I have been told that the Sheriff’s Department has sent out a memo that the Academy will be shut down for the month of June as a cost-savings measure. However, there is a rumor flying around that it is actually POST that is shutting down the Academy. Apparently, this would not be the first time POST has done such a thing.
Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/08/2010 05:46:03 PM PDT
A candidate for sheriff criticized the Sheriff’s Department on Thursday and demanded a grand jury investigation, saying internal misconduct has been swept under the rug.
Deputy Mark Averbeck claimed high-ranking officials have been falsifying certifications that netted them extra pay.
When reached on his cell phone after Averbeck’s news conference, Sheriff Rod Hoops confirmed that an investigation has been ongoing since the allegations came to light in September and said charges may be coming. Continue reading
I re-posted a memo from Sheriff Hoops from almost a year ago below. I will also re-post the newspaper articles if I can find them.
Sheriff Hoops, First off, you need to find yourself a new secretary. Secretarial skills should at least be one of the qualifications required before you hire someone for such a position! As an elected official, you are judged by what you produce. If I could have figured out a way, I would have used my handy-dandy red pen on your memo. Please try harder to have your staff produce professional-looking documents. For those who have not seen it:
Three current and former San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department employees pleaded not guilty Friday in Superior Court to felony charges tied to a scandal involving the falsification of training documents for increased pay and retirement benefits.
Sheriff’s custody specialist Angela Gray, 42, retired Lt. Bill Maddox, 57, and training specialist Sallyann Christian, 45, entered their not guilty pleas before San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Brian McCarville.
Today seven current or retired members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were indicted on a variety of felonies involving falsification of training records that resulted in higher rates of pay and higher retirement allowances. Among those indicted were retired Assistant Sheriff Mike Stodelle, Lieutenant Russell Wilke, Detective David Pichotta, and retired Lieutenant Bill Maddox. Pichotta is the former son-in-law of retired Sheriff Gary Penrod.
Others indicted include retired Captain Hobart Gray, who is charged with perjury, grand theft and conspiracy; his wife Angie Gray, charged with three counts of conspiracy, two counts of attempted grand theft, and one county of grand theft; and Sallyann Christian, charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of grand theft.
We were not going to post this, but rather wait a few days to see what happens. But now we have the information from two separate sources, one being the Sheriff’s Department and one being a member of the bar. As with everything, we are going to post this as rumor and see what transpires.
We are being told there will be a second round of indictments. We have been told that today’s indictments were just the felonies. We are being told that there will be 20 more misdemeanor indictments and the defendants will be charged with PC 32, which makes sense for all the brass who looked the other way and allowed this to happen.
We are hearing that S-23 is packed with people awaiting the arraignments of those indicted/charged today in the POST scandal. The names coming out so far are:
We will update this list as we get more names.
Editor: Please click on link below so I get paid!
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos issued a media advisory today regarding the POST scandal involving up to 27 members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. He has called a press conference for March 8 at 11:30 a.m. Employees have been accused of falsifying training records so to receive additional compensation.
The scandal was first discovered as early as 2009 and was reported on a local political blog, iePolitics.com. Sheriff’s officials continued to deny the extent of the criminal activity among its members as recently as the June 2010 primary when Sheriff Rod Hoops was running for election to his first full term. He had been appointed the previous year by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to replace Sheriff Gary Penrod, who retired before his term expired.
iePolitics has told that a meet of the SEBA Board of Directors took place last night to replace current San Bernardino County Safety Employee Benefit Association (SEBA) president William “Beef” Abernathie. The board was advised that Abernathie is among the 27 expected to have been indicted in the POST scandal. Those indictments are expected to be unsealed next week. Abernathie is also a sergeant with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The ethically-challenged San Bernardino County is expected to receive yet another black eye within a week or so. Sheriff’s Department officials are accused of falsifying training records that were submitted to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.), resulting in tens of thousands of dollars being paid to each recipient that was not earned.
P.O.S.T. was created to set minimum selection and training standards for California law enforcement. Certificates include basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory, management, and executive. Specialized certificates can also be awarded. Each new level brings with it a raise in hourly pay.
To read the rest of the article, click here.
We now have confirmation from four separate sources that indictments are being issued in the POST scandal. The only question is just how many and who exactly is involved. I believe there may be some POBR and/or statute of limitations issues to be worked out. We have been given numbers of expected indictments ranging from 15 to 30. We also understand that indictments may reach the highest level of the Sheriff’s Department and may even involve other agencies.
iePolitics has received information that the Grand Jury had subpoenas regarding the POST scandal served on 22 individuals and that 15 have or are about to be indicted. We also understand there will be numerous terminations. This confirms information we posted last month; however, we are still not clear if a special criminal Grand Jury has been empaneled. Otherwise, we are assuming that charges will be filed rather than indictments issued. If anyone has additional information, please contact us at iepolitics2010@gmail.com.
It seems one of favorite commentors may very well be the catalyst for the renewed interest in the POST scandal. Apparently, an employee who worked at Glen Helen North was going to be disciplined. However, she was smart enough to hang on to the POST files that were supposed to be destroyed to coverup the fact that 25-27 Sheriff’s Department employees were involved in falsifying records.
I received this tonight:
I am hearing that a Sgt from Central is being transferred to handle what is left of the POST investigation because the Grand Jury finally wants to look at it.
I have received information that due to the recent POST scandal Deputies who attend classes at the Sheriff’s Academy can no long receive college credits towards their degrees. It seems that Valley College completed its investigation and took the privilege away from the academy staff for signing class roosters approving credits.
Recently we have all been reading about problems within the Sheriff’s Department. Although the majority of these issues are not major problems some of them are.
When a person becomes a Peace Officer they take an oath which is known as the “Law Enforcement Code of Ethics”. In that code is a line that states “Honest in thought and deed in both my personnel and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my Department”.
You know Neil, we try to defend you here at iePolitics most of the time. But some things are beyond defensible.
For example, your comment that the POST scandal is a personnel matter. It is NOT a personnel matter. It is a FELONY matter that involved Sheriff Rod Hoops, former Sheriff Gary Penrod, and at least a couple dozen others ranging from clerical staff to deputy chiefs. It is misconduct of the worst kind by public officials and it is being swept under the rug with the tacit approval of the board of supervisors.
But it’s okay because you all endorse one another for election, donate to one another’s campaigns, and attend one another’s fundraisers. We wouldn’t want justice to interfere with that, now would we?
I’ve received a few more anonymous tips regarding TAD, etc. Someone from Human Services System Program Integrity Division Chief Virginia Lugo wrote and ratted her out. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the information as was she is doing is clearly a misdemeanor at best and she needs to be fired. I’m just not sure how to make that happen as we know nothing will get done by County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux or the Board of Supervisors.
Does anyone have any suggestions? My thought is to send the information to the Attorney General and file a complaint with the Grand Jury, but I’m not sure.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops
Like we mentioned earlier this week, selective prosecution is alive and well in San Bernardino County. As Mark Gluglueck pointed our below, not all lawbreakers are treated equally, especially if the lawbreaker is a cop.
In the context of Mark’s story, is it any wonder at all that the high-ranking officials from the Sheriff’s Department have not been prosecuted for the POST scandal? For those who forget what the POST scandal is all about, here is the link: A Legacy of Malfeasance—Part-2
I’ve received two responses so far. The first is that Stodell is from the Yucaipa area, which fits the situation. And the second:
The names that I have heard for sure that have been involved in the POST issue are Bill Zehms, Lt. Jerry Davis and Captain Mark Marnati. Sources say that they have confirmed Davis and Marnati but the Department denies this because of their rank and the fact that Marnati had worked in Internal Affairs. If Stodell was involved in this scam then it really dates back a long time as he retired three to four years ago. Now if they have been doing this for that period of time then Captain Gray would owe a lot more money than he paid back that’s for sure.
Please keep the tips coming. I think we all know there is more to this scandal that what the Sheriff is admitting to publicly.
I have a dozen or more Sheriff’s Office corruption anonymous emails to follow up on and will do so as soon as I can. Honest. I promise. I appreciate all the tips.
But one arrived this morning that will take this scandal to a whole new level. It suggests that former Deputy Chief Mike Stodell was involved in the scandal. Anyone have additional information?
Well you didn’t listen to iePolitics when we told you that Mark Uffer is a liar and look what it has gotten you. And you didn’t listen to iePolitics when we told youMike Ramos is a liar. If any of you are living under a rock and don’t know about the affidavits, I suggest you ask another district. Although the information hasn’t been released to the general public yet, I know for sure it is on the Fifth Floor. And you all are going to look like complete fools for believing the only person who can lie as much as Adam Aleman. Continue reading
The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) was established by the California Legislature in 1959. Its purpose is to set minimum standards and levels of training for law enforcement officers in the state of California. According to their website:
The POST program is voluntary and incentive-based. Participating agencies agree to abide by the standards established by POST. The more than 600 agencies in the POST program are eligible to receive the Commission’s services and benefits, such as job-related assessment tools, research into improved officer selection standards, management counseling services, the development of new training courses, reimbursement for training, and quality leadership training programs. POST also awards professional certificates to recognize peace officer achievement and proficiency.
Here are a few of the certificates offered by POST: Continue reading
Inquiry centers on command staff accused of forging documents. Report headed to D.A.’s office
Senior members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are under investigation for allegedly forging training documents for personal gain, according to officials.
The department has completed its investigation and the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office next week, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said Friday. Continue reading
Mark Averbeck, candidate for San Bernardino County/Sheriff Coroner announced today that he has requested the District Attorney’s Office to cause the San Bernardino County Grand Jury to investigate allegations that high ranking members of appointed Sheriff Rod Hoops management team committed fraud and defrauded the tax payers of San Bernardino County by misappropriating over $50,000. For several months now, information has been circulating around the Sheriffs Department and has been reported by one local news organization that as many as fifteen members, both sworn and non sworn personnel, were investigated for falsifying Post Certificate applications. Reportedly, this fraudulent conduct allowed Sheriff Employees, including high ranking administrators, to receive increased pay that was unearned. This extra pay was money they were not qualified to receive. Continue reading
The story below on Captain Gray, his wife, and the falsified P.O.S.T. certificates has been on our blog since last year with a heck of a lot more detail than is included in the Sun article. Although I’m glad Sheriff’s candidate Rick Averbeck was able to get the media interested after months of us trying, it does seem opportunistic. Continue reading