Posted on 12/19/2014 7:25:19 PM PST by Half Vast Conspiracy
The arrest this week of two ex-cop private investigators — charged with felonies related to their alleged attempt to frame a Costa Mesa city councilman for a false DUI — is about more than the disturbing tactics of two hired guns. It offers insight into the way some police unions across California intimidate political opponents into silence.
This ugly story starts in 2012. Councilmen Jim Righeimer, Stephen Mensinger and Gary Monahan were loathed by the city’s police union because of their efforts to reduce pension liabilities and outsource services. Costa Mesa had become Ground Zero in our state’s battle over reform, drawing protests reminiscent of the fracas between Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and unions at the capitol in Madison.
A political dispute is one thing, but on August 22 of that year it turned into something the Orange County District Attorney says is a serious criminal matter.
Righeimer left a council meeting and met with Monahan at the latter’s restaurant and bar, drank a couple diet sodas and left. Righeimer got home and went inside his house — but soon had police knocking on his door, asking him to step outside for a DUI test. He was detained for a while, but wasn't drunk.
The police action was prompted by private investigators Chris Lanzillo and Scott Impola, who were working for a law firm that represented more than 120 police unions across California. This included the Costa Mesa Police Officers Association, which retained it to do “candidate research.”
(Excerpt) Read more at utsandiego.com ...
The officers who knocked on the door are in big trouble. They had no authority to do that and he should not have complied.
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“What kind of world do we live in when the people we give guns and badges to hire private investigators to surveil public officials?” asked Righeimer.
These local politicos were attempting to reduce obscene government pensions and were loathed by the city’s police union because of their efforts to reduce those pensions.
This is nothing short of mobster/racketeering style actions.
As long as government employees are backed by union mobsters, were going to have corruption from top to bottom.
Costa Mesa Police Pay Data:
http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?a=costa-mesa&q=police&y=2013
Pretty good for folks with Associates Degrees.
Don’t bet on it.
Riverside Police Detective Scott Alan Impola Charged with Beating
RIVERSIDE: Fired police officer (Chris Lanzillo) gets medical retirement
My instant response would be “I’m making a list and your name is on it.
Now, F.O..
If you have a legitimate reason to pull me from my house them feel free to kick my ass.
DUI is an observable offense and you can just pull out your knee pads or use my door mat”.
Those who detained him are not being charged. It was alleged they saw him exit the vehicle and enter the home after receiving the call. Allegedly they were not part of the scheme.
Those facing charges are the two x-cops turned PI’s who worked for the law firms who had police unions for clients.
It reeks from top to bottom.
Corruption in, corruption out. We’re up to our necks in it.
It’s everywhere, but this happened nearby.
Allegedly. ..
They couldn’t have seen him get out and stop him before he did some real damage...F.A.G.S.
Well the call went out and they responded. Those behind this are the PI x-cops, the law firm and their government employee unions who the law firm represented. That law firm no longer exists BTW.
Just guessing, but it probably wouldn’t have served any purpose to include anyone else in on the operation, such as the guys who got the call and responded.
For those folks: Government unions good, private sector unions bad.
BTW, there are now more unionized government employees than in private sector America.
Then there’s aways guys like this:
Comforting to know he’s interested in killing people with whom he disagrees. Time for a psych evaluation.
Make no mistake, EVERY COP on the Costa Mesa force is and was in on it. THEY HIRED THESES GUYS! The entire force should have been disbanded immediately. FIRE ALL OF THEM and contract with the Sheriff.
Wrong. They’re all unionized and support squashing any plan to reduce their bloated offensive pensions. However in regards to this particular operation scheme of setting up the councilmen, only the PI’s, the corrupt law firm, and some in the corrupt cop union were involved.
I understand how government corruption works and how it’s infected all levels of government.
” FIRE ALL OF THEM and contract with the Sheriff.”
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What would that accomplish?
I live in a state where most people don’t even know who their sheriff is-——and counties are usually unknown too.
.
When San Clemente disbanded their P.D., most of the cops ended up getting hired on by the Sheriff’s Dept. Thank you.
Here in Orange County, many cities, contract with the Sheriff’s Dept. Thank you.
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