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 ...
Thanks.
.
Certainly !
After this story broke in 2012, many unions dumped the firm (including Costa Mesa’s), but they long relished its approach.
...
The law firm behind this incident is now out of business.
Pretty good for folks with Associates Degrees.
...
Some police departments require bachelors degrees. Others probably require none at all.
I looked up the specifics for this department. It’s not quite an Associates.
This is incredible.
Police intimidating elected officials?
Should have mandatory 50 year sentences. Rips at the very fabric of our society.
Government employees with Civil Service protections don’t need Unions. If they have personnel issues they can take it up with their employers...the very elected people they were trying to frame here.
California used to have elected Police Chiefs, but that ended in the 30’s and 40’s, to prevent corruption. They report to their elected City Councils.
That the police could engage in extortion means the entire Union should be dismantled and the leadership jailed...for a long, long time.
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