O.C. Sheriff Michael S. Carona
(Robert Lachman/LAT)
Posted on 05/26/2005 3:08:34 AM PDT by bd476
Friends, relatives were also among the 86 who received badges, even though some lacked training. Carona says there was no public risk.
Shortly after he took office, Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona and one of his top assistants deputized 86 friends, relatives, political contributors and others, giving them badges, powers of arrest and in some cases guns — despite the fact that none had background investigations and some had not been fully trained.
Three years later, the state's Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training removed all 86 of the reserve deputies from California's peace officer database, which meant the commission no longer recognized them as peace officers. Even so, 56 still have their badges and identification cards, and 14 have concealed weapons permits.
A commission executive said he knows of no other case in which reserves have been removed from the database. The commission does not have the power to force a police agency to comply with its rules, but it can decertify a reserve program — a step that would jeopardize the program's funding and credibility.
A Sheriff's Department audit, which is continuing, has determined that six of the volunteer deputies were performing police duties. Department officials ordered the six to stop performing police duties until background and training questions were resolved. The department had issued guns to four of the six, who have since returned the weapons.
In an e-mail responding to questions from The Times, Carona denied wrongdoing and said there was no public risk in allowing the reserve deputies to keep their badges. He said the appointments were not political favors, but acknowledged the group of reserve deputies included supporters, friends and family. Carona said he expected all of the reserve deputies to fulfill their duties.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Ping.
Getting hit from all sides:
http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/05/38/features-moxley.php
FEATURES Vol. 10 No. 38 May 27 - Jun. 2, 2005
Internal Affairs
Orange County’s sheriff and his top deputy planned a dynasty but sex and money got in the way
state's Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training removed all 86 of the reserve deputies from California's peace officer database, which meant the commission no longer recognized them as peace officers.
So far, POST seems more credible than Carona.
True.
LA Times wrote this article so maybe we're not hearing the entire story.
However, it's pretty ugly if the report is accurate.
Thanks for the link, Calcowgirl. I read about 1/3 way down before I was too angry to read further.
Funny, the LA TIMES didnt report that LAPD Chief Willie Williams couldn't pass the POST exams.
My, my! Ready to believe that the LA Times would report these old, tired charges completely and without bias? The Orange County Register has been keeping 'America's Sheriff' (according to "W"), under a microscope for years. The better his departments' record, re gang policing, budget keeping, etc., and the more the CA GOP thinks he may be a candidate for higher office - the more the press smears.
I know it hasn't been uncommon for their to be made lower tier deputies out of donors. That is just one of the ways that the departments can make money.
Usually though, the person donating wanted to be a deputy and went through some training in everything from hand to hand to shooting.
I don't know why or how badges got out there without service or training, THAT is the big issue in the story for me, not the donors bit.
If they use donors to fill their education or fund for the families of deceased officers, I'm not going to complain.
Thanks for the ping....
In this case? I think because Carona's so conservative, he's taking hits.
Just my opinion, of course, just from one Grammie who would vote for him if he ran for King of the World. :)
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