There needs to be communication, confidence, and trust between citizens and law enforcement.  These things must be restored. It would be so nice to believe that everyone is always telling the truth, and that there is no ugliness in this world, but do any of us really believe that?  I know it would be nice to pretend that is how it is, but if we try to fool ourselves into believing a lie does that really mean it’s true?

Today’s news – FORMER LASD SHERIFF LEE BACA WILL PLEAD GUILTY (click on links below to read news articles)

Good officers need to be supported by good leadership, when there is corruption, not only do citizens pay, but so do all the good law enforcement officers…and their job is hard enough as it is.  So I applaud our federal agents for stepping in and putting together this case.  I also applaud the U.S. attorney’s office for proceeding with this case, as well as the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs for weighing in with their support.

“Former Sheriff Lee Baca deserves punishment for the charge he pled guilty to today,” said George Hofstetter, President of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. “The plea agreement sends a strong message that no one is above the law. There must be zero tolerance for this type of failed leadership.

Here is a link to the Los Angeles CBS article http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/02/10/former-la-county-sheriff-lee-baca-to-plead-guilty-to-charge-of-lying-to-feds/

Seven former LASD deputies, sergeants and lieutenants were convicted in 2014 for their roles in the operations.  Today it was announced that former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca is to plead guilty in this federal investigation case in which Baca would now be the 18th former member of the department convicted in the case, according to U.S attorney’s spokesman Thom Mrozek.

“Baca’s guilty plea “demonstrates that the illegal behavior in the Sheriff’s Department went to the very top of this organization,” said Eileen Decker, U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, at a news conference Wednesday.. “More importantly, it illustrates that those who foster and then try to hide a corrupt culture will be held accountable.”

FORMER LASD SHERIFF LEE BACA WILL PLEAD GUILTY, ATTORNEY SAYS

http://abc7.com/news/former-lasd-sheriff-lee-baca-will-plead-guilty-attorney-says/1194963/

OPERATION PANDORA’S BOX

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-at-heart-of-sheriff-s-scandal-was-top-secret-operation-pandora-s-box-20160210-story.html

So for anyone that still wants to “pretend” that everything they read in the police reports “has to be true” and that nothing corrupt could ever be going on in law enforcement, I would like you to please know that it does happen, it is not right, and if you truly care about the good officers you will never stand by and pretend corruption does not exist – it does exist, it is illegal, and when it is discovered it must be prosecuted.

Support law enforcement by standing behind those who really do uphold the law in this country, and not behind those who abuse their power.  Because the good officers are the ones that deserve our support, not the power hungry, corrupt individuals, or the weak foot soldiers that follow in order to rise up in the ranks…let us all support truth and justice, not corruption and lies.