Eileen M. Decker, US Attorney for the Central District of California, announced that retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca pleaded guilty today in federal court to two counts of lying to federal agents investigating allegations of abusive treatment and corruption by deputy sheriffs in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
Baca acknowledged lying about his office’s efforts to hide an LA County jail inmate from the FBI. The plan to hide the inmate, an FBI confidential source, was named Operation Pandora’s Box.
Several of Baca’s former command staff are scheduled to be tried in federal court on related charges.
Addendum on 02-13-2016: Recordings reveal the lies former LA sheriff told prosecutor
It really has become “normal” to expect or suspect police corruption. This article is another eye opener, no wonder the War on Drugs cannot be won. ‘Staggering corruption’: 46 correctional officers charged in years-long drug trafficking sting
Comment by Stebbijo — February 12, 2016 @ 1:36 pm
Stebbijo,
Public corruption exists because the public tolerates it.
The initial crimes which the FBI began investigating at MCJ over five years ago had to do with allegations of county inmates being abused by deputy sheriffs. But beyond that there were also allegations of deputies engaging in widespread unlawful searches of homes, improper detentions and unreasonable force as Antelope Valley authorities conducted a systematic effort to discriminate against African Americans who received low-income subsidized housing.
The public can put a stop to corrupt elected officials including sheriffs, prosecutors, and judges. All we have to do is refuse to tolerate their unlawful behavior and remove them from office. Of course, it’s not that easy. The “legacy” system is in place in Idaho as well as in other states. That system effectively encourages an outgoing official to identify his replacement so his or her party members will dutifully ensure the “legacy” successor is elected.
As long as we continue to send a message to law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges that we expect them to keep us crime-free no matter what measures it takes to do it, some of them will take that as a public license to meet our expectations. Until we stop rewarding elected officials for their corrupt behavior by re-electing them, they will happily bend and break or completely ignore state laws.
At least the Central District of California had/has a US Attorney with the integrity and courage to pursue and prosecute corrupt public officials.
Comment by Bill — February 12, 2016 @ 2:01 pm