HESPERIA • For one Hesperia family, the Christmas spirit is alive an well. After a real-life Grinch made off with the family’s Christmas gifts Friday night, several people, including Hesperia San Bernardino County Sheriff’s station deputies and SuperTarget officials, came together to make sure the family had a happy holiday.

“It was great to see people come together,” said Sgt. Doug Hubbard on Christmas Eve.

On Friday night, deputies Jeff Woulfe and Scott LaFond were called out to the 11300 block of Balsam Avenue for a burglary call. Several witnesses reported seeing a man leaving the home carrying several bags, according to a news release. The man left the area in a 1990s light blue Honda with a dent on the fender.

What the man was carrying was the family’s Christmas gifts including a PS3 console, DVD movies, toys and all of the mother’s jewelry, officials said.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Then of course, there is this story:  Bad Cops  I noted that once the DR Nos. were provided , ya’ll shut up very quickly.  I wonder what the Sheriff’s brass would find if the did a search of how many personnel looked up those DRs.  So far, after reading the reports not a single person has come in here to say all the cops involved did a great job, they are heroes and we should cut them some slack, or that we are making something out of nothing despite the fact that someone lost his life possibly due to shoddy cop work.  So where are all the naysayers?  We are waiting for you to defend your brothers.

We know they are too busy as evidenced by the 30 or so firms they contract their work out of because they are so overworked up there.  Or are they?

We hear that Ruthie is on contract.  We assumed it was contract with San Bernardino County.  But now we have the ”no duh” decision in Iowa where a city, obviously based on crack(ed) legal advice, force a disabled man to give up his service dog because of breed-specific legislation.  Needless to say, today a federal judge issued a temporary injunction against the city.  Did we mention “no duh”?

Yes, either Ruthie or one of her protégés must be on contract in Iowa.  We refuse to believe there are attorneys outside of San Bernardino County so ignorant of the ADA and other federal civil rights protections.  So which one of our crack(ed) legal team provided Arelia, Iowa with such stellar legal advice?

So, imagine my surprise when I’m sitting in a depo for my other case against the county, and the county’s very highly paid attorney they flew in from Oakland just to handle my case hands me a set of papers that included a memo I wrote about a supervisor who was violating Title VII. The county has told me right along that my accusations were unfounded and “all in your head” despite numerous witnesses. Attached to the top of that memo was an HR memo showing that supervisor was in fact suspended for two days over some of the accusations. Oooops. Not only did it prove that HROs are the lying bastards we all know they are, but it also proved that HROs violate confidentiality rules that the rest of us would be fired over. And yes, since it was an exhibit, I have a copy of it. Should I publish it? Would everyone like to know which TAD supervisor was given time off?  I bet the supervisor would like a chance to sue the county too.

Oh by the way, this is the same brilliant attorney who is handling Mark Uffer’s case.  Can you say settlement?

If you read all of the story below, you will see an employer out of control.  San Bernardino County is no different.  Exactly what happened below could, and probably has, happened in San Bernardino County many times over.  It is California’s Most Corrupt County.

And while the company denied any wrong doing, the Detroit office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) agreed with James White and his attorneys that there was reasonable cause to believe the dental company with clinics in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Connecticut, Virginia and Massachusetts had unlawfully discriminated against White.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

If true, what does this say about Greg Devereaux and the BOS in relationship to them imposing a contract on rank-and-file specialized peace officers?  We hear the CAO/BOS intends to do the very same thing to Safety next year.  Would I be the only one appalled by such an action, if this is accurate?

Jorge Adrian Gonzalez was caught on video tape in an armed robbery early last year.  He was ID’d before detectives arrived.  It was determined he was a hit man for the Mexican Mafia.  It was also determined he returned to the Los Angeles area.

Detectives went to Los Angeles to track Gonzalez down and make an arrest.  However, while down there they were told by then-Lieutenant Hubert that overtime was not authorized and they needed to return back to the Victor Valley.  Los Angeles authorities were not notified of the situation nor was the SBSD gang unit or other appropriate divisions.  NO ONE was notified.  No warrant was requested or entered into the system.  Absolutely nothing was done.  Until . . .

A couple of weeks late Gonzalez returned.   This time he committed a murder—that of Nelson Mendoza.  Now, the story does not say this nor can it be proven, but it is believed that the murder was not a sudden spur of a moment killing but rather a planned hit.   However, by that time there were a lot of tracks to be covered.  Had the original cops been allowed to do their job, or followed up after they were pulled back, there is a good chance Gonzalez would have been in custody instead.   (BTW, before all the naysayers start in, I have access to all of the DRs on this one.)

Now can my long-time readers guess what I am about to write?  Of course you can.  The cops involved in this case are all among the chosen few.  Can you say coverup once again?

Monday, November 28, 2011 2:38 PM PST

NEEDLES – A little more than a year after joining the local hospital Mark Uffer, chief executive officer for Colorado River Medical Center, will be stepping back into a consultant type role. Uffer said that will likely happen after the hospital board meeting scheduled for Dec. 1. He recommended the board approve having Dr. Frank Comunale step in as the interim CEO.

Comunale was introduced at the Nov. 3 meeting to develop a collaboration with San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. He was also contracted to seek grants for rural health services and provide a level of physician oversight at the hospital.

Uffer said he notified hospital board president Jeff Williams and board member Terri Anderson Nov. 7. He then notified hospital employees the week of Nov. 14 of his plans. While his contract allowed either him or the board to give a 24-hour notice of termination of employment, he said he’s given the board about a month’s notice.

Uffer said he doesn’t want to leave the community without leadership at the hospital but feels given the circumstances it’s time to move on to something else. He will continue to overlook the financial statements and will maintain regular contact with management at the hospital, he said. “I will continue to steer from the second seat,” he added. Once formally in that role, he plans to work at no cost to the community, he said. The hospital will be able to save money on his salary until a sale happens.

His finding work elsewhere in the health care field was multi-faceted, he said. First, there is the fact he commutes to Needles and is living out of a hotel three to four days a week. Second, he wanted to continue to work in the health care field and this new job will allow him to do so. Lastly, he said he’s been missing his family. He wants to be able to be closer to them so he doesn’t miss out so much and again, the new job allows him that, he said. It’s been difficult to have a family and have to be away from them so much of the time, he continued.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Anyway, they were headed to the dump.  I considered driving out to the dump myself to get their license plate numbers (they did steal something of which I have the serial number, not that it’s too late now).  But then, as all of you guys keep telling me, our cops are too busy catching murderers and bank robbers, so trespass and theft are pretty unimportant.  I didn’t bother.

Yeah, I know some of you will say you can’t complain if you don’t report it.  But many of us have had enough experience with the SBSD to know making a report does no good whatsoever, even in instances where a federal court order has been issued and hundreds of thousands of dollars of theft has occurred.  So this little theft certainly stands no chance of action.  Oh yeah, there might some really bad guys driving late at night out in the middle of nowhere minding their own business who need to be harassed.

I guess there is a part of me that will be cheering Devereaux on when he tries to impose the county’s last and final offer.

In total, five matters in which current or former elected officials are alleged or suspected to have engaged in bribery or some other form of wrongdoing are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney or being reviewed for their prosecutorial potential by the FBI.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in February and March 2011 obtained from a federal grand jury indictments in the Upland corruption case, in which former mayor John Pomierski, his appointee to the Upland Housing Authority, John Hennes, and their associates Anthony Orlando Sanchez and Jason Roy Crebs have been charged with participation in a bribery and extortion scheme allegedly involving using Pomierski’s authority at City Hall to shake down businessman with permit applications pending before the city. Pomierski and Ramos were political allies. Ramos endorsed Pomierski in his successful runs for mayor in 2004 and 2008. In 2010, Pomierski endorsed Ramos in his run for reelection for district attorney. Two days after Ramos held back two challengers in the June 8, 2010 election, the FBI and IRS served search warrants at Pomierski’s home and at Upland City Hall, seizing documents and other evidence used to convince a federal grand jury in Los Angeles to indict him a little less than nine months later. Part of the formula Pomierski and Hennes were allegedly able to apply in extorting money from their victims was the claim that Pomierski functioned under an umbrella of protection provided by the district attorney’s office. And indeed, Pomierski had enjoyed an uncommon degree of tolerance from San Bernardino County’s highest law enforcement authority in perpetuating his alleged depredations. Despite widespread whisperings heard as early as 2006 that Pomierski was on the take, Ramos went out of his way to endorse him in his electoral effort against councilman Ray Musser in 2008.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Well Billy, I think my first response is that whether we are discussing Colonies, the BOS, Greg Devereaux, the DA/AG/FBI, or any other person/entity in a long list of county concerns, there is very little black and white.   Since you used Jim as an example, I will too.  Has Jim done some things wrong? It is my belief the answer is yes.  Do I also believe he has been singled out and maliciously prosecuted?  That answer is yes too.  Almost $3 in bail is outrageous.  The trumped-up charges are also outrageous.  I will continue to say that probably forever.  At the same time, I do believe he has committed criminal wrongdoing.  I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not taking one side over the other; I simply believe in justice.  Justice would have been served perhaps with a FPPC fine or, in the case of the extortion if that proves to be true, a felony or two with probation and maybe some jail time if warranted–just like someone who is not Ramos’ political enemy.

There is no doubt most or all of those who have been implicated in the Colonies scandal and other scandals are without halos, as are we all.  But, more importantly, our county’s top two law enforcement officers, Sheriff Rod Hoops and District Attorney Mike Ramos, are the most corrupt individuals in the county.  When our chief law enforcement officers are corrupt, then our system of justice is inherently corrupt.  We will never see the system fixed with bandaids by taking down a corrupt developer here and a corrupt politician there.  We must first cut out the cancer and not allow it to grow back.  Our top cops need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and made an example of for everyone to see.  Only when we have cops and prosecutors that are doing the job they are sworn to do—seeking justice, not revenge and not convictions for the political purposes—can we expect to make inroads into the corruption that has plagued this county for decades.

One of the things I have learned the hard way in the 4.5 years I have been doing this is that not all of those who say they want justice or want to clean up the system are genuine.  Some have some rather nefarious motives for “standing for justice.”  Barb Stanton comes to mind on that one.  Others are simple as unethical as those they try to expose.  Traci Dean comes to mind in this instance.  I have said it many times.  If fire is the corrupt act, then fighting fire with fire makes both parties equally corrupt.  It is not okay to lie, cheat, and steal to take out someone for lying, cheating, and stealing.

As for me speaking out on this issue, I think if you go way back you will see that I have many, many times.  I have also put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, by filing FPPC complaints, complaints with the AG/DA, Grand Jury, and Secretary of State.  I was told point-blank by Joy Chadwick, Supervisor Ovitt’s current director, that as a county employee I should not expect to be treated any way than I have been treated over the past few years if I am going to speak out about corruption.  In other words I should shut up or quit my job.  She didn’t feel county employees have the right to whistleblow and expect to keep their jobs.

That being said, as I said to someone tonight, I’m trying hard to keep off the witness stand in the corruption cases.  As he said to me, “You’re a little too late.”  Well, since, as I have told a few people lately, “I’m a mixed bag,” meaning I am not going to lie for anyone, and of that personal knowledge I do possess, I can harm both sides, I still hope to stay off the witness stand.

There is so much going on behind the scenes in the Colonies case it would make your head spin.  The media isn’t even doing a half-assed job of covering everything and certainly has no interest in the truth.  I think there are many surprises coming.  Remember, you have only read part of one side. That one side still has a lot to offer, but then again, so doesn’t the other side, which has hardly been heard at all.  Reality is far removed from what the public has been allowed to view up to this point.

I was asked a couple of weeks ago what I thought of Mark Kirk. I have a really hard time answering that.  When I got to know him, I thought very highly of him.  Yet, instead of using the single most powerful position in this county’s government or good, he was greedy, selfish, and arrogant, none of which are crimes.  But, when one has the power to do something about corruption and, instead, chooses to look the other way, are they not equally corrupt?  There is a part of me that feels sorry for Mark because I do feel some of the charges are trumped up, yet does he deserve it for not doing something when he could?  I’m not sure of the answer to that.  Like I said.  Little is black and white.

There is one case I do want to testify in and that is Mark Uffer’s.  I already have the subpoena, which I voluntarily picked up from his attorney’s office.  There is no doubt Mark and I had major issues, but right now I hate county administrators more.

I doubt Mark’s case will go to trial, which is too bad.  He has one major thing going for him and I believe that will cause the BOS to settle because none of them want to have to answer certain questions under oath.  However, if the truth were exposed, it would go a long way in cleaning up this county.

You see, one of the things Ramos knows, and I believe he is holding over BOS members’ heads, is the way in which the BOS uses technicalities to get around the Brown Act.  Rarely does a controversial matter go before the BOS without them knowing the outcome before they ever let it on the agenda.  Such was the case in Uffer’s termination.  They worked for months to get three votes to fire him and did not put it on the agenda until they had secured all three votes.  The holdout was Brad Mitzelfelt. Once he agreed, the termination was agendized and not a moment before.

When the members of the public show up on controversial projects or plans, such as redistricting, it does not matter what they say.  Redistricting is a perfect example where the outcome was known before the matter was agendized.  All of those that came to voice their opinions were wasting their time.  Josie, Janice, Gary and Greg had made sure the votes were there to accomplish what they wanted to accomplish.  I knew about it weeks ahead of time and I am not the only one.

Devereaux also flat out refuses to abide by the California Public Records Act or even the county’s Sunshine Ordinance.  By allowing the CEO to refuse to provide the public with access to county records, Ramos is facilitating corruption, not cleaning it up.

So, I would say that if Ramos were really interested in cleaning up county corruption, the Brown Act and the California Public Records Act would be places to start.  But cleaning up corruption is not his objective.

]]> http://iepolitics.net/2011/12/06/iepolitics-in-response-to-billyjackattack/feed/ 4 http://iepolitics.net/2011/11/30/iepolitics-has-the-fbi-backed-away-from-the-colonies-investigation/ http://iepolitics.net/2011/11/30/iepolitics-has-the-fbi-backed-away-from-the-colonies-investigation/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:50:35 +0000 Administrator http://iepolitics.com/?p=11215 Continue reading →]]> We are hearing from multiple sources that may be the case.  We know for sure several people were called to testify before a federal grand jury. We know for sure one of them was Robert Kirk, Mark Kirk’s father.  We have heard that some were called off.  We are also hearing that the investigation is going nowhere.

Now the flip side of that is the pissing match between the FBI and defense counsel.  It seems that some of the accusations by the defense would only make the FBI all the more intent of finding something to charge the Colonies Four with at the federal level.

Somehow I don’t expect to see a lot of answers  until at least January.  One thing can be said though.  This is the case that keeps giving and giving:  intrigue, billing opportunities, blog entries, newspaper stories, bad reputations.

Rex Gutierrez

This year Rex will spend his Thanksgiving Day in prison, taking the fall for those who would not do the right thing and because of those who are not afraid to commit perjury and other crimes.   By this time next year, he will have been out for a while.  I wonder how many of you may be in his place by that time.  Some of you at this time last year called me crazy for suggesting that you too could be where he was headed.   Now you are just a bit worried, aren’t you?  And worried you should be.

For those who claim captains are too busy to answer email, Sheriff Hoops responded to me within an hour even though I told him a response was not necessary.  Thank you Sheriff Hoops.

And for the naysayers, no, I did not ask the sheriff to take action.  However, just in case the commentor has the ability to carry through, I wanted to be sure law enforcement knew the action was being suggested.

Again, please keep this as a safe community for everyone to express their thoughts.  Don’t do stupid stuff.

My sources tell me there appears to be something underlying Devereaux’s interest in the project.  I am told there are better systems out there yet this one is being jammed down everyone’s throats and the Three Stooges are happy to do whatever Devereaux says to do.  I am also told that the Sheriff’s Department, which should be the department behind it, isn’t necessarily as keen on it as it should be under the circumstances.

Doing CPRA requests is a waste of my time because they refuse to fulfill them.  Can anyone give me the scoop as to who wants this system so badly?  We know somehow, somewhere it will likely lead to someone close to the Fifth Floor getting a cushy contract.  The question is who.  And are there really better systems out there?

My reasons for posting this is two-fold.  First, I emailed Gina Whiteside, head of animal control for Apple Valley; the captain of the Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station; and Brian Cronin, head of animal control for the county of San Bernardino.  Ms. Whiteside provided me with a lengthy response after hours and indicated that she had also forwarded my email to the captain for further response.  I heard from Brian Cronin the next day.  Two days later and nothing has been received from the Sheriff’s Department.

I am a member of the public who made an inquiry both as a private citizen and as a member of the media.  The Sheriff’s Department has blown me off once again.  The only way I get their attention is to write bad cop stories or when they come across me in the middle of nowhere late at night.  So let it be.

The second reason for this post is a pic that was posted on Facebook.  DO NOT look at the next page if you get upset easily. It is an example of why there will always be animal welfare stories on this blog.  In both cases kids put rockets/fireworks in the dogs’ mouths and lit them.  The first dog first had its mouth taped shut.  Both dogs had to be destroyed.  I honestly believe people who can do something like this should never, never, ever be let out of prison.  Bringing these horrors to light is important as much as it may make many uncomfortable.

Governor names Ramos to standards board

FILE PHOTO/2010

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos, left, and then-Attorney General Jerry Brown confer in February 2010.

BY JIM MILLER

SACRAMENTO BUREAU

jmiller@pe.com

Published: 15 November 2011 04:13 PM

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos to the Commission for Peace Officer Standards.

Ramos, of Redlands, has been district attorney since 2002 and has been with the district attorney’s office since 1989. Ramos, a Republican, and Brown, a Democrat, have worked together on various issues, such as Ramos’ support this year for the governor’s proposal to extend temporary tax increases.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Yellow Rat Snake

Did you read the Sun story tonight?  I understand it gets even better when you read the actual warrants which will be available online in the next day or so.

But the story begs one very big question:  How can someone involved in bribery, extortion, and money laundering still be employed with the county of San Bernardino?  Not just “employed,” but he is the right-hand man of the county’s Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector.  He is second in charge.  His wife works as a budget analyst for the County Executive Officer.  Does anyone else see a problem with this?

I will go into more detail next week in an Examiner article; however, we have to wonder if the corruption in this county is so deep that our elected leaders cannot see that there is a problem with this.  Only in San Bernardino County.

Last year before our fallout, Jim had told me about the work he was doing and even said he might throw a little work my way, writing I believe.  Today is one of those days when I am thankful we had the falling out.

I wish Jim no harm but they are going to get him one way or the other.  They will go after anyone and everyone around him to get to him.  I do not believe for a moment this raid is coincidental.  There are probably hundreds of such facilities in this county yet they picked the facilities Jim is involved with.  Nope.  It is not a coincidence.

Some of you may remember the old US Festival (Wikipedia:  The US Festivals (US pronounced like the pronoun, not as initials) were two early 1980s music and culture festivals sponsored by Steve Wozniak, formerly of Apple Computer. The first was held Labor Day weekend in September 1982 and the second was Memorial Day weekend in May 1983. Wozniak paid for the bulldozing and construction of a new open-air field venue as well as the construction of an enormous state-of-the-art temporary stage at Glen Helen Regional Park near Devore, San Bernardino, California.)

Well it seems in either 1982, which would have been when Sheriff Bland was still in office, or in 1983 when Sheriff Tidwell may have already taken over, a Deputy Jackson was patrolling near the US Festival on Cajon Boulevard.  I believe it was a Corvette that passed at a high rate of speed.  Deputy Jackson pulled over the vehicle, which was being driven by one of the Matich boys.  On the dashboard was a large amount of Cocaine.  Matich was hooked up.

Back during this time Sheriff’s Headquarters was still on the first floor of the Central Courthouse.  To access the locker room, the deputies used the stairs down near the Sheriff’s private office.  Deputy Jackson was getting ready to head upstairs when out from Sheriff Tidwell’s or Sheriff Bland’s office steps Matich and his son, the one he had arrested only days before.  The son flashed a special deputy’s badge, the kind given to the Matich’s, Brown’s, etc., of this county who are part of the Sheriff’s Executive Counsel and/or Sheriff’s Rangers.

Deputy Jackson got curious and pulled his report.  His report no longer existed and the DR now belonged to some incident in another part of town totally unrelated to what had happened days earlier.  Deputy Jackson left the department not long after that.

Now, of course, I have been warned rather strongly not to write about the Sheriff’s Rangers or the Sheriff’s Executive Council because they are so powerful in the county.  “Warned” being the word I choose to write over how it was really put to me.  So I probably should expect another late-night stop for something bogus.

I was sitting here trying to get the two Examiner.com articles written.  I have no idea why three units showed up as I had been sitting here a while and didn’t see anything happen.  Maybe they all wanted yogurt.  Anyway, needless to say, having three units parked behind my truck got my attention.  Only one walked by and he waived.  I supposed we could say progress has been made or we could say he had no clue.  Either way, it’s better than being pulled over out in the middle of nowhere.

The only people in this county that get pulled over more than me are gangbangers and they don’t get pulled over in the early morning hours out in the middle of nowhere where there is no one else around.  Let’s see, this is at least the 10th time since I’ve been out there not including all the stops by the AV AH’s.

]]> http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/22/iepolitics-pulled-over-again/feed/ 48 http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/15/vote29-an-open-letter-to-bos-chairwoman-josie-gonzales%e2%80%a6/ http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/15/vote29-an-open-letter-to-bos-chairwoman-josie-gonzales%e2%80%a6/#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:40:20 +0000 Administrator http://iepolitics.com/?p=10845 Continue reading →]]> October 15, 2011
By Margo Sturges

Dear Madam Chairwoman Josie Gonzales,

Thank you for your time to review my letter.  I realize there are many pressing issues before you and I feel compelled to inform you about the situation of the $3.5 million dollar proposed JPA  Animal Shelter in Yucca Valley.

The Joint Powers Authority members are: Chair Third District Supervisor Neil Derry, Brian Cronin SB Division Chief, Yucca Valley Mayor George Huntington, newly seated Councilman Isaac Hagerman. Also, the recent addition of appointing himself to this project, Yucca Valley Town Manager Mark Nuaimi. Williams Architect firm has been selected through the RFP, Request For Proposal process who built the animal shelter in Upland with twice the budget.

The San Bernardino County has set aside funds in your budget for capital improvement to partner with the Town of Yucca Valley to build a modern, state-of-the-art animal shelter to share building costs and future maintenance costs to include Staff payroll, benefits and pensions. This is an opportunity to build a “jewel” in our little Town to compliment our Museum, Library, the new Senior Housing project at our Community Center and a large youth park on the drawing board.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

 
Keep in mind, the reason I was using Dictioner.com to check spelling on a word is because I already had the site up to look at all the meanings of “pander.” Pander was not blocked despite its various meanings but this word was.  Since I can’t look it up, I will never know all of this word’s risqué meanings. 

If you take a look at the story, notice that Bill now has Twitter and he would love some followers.  For that matter, I also added a Twitter button to the top of this blog.  I could use a few more followers too! 

I just received your press release regarding fingerprinting of Foodstamp recipients in San Bernardino County.  Although I agree that Foodstamp (and honestly all welfare recipients) should be fingerprinted, you are NEVER going to do anything about welfare fraud in this county unless you first rid this county of Linda Haugen and Nancy Swanson.

I know you don’t want to hear it, but welfare fraud cannot be caught if workers are disciplined for making fraud referrals.  I know from first-hand experience.  I also know from first-hand experience that county welfare statistics are falsified by said Haugen and Swanson.  Larry Walker wanted to bring in external auditors to audit the department when we provided hard-core proof but the CAO put a stop to it.  With the falsified statistics, the county gets more welfare funding which makes for more money that can be wasted on big screen TVs and the like and a bigger empire which means a promotion for those at the top.

Neil, I have offered to have welfare fraud investigators meet with you to tell you the truth.  I have never been taken up on that offer.  TAD employees have also always been willing to meet with you to tell you the truth but no one wants to hear it, especially Devereaux.

Don’t get me wrong Neil.  I support what you are trying to do in this county, especially when you have four colleagues who are just as happy to let the CEO tell them what to do and continue to cover up corruption.  But if you are serious about welfare fraud in this county, continuing with fingerprinting will do absolutely nothing to solve the problem.  Do something that is meaningful.

I have made this offer before and I will repeat it.  I will take a polygraph as long as Linda Haugen and Nancy Swanson also take them.  Whoever is caught lying about this issue loses their job, including all rights to their retirement.  Since you guys want to get rid of me and think I’m lying, why don’t you take me up on it?

]]> http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/11/iepolitics-earth-to-neil/feed/ 3 http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/11/iepolitics-cao-and-bos-declare-war-on-cops/ http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/11/iepolitics-cao-and-bos-declare-war-on-cops/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:28:04 +0000 Administrator http://iepolitics.com/?p=10792 Continue reading →]]> For those who did not notice the county’s proposal for a new contract with SEBA, here are the county’s proposals:

This correspondence shall serve as the County’s written request to commence negotiations and the following shall constitute the County’s written proposals:

1. Benefit Plan: Eliminate Benefit Plan contributions and replace with Medical Premium Subsidy. Clarify/amend language to conform to County policy, practice, plan documents and/or applicable law and regulations as appropriate.

2. Other benefit provisions such as Dependant Care Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance, Merit Advancements, Reemployment, Retirement Medical Trust, etc:  Clarify/amend language to conform to County policy, practice, plan documents and/or applicable law and regulations as appropriate.

3. County Management Rights: Incorporate language clarifying County management rights, including assignment of County vehicles.

4. Full Understanding, Modification and Waiver: Amend language to be consistent with County practice and/or clean up language as necessary.

5. Leave Provisions: Clean up language as appropriate, to include Amendment #1.

6. Overtime: Eliminate compensatory time banks. Clean up language as necessary.

7. Retirement System Contributions: Eliminate County pick-up of employee contributions for existing employees and new hires; establish a new/reduced pension formula for new hires.

8. Salary Administration: Establish step advancements at 2.5% for new and existing employees.

9. Salary Adjustments: Reduce salaries by 7%.

10. Seniority Watch Preference and Rotation: Eliminate article. Propose new article for Deputy’s with 20 years of uninterrupted service as a Safety employee to be given preference for days off and shift schedules.

11. Wage Differentials: Clarify language in regards to payment of differentials during periods of leave and non-work time. Establish fixed dollar amounts.

12. Deputy I/Il Classification: Change Deputy Sheriff Classifications to Deputy I for all Deputies assigned to Detentions and Corrections Bureau and Court Services and Deputy II for Deputies assigned outside of Detentions and Corrections and Court Services, e.g., Patrol.  Adjust pay scale, decreasing pay for Deputy I classification to provide for a 10% salary spread as appropriate. “X” step existing employees who currently earn more than the new top step for Deputy I classification.

13. Other non-economic articles: Update and clarify language as appropriate. For example, incorporate language for 9/80 and 12/80 schedules.

Here is the link to the actual letter:  County Proposal  It is my understanding that since SEBA negotiated away the Evergreen Clause, Devereaux has said he intends to impose his wishes on the cops if they don’t agree to concessions on their own.  Of course, he cannot impose anything without BOS approval.  It is also my understanding that both Supervisors Derry and Mitzelfelt have said they will not vote to impose.  However, I believe it only takes three votes and Supervisors Rutherford, Ovitt and Gonzales will do whatever Devereaux tells them to do.

If anyone has any updated information on negotiations, we would appreciate it if you would share it with us.

Burum spent $45,273.66 at the store — $12,675 for Erwin’s watch and $18,100 for a Breguet Heritage Grande watch for O’Reilly, according to receipts prosecutors provided as evidence. In his testimony, Burum confirmed the amounts, paid for with his black American Express card.

The only time he paid cash was for three female Asian masseuses that he called up to their condo, Burum said.

“Generally speaking, when I get out of town, I know you know, frankly, how to get a hold of, you know –” he testified.

“Entertainment,” Cope suggested.

“Entertainment,” Burum agreed.

Burum said he couldn’t recall exactly what the women were paid but estimated it was $100 to $200 each. They stayed about an hour or 90 minutes, he said. O’Reilly and Erwin both went into their bedrooms with a masseuse while Burum stayed on the couch with his masseuse, he said.

Later in the testimony, Burum denied receiving any sexual favors from his masseuse. Prosecutors have alleged that the women were prostitutes. Both Erwin and O’Reilly have denied using the services of prostitutes.

Although at the end they deny these “masseuses” were prostitutes, the middle part of this quote in Jeff Burum’s own words would suggest otherwise.  I have said it a hundred times on this blog—any person who will break the most important covenant of their life, i.e., the marriage covenant, and cheat on their family cannot be trusted to show integrity in any other part of their life.  This passage, in his own words, makes it sound like Jeff cheated on his wife regularly with prostitutes and helped associates do the same.

Integrity is not situational.  Either one has it or one doesn’t.  Although I don’t believe Mark Kirk ever cheated on Erin, I do believe the remaining Colonies defendants and uncharged co-conspirators have shown a complete lack of integrity which put all of their other claims in question.

What does this say exactly?  I mean either those conducting the first investigation or those conducting the second must have been totally incompetent.  How can one SBSD investigation suggest that someone should be indicted by the Grand Jury and the second clear the individual completely?  And what about the pending criminal charges?

]]> http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/03/iepolitics-can-anyone-explain-this/feed/ 19 http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/03/iepolitics-is-armc-and-dr-gnanadev-defrauding-insurance-companies/ http://iepolitics.net/2011/10/03/iepolitics-is-armc-and-dr-gnanadev-defrauding-insurance-companies/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:07:25 +0000 Administrator http://iepolitics.com/?p=2394 Continue reading →]]>

We have discussed the protocols in the Behavioral Health unit in the past that violate state law.  Here is a recap:

5150. When any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled, a peace officer, member of the attending staff, as defined by regulation, of an evaluation facility designated by the county, designated members of a mobile crisis team provided by Section 5651.7, or other professional person designated by the county may, upon probable cause, take, or cause to be taken, the person into custody and place him or her in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Mental Health as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation.

5151. If the facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation admits the person, it may detain him or her for evaluation and treatment for a period not to exceed 72 hours.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has a long-standing policy in effect that they say gives them the right to detain patients longer, sometimes much longer, than 72 hours as authorized by Welfare and Institution Code sections 5150-5151.  San Bernardino County’s crack legal beagles have interpreted these code sections to mean that the 72 hours does not start until the patient is admitted.  That seems like a minor problem unless one understands the “admission process” at ARMC.

ARMC’s admission process often takes 24-48 hours.  When patients are brought in to ARMC for evaluation, they go through what most would think is the evaluation process.  They are searched; asked to change into hospital garments; asked about medications, etc.; urine and blood samples are taken; a medical, family and social history is taken; an EKG is performed; and they are seen by a RN, an MD, and a psychiatrist for evaluations.  However, none of this is considered part of the “72-hour evaluation.”  It is not until after all of this is done and the patient is transferred from a room in the Triage Unit to a room in a regular unit does the 72 hours begin.

This process takes as long as humanly possible, especially for those with some type of insurance, so that the insurance companies can be billed for additional days.  This is especially true for someone who has Medi-Cal.

But the Behavioral Health unit is not the only place in the hospital where things are not quite kosher.  According to one doctor I spoke with, insurance companies require many procedures to be performed by fully licensed MDs in order to pay for the procedures.  However, under the direction of Dr. Gnanadev, those procedures are performed by interns or nurse practitioners but billed as though they were performed by MDs.

What I find so disturbing about this and other financial aspects of the scandal is that there is no need for it.  The potential is there for ARMC to bring in millions upon millions more  dollars than it does quite legally.  During the first 10 months of 2009, I, along with 2 others, worked on a project to work with patients to qualify them for Medi-Cal, SSI and other programs to pay their hospital bills.  In that short time we had brought in over $1.9 million that otherwise would have never been collected.  We did not even scratch the surface.  The potential to bring in revenue for the county is so great, but instead of concentrating on creating an organized, efficient billing system, hospital administrators, including Dr. Gnanadev are hellbent on finding and punishing those who bring the inefficiencies of the hospital out into the open.

We hear rumors that the empire is starting to crumble.  We can only hope this is true as all county residents will benefit whether they receive services at ARMC or not.

 

Do you know a Scotty Gann from the DA’s office? Hinkle is a recently retired Fontana officer. xam is a retired sgt.

——————————————————————————–

From: xam4321@verizon.net To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; Sent: 7/27/2009 2:37:59 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time

Subj: Fw: EVERYONE JUST RELAX —– Original Message —– From: Phillip Hinkle To: Scotty Gann Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 12:44 PM

Subject: EVERYONE JUST RELAX

EVERYONE JUST RELAX When was the last time you saw an African-American keep the same job for 4 years?

 – Phil Hinkle Open Range Wood Works (760) xxx-xxxx

MY NAME IS TIERNEY HARRIS AND MY SON, LAWRENCE LEE IS BEING RAILROADED BY THE SAN BERNARDINO PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE AND NOW THE CONFLICT PANEL. HE WAS RAILROADED INTO TAKING A PLEA ON A POSSESSION CASE BEFORE ANY DISCOVERY WAS DONE AND BEFORE ANYONE READ THE CASE FILE. WE REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH ATTORNEY ISAEFF ON APRIL 11, 2011 TO WITHDRAW THE PLEA BUT DID NOT GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO UNTIL JULY 18, 2011 AT WHICH TIME MY SON HAD BEEN PLACED BACK INTO CUSTODY BY THE “DRUG COURT” JUDGE, AND ATTORNEY ISAEFF FINALLY ADMITTED THAT HE HAD NOT READ HE FILE AND THEN DID SO. AFTER READING THE FILE HE STATED HE WOULD NEED TO SPEAK WITH HIS SUPERVISOR TO BEGIN THE WITHDRAWAL PROCEEDINGS. AUGUST 19, 2011 WE WERE GIVEN ATTORNEY RICHARD FARQUHAR FROM THE CONFLICT PANEL. WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH THIS MAN SINCE THAT DAY, WE HAVE A HEARING SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 7, 2011 FOR THE MOTION TO WITHDRAW THE PLEA…BUT WHAT PLEA???? REPRESENTATION WITHOUT COMMUNICATION IS MALPRACTICE. ALSO HAD A HEARING AFTER THE APPINTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY FROM THE CONFLICT PANEL AND MR. FARQUHAR DID NOT SHOW BUT ATTORNEY STUART O’MELVENY FROM THE CONFLICT PANEL DID SHOW – HE DID NOT LET US KNOW HE WAS THERE ON MY SON’S BEHALF. THEN SOME DAYS LATER O’MELVENY ALSO SHOWED UP AS CONFLICT PANEL ATTORNEY FOR THE OTHER DEFENDANT IN THE SAME CASE AS MY SON….

WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF SOME EXPOSURE TO THE ON-GOING B.S. THAT IS THE CONFLICT PANEL IN SAN BERDOO… I AM ALSO IN FEAR FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF MY SON….BEING A YOUNG BLACK MAN IN THE I.E. HE REALLY DOES NOT HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO RECIEVE JUSTICE….

Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2011 7:59 am

By Glenn Barr, Reporter | 3 comments

Felony weapons charges against a Running Springs man were dismissed on Sept. 20 in a San Bernardino Superior courtroom after the deputy district attorney prosecuting him informed the judge the defendant had committed suicide.

Randall Jay Rusciolelli, 47, sent a typewritten letter announcing his intentions to The Mountain News shortly before shooting himself in the head on Sept. 19. The letter said he intended to kill himself while seated “under my favorite tree.”

The letter said Rusciolelli was a lifelong gun collector. It also denied allegations by a former girlfriend that he had threatened her life.

Rusciolelli, a 20-year full-time resident who owned a plumbing company, was arrested at his Firwood Drive home Sept. 2 after his unidentified one-time girlfriend phoned sheriff’s department dispatchers to say he had threatened to kill her and that he had numerous weapons at his home.

Authorities obtained a search warrant and arrested Rusciolelli after he reportedly tried to flee on foot, reportedly armed with a loaded pistol. Rusciolelli’s letter did not comment on why he attempted to flee.

Approximately 50 weapons were found in his home, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition, including tracer rounds, whose possession is illegal in California, deputies said.

Rusciolelli, who court records say had no prior criminal charges, was free on $500,000 bail at the time of his death. He faced seven felonies, including threatening a crime, three counts of possessing an explosive device in a public place and three of possessing an assault weapon.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Jim was convinced that “tweaker” Bill Postmus was planting ideas in my head and running my blog.  Of course, Bill had next to nothing to do with my posts or my blog.  He seems to forget that as the owner of this blog and due to my stints as director of publicity and newsletter editor for RWF and an even shorted stint on the Republican Central Committee, I have a source or two all my own. 

Anyway, Jim decided to threaten, yell at, and be condescending to a “friend” and supporter for having the audacity to suggest Neil may have an opponent or two.  Believe me, it was a real threat and could easily be considered extortion based on his demands.  I certainly suffered the consequences he said I would, especially at the hands of Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, just like Jim said would happen.

In the end, Jim, who was right and who was wrong?  Well, yes, Brad made sure I got mine.  But Neil has another opponent and you have yet another enemy.  BTW Jim, it was me who called Bill today to let him know that Paul is running.  He was surprised.

Has anyone else noticed that since Mark Uffer filled his lawsuit last year, his allegations seem less and less outlandish?

County deputy held after alleged domestic dispute in Beaumont

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18923891#ixzz1YS3j8GxC

By Brad Branan
bbranan@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Sep. 18, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 1B
Last Modified: Sunday, Sep. 18, 2011 – 10:57 am

Sacramento County employees are using a controversial perk to boost retirement benefits, possibly adding to the county’s rapidly growing pension debt.

They’re purchasing up to five years’ service credit for time they didn’t work – a benefit commonly referred to as “airtime.”

The credits help raise an employee’s retirement payments, because the payments are based on years of service and salary.

A recent report completed for Sacramento County’s retirement system found that employees who bought service credits were twice as likely to retire as the system originally anticipated.

Earlier retirements tend to drive up pension costs because the system pays benefits for a longer period, while the employee contributes to the system for a shorter period, said Richard Stensrud, the system’s CEO.

About 320 members in the Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System have purchased service credits since the county’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the benefit, without discussion, in 2007. State legislators approved the law that granted the benefit a few years earlier.

“It’s the best deal going,” said Scott Hanson, a principal in Sacramento investment firm Hanson McClain. He recommends service-credit purchases to his government-employed clients. “It’s a great idea for employees. It’s a horrible idea for taxpayers.”

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/18/3918306/airtime-may-boost-sacramento-countys.html#ixzz1YN36c2oj

First, a little background based on those things that I know or sense:

1. I do believe that the FBI is here at the proding of multiple sources, not the least being the Colonies Four, but also not limited to the Colonies Four.
2. I am not at all convinced that the District Attorney’s office is thrilled with this turn of events.  Their reaction is similar to that when the Colonies Four were indicted and Mike Ramos appeared before the cameras. He looked and sounded tense.  His description about his relationship with the FBI was very carefully worded.  He went out of his way to make it sound like they were working together but never actually said that.  From what I know of this raid, the DA and AG are not involved and were not advised until it was close to happening.  Jim put on this blog that it was only an hour before and I know that is not true but I don’t believe it was a lot longer than that, maybe a few hours or even a few days.  Even I knew something was about to happen soon.  I just had no idea what it would be.
3. I am also not convinced that the FBI/IRS is here to clear the Colonies Four.  I think one or more will face some serious charges before this is over

So, this is what my best guess is about what is to come.

1. Unless there is a smoking gun we have not been made aware of yet, I do believe this may very well exonerate Jeff Burum.
2. I believe Jim is going to prison on state charges.  Unless he did something really silly regarding his tax returns, I don’t believe there will be any federal charges.
3. I think there is a real possibility that the FBI and IRS will find something on Paul Biane if they look beyond the Colonies settlement.  If they look no further then I doubt he will be convicted of anything.
4. Unless Mark Kirk has done really silly with his tax returns and unless the Feds look past the Colonies settlement, I think he will be cleared as well.
5. Again, unless there is a smoking gun we are not aware of yet, I don’t see anything happening to Jim Brulte or Patrick O’Reilly.
6. And finally, what we are all hoping and praying for is that the FBI takes a close look at Mike Ramos, Gary Ovitt, Greg Devereaux, and others.  I know they’ve been given the information.  I just don’t know if they will take a look.  There is zero point in any of the rest of this if someone doesn’t do something about dirty top law enforcement officials.  We cannot continue with selective prosecution and political prosecution and ever expect our county’s corruption issues to be cleaned up.

As I wrote, that is my best guess.  I know that I am happy the FBI is here.  I only hope they do justice by the citizens of this county including the accused and uncharged, whatever that justice may be.

It has been obvious for a while now that recent developments in the Colonies case did not set well with law enforcement.  They do not like their butts handed to them on a silver platter, which was done to a small degree by Judge Brian McCarville a few weeks ago.

However, this time it is the FBI and IRS.  Does District Attorney Mike Ramos control the FBI and IRS?  I doubt he has much influence at all.  Yet there is just a bit of a “gotcha” here.  Who knows what roll the District Attorney played in today’s activities, if at all.  We will find out soon enough.

But this does go back to some posts over the past year where I have been told I am full of crapola.  And maybe I am.  I never know when I am being fed good information and when I am being fed misinformation on purpose.  Here are a few of the pieces of information/misinformation I have been fed.  You can decide if any of it is valid or not.

1. Jeff Burum had his private investigators put together a package on JP Pomierski and turn it over to federal authorities, thus resulting in the Upland raid.
2. Somewhere in the process, JP or another target turned the tables and implicated Burum, Ovitt, and Devereaux, handing over new evidence.
3. Jeff Burum had his private investigators put together a package on Mike Ramos and turn it over to federal authorities, which so far has resulted in nothing apparent.
4. Jim Erwin expects all charges to be dropped and Mike Ramos to go to prison.

I’m about to lose my computer connection, so I will have to finish this later.  Anyway, No. 2 came from my law enforcement friends who claim they know one of the agents involved in Upland.  All of the rest came from Erwin.   Perhaps they are all wrong and one investigation has zero to do with the other.  (That’s my personal feeling.)  You be the judge.  Time will tell.

But, one thing is for sure:  Jim Erwin is going to prison.  Mark my words.

We have confirmed that there are up to seven law enforcement vehicles at the home of Mark Kirk.  It appears that his vehicle and garage have already been searched.  Agents have been at the location for a couple of hours.

Bill Postmus was NOT involved in today’s search.  We have not been able to confirm at this point if Jim Erwin has been served with a warrant today or not.

UPDATE:  The Sun is reporting that warrants were served at the home of Jim Erwin as well.  There is a nice slideshow of his home (or should I say of the agents raiding his home) on the Sun’s website.

Next Update:  We are hearing that nine warrants were served today.  So far confirmed are:  Jeff Burum’s home, Jim Erwin’s home, Mark Kirk’s home, Patrick O’Reilly’s business, National Core, and Diversified Pacific.  That leaves three additional locations.

Linda Haugan

I spent some time on the phone with those who work with the Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations and they told me three things.  First, Linda Haugen is the single most corrupt Welfare administrator in the state of California—and that’s the nicest thing they had to say about her.  Second, San Bernardino County is the worst county in the state for violating the law and the rights of applicants.  Third, this county desperately needs advocates for all phases of the HSS system.

It was suggested to me that a few of us who know the system, and know how corrupt it is, open a non-profit to advocate on behalf of the clients who are getting screwed over by Haugen and her blatantly illegal policies.  I love this idea.  I’ve talked to a few friends about it and it is agreed that such a program is desperately needed here in the desert where the problem is especially bad.  They was the legal aid place really doesn’t have time or the expertise to deal with it.  I think as former TAD employees we could really kick some butt.

I am not sure how to go about doing this but I do know I am not alone in being disgusted at how certain TAD administrators so flagrantly violate the law and people’s rights.  It would also give us a chance to gather data to present to the feds for an investigation into falsifying data that is so badly needed.

If you have any expertise in running a non-profit, getting grants, or are just a former TAD worker who would be interested in doing this kind of work, sent me an email.