criminals, particularly in South LA, can affect an officer’s attitude, said LAPD Lt. Al Labrada, who works in the community relations section of the department.
“You become involved in so much of the violence that occurs around you, you tend to have a negative perception of a lot of things,” he said. “For officers working in South LA, it’s sometimes not healthy.”
Labrada said that’s one reason he left the area after working there 14 years, including eight years as a gang sergeant.
“We have a long way to go” in building trust, he said. “But we also need to look at the fact (that) officers are making progress.” Labrada pointed to community policing programs in Watts as an example.
AND IN OTHER LA LAW ENFORCEMENT-RELATED NEWS…
In response to a report from LASD Inspector General Max Huntsman on transparency within the Sheriff’s Dept. in comparison to other law enforcement agencies, the LAPD has updated its annual use of force and officer discipline reports on the department website.
The LA Times’ Cindy Chang has the story. Here’s a clip:
The report by Inspector General Max Huntsman focused on transparency issues with the sheriff’s department, analyzing other agencies’ practices for comparison. Huntsman noted that the LAPD posts annual use of force reports and quarterly discipline reports on its website, whereas the sheriff’s department does not.
But the LAPD’s information was not current, Huntsman wrote. Only the 2009 and 2010 Annual Use of Force Reports were posted, and the quarterly discipline reports stopped in 2012.
Cmdr. Andrew Smith, an LAPD spokesman, said the lapses were not intentional, and the department would be posting the latest reports.
As of midday Thursday, the quarterly discipline reports, which include the number of complaints against officers, the types of allegations and the penalties imposed, had been updated through 2013.
In addition to the leak at the Los Angeles Times, the computers of ALADS Counsel was hacked and deputies personal information was compromised.
Deputies are still unaware of this. Where is the transparency ALADS?
So who leaked the info and where are they now?
Kudos to the former OPS who are now Deputy Sheriffs. Prior to coming through the transition to LASD, Ex-President of ALADS (floyd hayhurst) slandered and berated OPS.
The votes of the former OPS (now deputies) was the main reason for his reduction to secretary on the ALADS Board of Directors in 2013, prior to him quitting.(Thx to votes & unstable Steck)
I commend them for seeking a law firm outside of Dick Shinee. Hopefully factions in LASD will one day cease and the number of haters decrease.
Sheriff Baca wanted the budget from their department and nothing more. it all backfired. The majority of the officers should have not been hired. Their department was a dropping ground for problem officers. they were pathetic as officers and nothing more. there are a few that could hold their own. LASD would send a Sgt. on loan to be their chief. they should be happy they had a job. some of the Sgts and Lts couldn’t make a decision if their life dependent on that decision and I had the opportunity to work with the department. this is one of the main reason why LASD will not merge with any department.
@ 2
What is funny is the same thing you said, could be said for LASD. Majority of LASD could not pass a second background & polygraph if their life depended on it. Hell, most of the deputies that give the polygraphs and do the backgrounds could not pass their own process a second go around. You are talking about years of law enforcement service and things happen, situations happen so don’t sit hear and act like LASD is the cream of the crop and has a great deal of integrity because the world knows different. Just check you news clippings over the last several years.
2006 LASD was a dropping ground for problem deputies in LASD. Many surfaced during the OPS merger process with convictions for smuggling drugs in the jail, insurance faud, gang affiliation and a numerous amount of other crimes and misconduct.
This was close to the time that Baca and Tanka needed to start gearing up for the next Sheriff campaign. And then out of nowhere comes the federal investigations (not into OPS but into LASD personnel).
All of this negative press is bad for business, so LASD most find a fall guy for all these problems, right? So let’s release confidential background to the media to say OPS is the problem for all of LASD recent bad misfortune. If some OPS Officers was not up to standard then don’t hire them, for those that cleared background then let them work, it was that simple. Why does the public need to see OPS backgrounds? That is still a negative reflection on LASD, because whatever the issue is/was should be handled internal, not through LA Times, unless this will be a standard for all applicants.
@ 2 I do agree not everyone at OPS should have been a law enforcement officer but I also agree that is the case with LASD. It is a fact that LASD has hired unqualified deputies well before OPS merger under the umbrella of “friends of the Sheriff” program. The mass hiring in 2006 and probably several other times I not aware of. These things happen to all law enforcement agencys, some applicants slip through the cracks. Some applicants start their careers on the straight and narrow and then turn corrupt at some point. That is way you shouldn’t be to cocky, because if the feds made every LASD personnel summit to a federal background to continue service a lot of personnel would be jobless courtesy of Tanaka’s working in the Grey area.
OPS has worked with LASD and booked in their jails for many years before the merger. So don’t forget, OPS knows deputies just as well. And a lot of deputies should be so lucky you have a job as well because “some” of you have no clue about officer safety, tactics, investigating, the law in general, report writing, cultural diversity, how to speak to people…
Correct me if I am wrong, isn’t it LASD that is all in the news about unqualified promotions and a scandal with the promotional test and process? Isn’t it LASD that is costing the County tax payers millions in civil litigation/settlements? Isn’t it LASD personnel that have been accused of federal civil rights violations in Lancaster/Pamdale? Isn’t it LASD personnel that has been recently federally convicted of obstruction? Isn’t it LASD personnel that had their Sheriff & UnderSheriff forcefully resign and possible federal indictments could be pending? It is LASD personnel that has approx. 18 pending indictments waiting for trial and counting? Isn’t LASD that was giving out deputy badges to untrained/unqualified wealthy civilians that was friends of the Sheriff.
Everybody knows the City of Compton, and recently the City of Maywood that merged into LASD had some very questionable officers and the cities was dealing with corruption. Yet Compton & Maywood officers never had their backgrounds released publicly or had to deal with anything that OPS had to deal with merging into LASD.
@ 2 Some OPS Officers liked working specialized law enforcement, where educated with undergrad and graduate degrees. It was much easier to receive training and a lot of OPS officer received federal training and other additional training. Instead of hating and generalizing maybe you should actually get to know some deputies from OPS and judge them on a case by case bases.
One more thing @ 2, Cities like Pomona, County Probation and others fought tooth and nail to reject a LASD merge mostly because they used OPS merge as an example.
They are most likely aware of all the lies LASD told during the merger, fake promises, union back door deals, lack of actual plan and the suicides and death cause by loss of careers. LASD just winged the OPS merger. What other City wants to put their employees through the same process?
Once again the arrogance and mindset of many deputies with the “Greater than Thou” attitude continues to divide LASD. Granted, some OPS Officers were not worthy of employment as deputies, the same can be said about originally hired deputies.
From “Petty thefts to Murder” is a fact of matter concerning “original” deputies.
Every merger into LASD has never been fully accepted by “Shit Talking” deputies Ask any former sworn officer from Lynwood P.D., L.A.County Deputy Marshalls, MTA P.D., Compton P.D., L.A. College P.D. & OPS. To the naysayers & shit talkers…..Yes “your shit does stink”
@ Mirror: Your response was geared towards “oh really” (#4) who was actually #2 last night. Either way……you were On Point with the truth.
Mirror, you have me confused with someone else. All I asked was who released the info to the press, and where are they now (promoted, coin holder, etc)?
The article stated the Plaintiff’s knew who the culprits are for their lawsuit, I just wanted to know who are the leakers.
@ Wall Fly: Good observation.
It is also a fact that Hayhurst (Tanaka Coin Holder) was banking on becoming the Executive Director. Even with his minions, he was exposed and had to hasten his departure when ALADS slowly & reluctantly backed McDonnell.
Floyd was on the Board at the time but was not at the press release/photo with McDonnell @ ALADS Headquarters (No coincidence). ALADS still has not changed……Look at the current line up of ALADS Board of Directors. Ironically, ALADS still has it’s “Original Cast of Excutives” from the early 1980’s. Bud Treece, Dick $hinee and Les Robbins. Why are these individuals still around? I’ll let you figure that out. Clue: It is not “Gratis or Pro Bono”
@ 7 my statement was long winded but you took the words right out of my mouth and got straight to the point!
Sachamoe my comment was direct at really. The post # changed… My bad for the confusion.
The slow dragging feet of I.A./ICB along with ALADS definitely appear to be suspect. It’s going to cost the Sheriff’s Department millions. The ship has been righted with McDonnell and his first assignment is damage control.
Every time LASD try to hide things, it always blows up in their face, slowly but ever so surely, Karma is “Kicking Ass” and exposing names.
Payback and Paychecks will calm the waters in the Sheriff’s Department.
@ Factoid. It was very obvious that ALADS was late in the process of endorsing Jim McDonnell. Your statement added credence to that.
It doesn’t take a detective to figure out that under Hayhurst’s schemes, they were hoping for a “Hail Mary” pass to endorse the “Little Man”.
The ending is now history.
Thank god the convicted Deps are still out. My heart goes out to them. Again, a bunch of individuals choose to condemn these people. At one time I wanted to leave this liberal State and work NYPD. 30 years later, I regret I didn’t. A reminder to all those line personnel blogging on here, the idiots that claim to be current or former management were/are part of the problem. Being a line person for 30 years, you get a different perspective in regards to management. You see all the backstabbing, camp jumping, and all the lies. Note to line folks, this is not the LASD I once, knew. We are in no way family. Management has made sure of this. Don’t be afraid to stand up to them. They are only men/women who probably have less experience than the average FTO.
@Wall Fly: that’s the problem with blogs and hiding behind anonymous names, people think they can make up their own facts. How did the “OPS vote” help get Hayhurst reduced to Secretary? Only the Directors vote for the Executive Officer positions, and last I checked there were no OPS laterals on the Board. And referencing “Jeff Steck” as unstable is a low blow, like him or not his vote started the pendulum swinging towards the demise of Hayhurst.
@Factoid: “ALADS still has not changed!” Really, they are far from perfect, but at least somewhat headed in the right direction. What are you doing to help, besides criticizing from the cheap seats. I’ve been watching some seasoned guys pushing things in the right direction, but as always, no one else seems to want to get involved. Everyone is “too busy” to help, but apparently not to busy to take pot shots from their home computers. This is a perfect spot for the adage “put up or shut up!”
ALADS is still not perfect but with newleadership, I believe they are on their way. The culture of our department is poison. Although Tanaka did not create this culture, he took it to a new level. People ingrained in this cultue feel threatened by others who do not agree with this culture. Jeff Steck DOES NOT agree with this culture.
And like Huh said, put up or shut up. If you don’t like what ALADS is doing, get involved!
@ Huh 》Get your pen & notebook. The top vote getter received the majority of votes from former OPS guys. Do your homework. Steck was the swing vote.( it was not a coincidence)for the new president. Floyd’s world was rocked. Floyd stated shortly after,that Steve Remige had discrepancies and would not have his contract renewed(as director )without naming a new one. Really? Then Floyd tried to spin it on the new President. Steck blew Floyds cover at next rep meeting and Floyd lost it. Steck is a known flip flopper. I can go on and on…ie: Floyd’s no-show at awards dinner in June. Once again,no coincidence. If you need more, put the kool-aid away. BTW……I attend the rep meetings. Seasoned guys? They are not in ALADS!
@ O’Lordy. Unless someone is stealing your lines along with your thunder, I’ve read your same passage twice before in December 2014.
When you change names you should change subjects. I’m just saying.
To Huh…..Your cheerleading for ALADS is making you look foolish. Luckily for you, that you also use an anonymous name on this blog.
When the Marshalls merged with the LASD, many individuals bad mouthed them. But I’m here to tell you that I never worked with a more professional, courteous and friendly group of individuals. They they made LASD deputies look like a bunch of “country folk.”
@ 16. I will tell you one thing….. which is that Steck was not alone(on the board of directors) to dethrone Floyd. The bottom line is that Floyd will never show his face other than “Raging Waters”. He was “Cancer” to ALADS
For the ALADS cheerleaders still out there, if those who are currently on the board want to claim they have fixed their corrupt ways, the task is very straight forward:
1. Open up the vote for ALADS president to ALL members, not just the board of directors. There is too much manipulation by a handful of people, and they (you) have zero credibility at this point. Let the membership decide, after all isn’t it supposed to be about them?
2. End the lame requirements for running for a director seat. That was designed specifically to thwart hostile takeovers LASPA-style and defend corrupt incumbents. The continuation of this policy is prime evidence of continued corruption. Why are ALADS directors so afraid of democracy?
3. Fire Les Robbins, Dick Shinee, and Bud Treece immediately. They are directly responsible for placing ALADS in the path and reputation they currently suffer.
Any ALADS cheerleader or current board member is more than welcome to offer their rebuttal, but please spare us all the unique knowledge, experience, and value these three bring to the table. They are the trifecta of sleaze, and a guarantee ALADS will remain corrupt, dysfunctional, and a disservice to the hard working men and women who suffer under their representation.
Steck (the wreck) was initially backing Macias, then caught backlash from ALADS Reps. He then conspired and lied to appease Floyd for being hachet man to take him out. Floyds quest for Executive Director still failed.
STECK had no “STONES” to address Floyd. When Floyd had no options, he quit. If you knew Hayhurst, he was not one to quit. STECK still walks lightly around current board, with at least 4 of them still connected to Floyd. Time tells all and eventually All will see. He switched from Macias to Floyd to himself.
@”Wall Fly” and “Factoid”: I’m going to make the same proposal I made to past bloggers during the Sheriff’s Election who felt they could make up their own facts. This is not for a confrontation, but out of frustration of bloggers misconstruing information. I will give Celeste permission to post my real name, if you guys will do the same. And before anyone accuses me of looking for a “parking lot confrontation,” this would be merely to let the rest of the bloggers learn true information from someone who is “really” trying to help fix ALADS and the guys who pass on bad info.
I am far from being an ALADS cheer leader, but you can’t fix a 25 plus year mess, over night. As far as the top vote getter getting the majority of the votes from OPS, what does that have to do with who was elected President. The Directors decide, and yes Jeff Steck was the swing vote because my understanding is he voted for what he thought was the lesser of two evils. As far as him ending up as President, that is a whole different long story.
So waht do you think, “Factoid,” “Wall Fly.” I’ve seen the Reps who are actually trying to fix things and I’d be surprised if either of you are one of them.
@LATBG: Your statement describing ALADS is the Truth & nothing but the Truth. Beginning with Steck, whom I might add, is a lateral from Riverside County S.D., who knows it all but does not know the past, or current dynamics of ALADS. He has to put up or shut up. He will not “pull the trigger” for change.
The founders of LASPA (former ALADS) saw the light and got the bum rush. Former long time Director and short time ALADS President Macias received the same wrath. The ALADS Rep.meetings are pretty much cult-like, reminiscent of “The Church of Scientology” The strong arm tactics that they use on recruits in the Sheriff Academy is perjury at best. One day the members will wonder and question ALADS and demand change or forever be HOODWINKED.
@ 23. LATBG……Good Call. That is definitely the exact format for change at ALADS beginning with the usual suspects. Treece, Shinee & Robbins.
You are the first person outside of Attorneys to recognize the evil empire of ALADS.
No other Police or Sheriff Association( In Amerca)on a large level, operates and is as Dysfunctional as ALADS.
@23. LATBG: TO RECOGNIZE IT WITH THE ORDER OF STEPS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
With all of the shenanigans with Alads, hopefully WLA will be somewhat instrumental in exposing Alads ala the way it help exposed the “Culture of Corruption” @ LASD.
@LATBG: My rebuttal;
Regarding your #1, good idea with a slight adjustment. If you are going to take the Executive Officers vote away from the board, then maybe have the Unit Reps Vote on them. You can’t have the meager 10-12% membership that bothers to vote make this decision as they are barely involved and don’t know the shenanigans some of these Directors try to pull. That would also have Directors spending more time campaigning instead of “learning” to work for the Deputies.
Regarding your #2, absolutely, and this has already been brought up, but will require a Bylaws change.
Regarding your #3, YES, YES and YES, but they are deeply entrenched and it will be a battle. I’d like to try, but it will take more membership involvement to get it done.
Are you listening ALADS members? There’s a lot at stake!
@ 30 Change at ALADS should begin from the inside from a Board of Directors that has balls, along with reps who aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions that require straight answers.
You know how the meetings go, free speech or talk of change will immediately spook all of the robots there.
You sound like you could be a catalyst for change, however it is a fact that it’s going to take cooperation from the masses. I agree with your response to LATBG and I totally agree with him.
@ LATBG: Re: ALADS….For the remainder of my time at LASD, I (and any deputy who has a functional brain) will remember your post addressing the steps to CORRECT ALADS.
Any unit, company or department is only as good as the individuals who lead and run it.
Until those issues at ALADS are truly addressed coupled with correction, they will Never has a positive impact with the deputies who they are supposed to represent.
Not to mention, that ALADS is a multi million dollar organization, thanks to the dues of the deputies.
Huh! you bring up a great point re: member apathy. My guess is that if you fix the mess at the top then you will have increased membership involvement, trust in the organization, and all the good things that flow from that.
The effectiveness of ALADS as a viable employee organization is a ship that sailed a long time ago, and with it the ability to competently engage in contract negotiations with the County. Every single ALADS director should take a hard look in the mirror and ask themselves the question: “Why am I here?”
Speaking of Bylaws………https://badbadalads.wordpress.com/
Witness LA access is back on LASD computers. I wonder what exec made it happen?
@LATBG: What came first the chicken or the egg? What came first the apathy or the failing quality of ALADS? I’m not absolutely sure of the answer to either question, but what I do know is that hard working Deps don’t have time to get deeply involved, which I’m sure you’ll agree. But how long does it take someone to drop a ballot in the mail. 10-12% ballot return is pretty much across the board from voting for Directors, Captain ratings, to Sheriff Candidate backing. The fact of the matter is Deputies are part of the voting public and thus act like the voting public. No one gets involved until something hits home, which is one of my biggest frustrations.
I heard a story/rumor about a Rep who threatened to rally the Deps against the board and that is why Hayhurst quit and the board started paying attention. Can anyone confirm this? Something caused a “shack up!”
Let’s be real and let it go. Floyd quit because he was Not going to be “Executive Director”. What don’t you get? Even though Steck tried to distance himself from Floyd, he also is still guilty of “prior documented acts and lies”
I shake my head at the gullible goofs who soak up every piece of promises and propaganda at the rep meetings.
Someone should sue ALADS. Maybe that will wake them up. Trust me on this………Just like Pandora’s Box, in the Sheriff’s Department, ALADS will implode. It’s just a matter of time, I guarantee it.
@ Frank Murphy: Thanks for letting the world know, that deputies use County computers to access “Outdide Websites” on the County’s time & dime….. Charming.
@Inside Source: “Someone should sue ALADS?” So you seem to have all the answers, so why don’t you sue them?
😉
@ Huh……..I already have.
Huh: Keep reading #20.
Hopefully it will break you out of your “Denial Trance”
Oops, the world didn’t know already that Deputies, Police Officers, firefighters, and all other private sector employees look at “”Outdide Websites”” on company time. Oops.
Nothing new or Inside source, are you a former disgraced ALADS President?
@Frank: I had no rank in ALADS. Just a newly promoted Sgt who saw the B.S. in ALADS, particularly at the rep meetings. Thank God for promotion. You must be a part of the flock. Baaah Baaah
@Tired Already: What “Denial Trance” is that. I believe most of my posts indicate “I know” ALADS is a mess. What bothers me is the amount of people who complain and talk smack, but never do anything to fix things or help.
Well, I guess I am in a little bit of a trance, due to the amount incompetent posts, on this blog, that have no substance! But, that’s par for the course, I’ve been around long enough to see plenty of guys like yourself, talking smack to mask their incompetence. If I’m mistaken in my assesment of you, then I apologize ahead of time. But, if you want to contribute some substance to this conversation, please offer some facts instead of trying to offend me.
So let me clarify, once again, I am far from being blind to ALADS past shenanigans and some they are still pulling, but I believe there are people that are trying to check them. There isn’t enough membership involvement.
@Inside Source: I’m a little confused you originally said, “someone should sue ALADS” and then when I called you task, you said you already did! So did it work? What was the outcome.
You ALADS sympathizers are clueless & pathetic.
@ Huh. My case was settled and now I’m a Sgt
@Happy @LASPA: I consider myself open minded, so please enlighten me. What has LASPA done that would give me a reason to give up what I have invested in ALADS, instead of staying and try to help fix it.
Did they recently defend someone who didn’t deserve to be fired, and get their job back? Did they help a Deputy who was wronged by the Coveted testing procedure? Have they found a way to get us a better contract? Have they stopped supervisors from violating policy when dealing with Deps. Because if they have they should be putting those stories out there, since they’re suppose to be a better choice.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying ALADS has done a good job at any of those things either, but you wouldn’t knowingly lateral to a smaller Police Dept that has these same problems, just because you’re frustrated with ours, or would you!
To sum things up………Good call & good luck to former OPS (now deputies)in their lawsuit against Los Angeles County.
LATBG: Your analogy of cleaning ALADS is priceless. Hopefully deputies will one day, see the light and demand change. Other than that, the only way to exit ALADS is…..1) Promotion
2) Death
3) Retirement
Back in the day when ALADS was rallying the troops for closed shop status, many predicted they would become crooked and dysfunctional just like every other union with closed shop status.
Sadly, their predictions have come true.
Mandated membership is never a good idea. It fosters an attitude of arrogance and complacency among the leadership. They don’t have to perform to keep the money rolling in and they don’t have to keep the membership happy. Definitely not a formula for a motivated, customer service oriented organization.
@ 51 Your statement is another fact that is either “not known” or ignored by membership.
Another unknown fact is that some deputies would flip if they knew that the highest paid secretary at Alads, makes more than a top step deputy with tenure. ($7,500.00.)
Don’t take my word……Ask that hard question at a Rep.meeting. The kicker is that her salary is paid by deputies whose ass is “on the line” & in the “line of fire” every day.
Monthly salary of $7,500.00
@52
I know, believe me I know, just how much heat you will take when you ask the hard questions or point out the elephant in the room. Sometimes the questions don’t even have to be hard to piss people off. The mere fact that you’re questioning them gets their chonies in a bunch. That’s when you know they’re full of shit, because they know what they’re saying won’t hold up under any questioning at all, much less the hard ones.