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Paul Tanaka • The Downfall of Paul Tanaka
" F— the FBI!" – Trial of Former LASD Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, Part 3
by Celeste Fremon
Written by Celeste Fremon
The trial of Paul Tanaka, the former second in command of the nation's largest sheriff's department, finished its second day of testimony on Tuesday.
Mr. Tanaka, who is charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, reportedly once believed himself to be a sure thing to replace former sheriff Lee Baca as the department's leader, when Baca resigned.
In fact last Friday, during the first day of testimony, one of the witnesses—retired LASD commander Bob Olmsted—said as much to the jury in response to questions.
("I make all the decisions in on the department," Olmsted said Tanaka confided later. "I make all the promotions in the department. And I'm going to be the sheriff for the next 15 years [after Baca], so I need my people around me.)
The first witness up on Tuesday, was former LASD deputy Mickey Manzo, who is one of the seven former department members who were convicted of obstruction of justice nearly two years ago. Their convictions have since been appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Manzo told the jury that now, post conviction, he's working as a receiving associate at Home Depot. Yet, he looked relaxed on the stand, although he did not want to be there, and had to be officially compelled by judicial order and promised limited immunity.
Much of the purpose of Manzo's testimony seemed to be to place Mr. Tanaka at crucial meetings, and to give some of the details of his alleged words, actions and influence in relationship to the series of events that have resulted in the charges against him.
Before his conviction forced to leave the department, Manzo was a member of Operation Safe Jails (OSJ) the gang investigative unit that worked inside the county's jail system.
Manzo told how, in mid-August 2011, he learned from another jail investigator that an inmate named Anthony Brown had been caught with a contraband cell phone. Yet, when the other investigator had the numbers on the phone traced, counter to conventional expectations, Brown had not been calling family or criminal confederates with his mobile device. Instead, he had been calling the civil rights unit of the Los Angeles office of the FBI.
Manzo said he immediately passed along this startling information to his boss, Lt. Greg Thompson (another of the seven who have already been convicted of obstruction) who then directed him to interview Brown early the next morning, along with Manzo's partner, Deputy Gerard Smith (also among the seven previously convicted), because he would need to brief Sheriff Baca, and then undersheriff Tanaka.
Manzo told the jury about how Thompson arranged for him and Smith to attend the meeting, which took place later that same afternoon, on August 19, 2011.
Manzo described Baca's demeanor at the meeting as "confused, as if he didn't know what was going on.
Prosecutor Brandon Fox asked about Tanaka's demeanor?
"He was visibly upset."
F— THE MOTHERF—–S!
Manzo and Smith were also permitted to attend the meeting called by Baca for the following day, August 20, 2011. The meeting was on a Saturday, and Baca showed up wearing a tracksuit. Heads of various departmental units were there, including Tom Carey, captain of the department's Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau or ICIB. (Carey was originally Tanaka's co-defendant, but he has now made a deal with the feds, in return for testimony.)
According to Manzo, the highlight of the meeting came when Thompson played excerpts from recordings of the Brown interview to those gathered, (excerpts that the jury heard on Tuesday aw well). When the recordings stopped paying, Manzo reported, Tanaka reacted to what he'd heard with fury.
"He stood up," Manzo told the jury, "and said 'Those motherfuckers! Who do they think they are?! Fuck them!
Them meaning the FBI, Manzo explained.
While the witness spoke, over at the defense table, Mr. Tanaka, who was dressed in a grey suit, a blue shirt, and a Wedgwood colored tie, wrote furiously in a lined notebook without looking up during most of Manzo's testimony.
Manzo said that Baca announced that Captain Carey would be heading up the investigation, and that everything that came out of the investigation would be run through Mr. Tanaka.
Baca and Tanaka then left the meeting, and a few minutes later, Tanaka came back alone.
According to Manzo, Tanaka said that he'd known the sheriff for a long time and he'd never seen him that upset, and that the investigation into the Brown matter was hugely important.
In a later email, Manzo's partner, Gerard Smith, would characterize Tanaka as saying the investigation into Brown, the cell phone, and Brown's connection to the FBI was "one of the most important investigations in the department's 160 year history."
SHUTTING OUT THE FBI
Tanaka also said, according to Manzo, that "nobody could interview Mr. Brown without Tanaka's approval."
But, as luck would have it, that's not how things worked out.
On August 21, Manzo, Smith plus ICIB lieutenant Steve Leavins (yet one more of the convicted seven) interviewed Anthony Brown again.
Two days after that, on August 23, according to Manzo's testimony and also later testimony by FBI special agent David Dahle, three FBI agents, including special agent Leah Marx, and Dahle, came to Men's Central Jail and checked in, using the routine that was usual for law enforcement who are coming to MCJ to interview inmates. Initially, all went as expected; no one stopped them and they spent time with Brown, asking him about the cell phone discovery, and reassuring him they would be back soon. Then, however, around an hour into their conversation, an LASD sergeant burst into the interview room and announced tersely that the interview was "over."
According to Manzo, Greg Thompson learned of the FBI's presence when the interview was already well in progress. Furious, Thompson made a call and demanded that the interview "be cancelled."
ICIB's Leavins wanted to know how this could have happened, said Manzo.
Later, Thompson reportedly told Manzo "he was going to go up to Mr. Tanaka's office and, to use is words, 'fall on the sword.'"
Manzo was present at the falling-on-sword meeting later that day.
"We got yelled at quite extensively," Manzo told the jury. "[Tanaka] said that we had really let him down, that this was a hugely important investigation and we let him down."
Then Tanaka again cranked up the intensity and decibel level, according to Manzo.
"Fuck the FBI!" he yelled.
Manzo read aloud a later email string between assistant sheriff Cecil Rhambo and Manzo's boss, Thompson, that had been exchanged, post Tanaka meeting. In one email Rhambo characterizesd the FBI being allowed to get to Brown as "the mother of all screw ups.' Still, Rhambo assured Thompson, "He still loves you, as do I." He being Tanaka.
In other emails, the jury heard that now "all FBI interviews would be subject to approval by Mr. Tanka.
On whose orders? asked Fox.
"He [Thompson] said 'this is what Mr. Tanaka wants."
Anothter exchange of emails Manzo read to the jury indicated that at first Thompson was going to send out "a custody-wide notice, effective immediately, about the requirement to require any FBI approaches to Brown to be approved by undersheriff Tanaka." But The former undersheriff rethought the idea of having his name on such an order.
In a subsequent email, Thompson said he would "remove all reference to [Tanaka]and all executives."
Instead the jail liaison was to be the official gate-keeper, as far as most were concerned.
Yet, at the August 23, fall-on-the-sword meeting, according to Manzo, Tanaka wanted "a one hundred percent guarantee that it [the FBI getting to Brown] wouldn't happen again."
Thus the idea was launched for rotating teams of guards—two guards to a team—to be stationed outside Brown's cell, round the clock.
Brandon Fox: Were there any discussions of Anthony Brown's safety at that meeting?
Manzo: No
WHO GAVE WHAT ORDERS?
Much of the rest of Manzo's testimony contained information on such topics as how Anthony Brown's guard detail was allegedly set up, how Brown's name was changed to obscure his whereabouts, and how he was made to vanish from the jail computer system.
On cross examination, attorney for the defense, Dean Steward made the point that, due to his new status as an informer, inmate Brown legitimately needed protection, that he could have been in danger from other inmates, and also from deputies on whom he had attempted to inform.
Steward also established that Baca spoke, by far, the most at what Steward christened the "track suit meeting," in reference to the former sheriff's get-up at the August 20, 2011 gathering, called after the discovery of Brown and the phone.
"Did he tell everyone to get to the bottom of what was happening…?"
Manzo agreed Baca did.
"And he talked about Anthony Brown being protected?"
Manzo again agreed.
(And although it was not counterclaimed again on Tuesday, it is still important to note that, in opening statements, defense attorney Jerome Haig stated unequivocally that Paul Tanaka never said "Fuck the FBI.")
SCOPE AND PROCESS
The rest of the day featured testimony by FBI Special Agent David Dahle and LASD Commander Judy Gerhardt.
Dahle spoke about the scope of the FBI's investigation into brutality and corruption inside the sheriff's department, and gave small glimpses into the process used, including the differences between overt and covert investigations, and how the grand jury process worked.
For instance, Dahle said that over 80 witnesses were subpoenaed to testify in front of a grand jury, and more than 80 did indeed testify.
Over a half million documents were subpoenaed during the investigation, said Dahle.
Also, with Dahle on the stand, the prosecution played excerpts from the multiple interviews by various department members—most of them now convicted of and sentenced for obstruction of justice—-and inmate and FBI informant Anthony Brown.
Across the various interviews, those doing the questioning seemed most interested in what Mr. Brown knew about the feds who were investigating their jails, how long they had been investigating, and what information he had given them in the course of his time as an informant. Browns questioners agreed to supply their subject with cheeseburgers, and cigarettes if he would cooperate.
Stay tuned for Part 4.
And, if you missed them, read Part 1 and Part 2.
Jack Dawson says:
What is so disgusting about this whole thing is that now we have more proof than ever this was an "open secret" in the entire department.
Tanaka tells Rhambo who tells Yim who tells the Commander at the time who is now the Chief of the division that Thompson needs to fall on his sword.
Meanwhile, we pick the guys who carried out these orders and look most appropriate to stand before a jury of their peers in this anti law enforcement environment, and crucify them. DOJ gets their stats and justice. LASD says the cooperated.
Folks, there were three divisions in collusion on this thing and you have every rank involved. Sgt. DG even sat on Anthony Brown for t-bone, but you don't see him on the stand nor standing up for his guys either. Anybody care to discuss the cell op with the appropriate demographic asking Anthony Brown about the cell phone? I believe it was MCB and various other units who conducted a surveillance operations on a FBI agent? I don't think that stayed at Sgt. or Lt. approval level…..
What are you doing up there in your fancy new office other than putting your head in the sand hoping the scapegoats will die; Jim McD?!?
ALADS and Green Shinee failed to uphold their mandate as well. The Executives sent our guys on a suicide mission and you failed them. You even went as so far as to deny legal representation because the most junior guy stepped out and hired a firm that actually wins. Oh yea, no kick backs so it was outside your legal plan.
What we now know is the malicious state of mind grew from the execs, but guess who pays the piper….. There were almost 50 deputies and detectives working this thing in some sort of capacity. We are being misled, under served, lied to, and thrown at the feet by a dogmatic and scared boys club.
Can't wait to see you at raging waters this year.
Ownership says:
Celeste……What did Gerhardt testify about???
Oh Well says:
I didn't know it was a secret at all that LOTS of people knew about it even if they weren't indicted as co-conspirators. Impossible for it to take place otherwise. We ALWAYS knew that station personnel had to be aware of it. The jailers and WS's & WC's had to be advised at the very least that he was being held in their facility. You don't think the station captain was 914N?
The chance of OSJ deps. showing up with an inmate at a station jail, that inmate being kept at the jail and nobody being advised of it are exactly zero.
InterestedParty says:
And why weren't any brass from San Dimas, the location where Brown was hidden during the Pandora's Box operation, either indicted or testifying during PT's trial? I see the former SD captain is now the ICIB captain. Ironic?
Quasi Moto says:
These court proceedings provide convincing evidence that both FBI and LASD organizations are like twisted, gnarled, overgrown vines of infested bureaucratic deadwood producing clusters of underdeveloped fruit unusable for anything except compost.
Insecure primping and posing in uniform communicates importance.
Special units lose their original purpose to evolve into jellyfish seeking identity washed in by the tide.
Investigations are structured to consume budgets.
Cases are driven to maximize approved overtime and expense account per diems.
Expanding simple statements into volumes of forms and reports is called productivity.
Mediocrity is called leadership.
A career of advancing and promoting into a secure retirement without ever completing anything is called perfection.
The FBI and the LASD should be disbanded and everyone laid off.
Its possible some valuable purpose or important service is left unfilled. Government can then assign it or create a position to cover it, after society identifies and demands it.
Questions says:
Other than Tanaka who were the other execs whose names were taken off the email?
Not Again says:
Jack you are correct. But, there were two Chiefs and at least three Commanders who are all now Chiefs. Each one of them knew what was going on. Mc D does not care to cleanse the Dept. of these people, in fact he promotes those they push in front of his very nose. He either just does not care to see true justice done, or he just does not care.
I wonder how Fox and Co. decide who gets to read other people's e-mails into testimony?
Why not let Agent Dahle or Commander Judy read them, since we are already paying them to use up oxygen in the courtroom?
Or call Cecil Rhambo to the stand to read his own emails ,and let Manzo get back to his job as forklift flagman at the Depot.
The Tanaka trial will prove, once again, that you never give a badge and a gun to guy who still has issues with getting teased for being short in elementary school and that
expecting the FBI to do Civil Rights is like counting on the Army Corps to build a levee that protects New Orleans.
Thankfully, Fox and Co. have preserved a bit of suspense.
Trial watchers are awaiting testimony on who conspired to recharge the battery on Brown's smuggled cell phone?
And the jury needs clarification on testimony about Brown's request for cigarettes –
did he ask for Kools? Newports? Benson & Hedges?
Or did he ask to try the Shermans that deputies and FBI agents were obviously smoking.
While doubtful that USA vs.Tanaka goes down as one of the most important trials in history, but some producer will get rich by adapting the transcripts for Broadway.
It will be like Westside Story meets Evita meets Waiting For Godot.
Some folks can't wait that long. And they don't have enough time to closely follow all these proceedings.
The good news is that everything Pandora's Box trials reveal about the LASD, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney and the Federal court you can learn by watching one episode of South Park.
No More Rip-off says:
Spot on! Jack Dawson. You called it. The boys club is slowly being exposed. Dick Shinee (Green is deceased) is a Pimp, minus the walking stick and the feathered purple hat.
You already know who his hookers are. Unfortunately the blind Johns who have no clue are the "till death do you part" dues paying Deputies and District Attorney Investigators. Hopefully after this saga ends, membership will wake up and protest against drinking the poison.
Where is justice? says:
I honestly think that Tanaka had it right for once. F— the FBI. Roll Tide !!!!!
Oh Paul, the squeaking of the vise tightening with each witness is hilarious. I had a chance to sneak across the street today and I wanted to high five Powell today as he got off the stand. The sound of your jaw hitting the ground during his testimony is still resonating. Tom Carey is ready to deliver the Coup de Gras. Sleep tight, your other half is exploring options.
So the feds had been listening to the EPC meetings for 10 years eh? I wonder how hard they laughed at Moonbeam. Which speech drew more laughter? The infamous Dust Particles or his "I'm Going to Live to Be One Hundred" incoherent ramblings.
Just to think, Stonich, Waldie, Tanaka and the rest of his yes men thought it was strictly an inside joke that the "Leader" of the largest sheriff's department in the world was loco.
Secret Squirrel says:
So, what do we think? Five years? Seven? Ten?
Intheknow says:
@ 4, what else is ironic is the Lt Née who was Tanaka's aide at the time Brown was ordered hidden by Tanaka is now also a Captain at Stanley Most court house.
Intheknow, yes, its also interesting that none of MCJ's management at the time, Cruz, Nee or the other 2 Tanaka-planted lieutenants who were placed there to ensure the Tanaka interpretation of the force policy which led to the FBI investigation, were either on the witness list or indicted. These were the morons that instilled the belief in the deputies' minds that Anything Goes, that "Mr. Tanaka has your back." These guys we're in the eye of the storm. Are they all really going to skate on this?
12: The feds have been listening to EPC for 10 years? Too bad that fixing tests and IAB's is not a federal crime? Too bad the feds didn't listen in on Waldie and Stonich ruin a once great LASD? Perhaps the feds can release what they did hear? Maybe they followed Waldie to his fav places? Last, what is the differences between Stonich, Waldie, Tanaka and Baca?
Do you think that Dan Cruz and Cecil Rhambo will be called?
Make Him Stop says:
@Oh Well…testimony yesterday did not link live Mic's in small EPC room to Feds. The feed terminated into sheriff's data network.
LikeTheOldUniform says:
San Dimas personnel were told they were getting a "Special" they were to house in their jail. It was an order coming from Tanaka and if you had any questions they had to take it up with him. The inmate was coming with his own security detail (consisting of several grizzled OSJ deputies who thought their s–t didn't stink). When they first arrived, the WC questioned the OSJ deputies as to just who he was housing in the SDM jail. He was told if he had any questions he could call the ICIB lieutenant (newly promoted SL). The WC took it upon himself to call SL. He subsequently got chewed out by the ICIB lieutenant who told him it was a Tanaka operation and could not be questioned. That operation was "walled off" inside the jail like the Great Wall of China.
cops4trump.com says:
March 20, 2004| LA Times. Did you guys forget this? Oh yeah, take a look who was with him in Pakistan. "I've done some stupid things with you, Lee," says Ted Sexton, sheriff of Tuscaloosa County, Ala., "but this has got to be the stupidest." Baca does sometimes say things that are difficult to follow or downright off the wall. In Pakistan, for example, he advised his fellow travelers that "you have to be a universal person to keep up with the demands of a modern world;" and, later, "You have to have the consistency of the now."After seeing horse- and mule-drawn carts side by side with automobiles on the roads of Lahore, he remarked: "These donkeys are very dutiful animals. They're saying, 'I don't screw with you and you don't screw with me." Minutes later, Baca walks by a military band playing a Pakistani song, and the 6-foot-1 sheriff spontaneously breaks out in dance. He grabs his wife and, arms up over his head, saunters and twists, Zorba-style, across the yard. They're the only ones dancing, and people are staring, laughing and clapping.Back on the bus, Baca seems energized by his dance."That's what I do. I celebrate the different cultures of the world," he says, sitting back in his seat. "I don't just celebrate. I participate."
http://www.cops4trump.com
There's no Santa? says:
@17 – Make Him Stop, you've ruined the fun of thinking that the FBI had to listen to Baca's speeches to his "Executive Planning Council" for 10 years.
That thought of them listening to Baca's speeches was almost as much fun as them then listening to Undersheriff, Stonich telling the Chiefs, as he always did, they had to "Do whatever the Sheriff wants." – no matter how bizarre.
I can see the transcript now:
Baca: "I think we can make an inmate work program out of wildlife conservation. So I want the roof of MCJ to be turned to an oasis for migrating Canadian geese. And I want it built so that we can have a place among the ponds where the prisoners can visit their families. Make it beautiful and serine."
Stonich: "You got it boss!
Sound of door closing
uninteligible sounds of mumbling and throats clearing
Stonich: "Alright, you heard what the Sheriff wants. When you think about it geese management might be something we could get the school district to fund. And perhaps we could get a Federal Wildlife grant. I also want to look in to asking the Board of Supervisors for a Lieutenant, 3 Sergeants and 18 Deputies to work the program."
"Custody, report back in two weeks."
Transcript ends with the sound of feet shuffling out of the room.
Now, IF they had listened to that crap for 10 years, I can GD guarantee you the FBI would have had to rotate their investigators to keep them from suffering the same fate of those who had to endure the top brass of the LASD. The only difference is that the FBI listeners could turn off the frigging tape!
And Make Him Stop, you've ruined all the fun of dreaming what could have been.
Barnabas Collins says:
A few answers to above questions. #16 and #17 allude to microphones being found in the 4th floor EPC room that lead to the Sheriff's Data Network. Most likely these were for conferences and Sheriff's messages that used to be a weekly thing for department members.
Judy Gerhardt testified to how writs and subpoena's are processed. Nothing to implicate anyone in any wrong doing.
The courtroom was packed today as Paul Tanaka took the stand. He went point by point over his career, starting as a reserve officer and a couple of years as an El Segundo PD Officer and then a Deputy Sheriff from 1982 or so to 2013. Not only has he been Mayor of Gardena for 12 years, he is also a CPA and has had a side job doing that for 20 plus years.
It does seem that the courtroom is packed with a lot of people who have had run-ins with Tanaka over the year and smell blood. Indeed, its pretty obvious that Tanaka was not a touchy feeley kind of boss, but what in the testimony even comes close to rising to the level of a crime? Is saying "F the FBI" mean you deserve federal prison?
Retiree says:
@15, Née stood by as Lt while all that corruption in the jails was going on. Same thing at the court on the 5th floor. The head clerk up there and her supervisor buddy are always rude, mean and yell at the people at the public counter. I think someone took down the 800 # for the public yo call and complain. A mess on the 5th floor.
I hope the new Sheriff gets wind of this. That head clerk and her buddy supervisor won't allow the public to speak with a higher up when the public wants to complain. But when ever Née goes up to the 5th floor to do a drive by those workers up there sing a different tune.
@ #20 No Santa,
Exactly. Some people just have to ruin the fun.
Was your geese roof example inspired by the Koi Pond at BC? Criminals sitting by the Koi Pond to take a moment and reflect. Engage in some introspection.
You CANT make that shit up. Unless of course you're Leroy Baca. It came natural to him. The sadness of having a fucking lunatic as the top man of the worlds largest sheriff's dept. is only surpassed by the disgrace of his yes men who told him how intelligent he was. They all told him he was a "Visionary".
They're a bigger disgrace than Baca. Moonbeam couldn't help himself. Those fuckers looked the other way re: greed.
@20 Sorry no Santa…but you did make me laugh! I only reported what testimony I heard. If we just had those tapes! @22 You are either joking or you couldn't possibly have truly listened to the testimony. PT is a criminal and he should go to prison. His testimony insults the intelligence of the LASD & the community he proclaims to protect. Please. Enough already. Make him stop.
LATBG says:
Sheriff Moonbeam did leave us with a life's worth of cringy, wish-I-wasn't-here moments. I recall once hearing Stonich brag about his boss: "That's a PH-f–king-D! after listening to Baca discuss cosmology or something. It was disgusting.
Barnabas, reducing Tanaka's actions to merely saying "f–k the FBI" is wrong. There are many people already convicted for their actions in either abusing inmates or obstructing the federal investigation of those allegations. Obstructing justice is a crime, and ordering subordinates to do exactly that should get Tanaka as long, if not longer, a sentence as those already convicted. He should be convicted of each act of ordering a subordinate to do something illegal, and have those sentences served consecutively, not concurrently.
Oh Well, those greedy bastards are still 10-8, polishing their stars or bars, working the 8th floor or whatever admin rogue floor of the refurbished downtown HQ. Tanaka read them correctly when he initiated his empire building scheme. There will never be enough time or distance for these fools to put behind their misdeeds.
Space limitations caused me to make the transcript an excerpt of the full conversation. Also on the tape was this exchange after the Sheriff exited and the door closed:
Unknown male voice: "Here we go again."
Stonich: "I've asked you before. Don't you like your County car?"
Unknown male voice: "I gave my $500 to his campaign fund and the $250 for the Rose Parade float."
Stonich: "Well, so have all the Captains and Commanders, one of whom can be sitting in your chair next week if you are tired of fulfilling the Sheriff's visions of the Department's future."
Unknown male voice: "I think we should think about the roof at CRDF for our next project."
Soooooooooo,,,,, I don't know and I don't recall becomes a firm no in your own trial.
Sheriff McDonell: they should go and that's all you need know.
As I was, there are two "n's" in your name. While I have to stomach your name on every building, I don't write enough flowery memos to tell you everything is gravy. Sheriff McDonnell******
I too am fallable, but I was taught in the academy to correct it ASAP.
Light at end of Tunnel says:
I just read where Tanaka said he was guided by a strict moral compass. Geez… his attorney is betting on a defense where the Jury must believe that everyone conspired and lied about Paul and he is the only one telling the truth. The attorney made a very bad strategic move that will come back and haunt them. They didn't drag out Tanaka's testimony to go into the next day. They finished at the end of the day and now they have given Brandon Fox a whole weekend to review Tanaka's lies and come up with a great cross. I hope you didn't pay much for this clown, but deep down I am glad you got him as he will help send you to prison. When will you resign from Mayor and stop taking taxpayers money… where does that fit into your moral compass?
Make Him Stop,
Yes it was a joke. Powell didn't find any bugs when he swept the EPC room. It was merely a "Can you imagine" moment when the topic of the bugs came up.
It's a moment we can ALL have a hearty laugh at re: what they would've heard had it been the case.
Turns out you didn't stop the fun, so no harm done.
No Santa is still having a good time with it.
Nice job No Santa.
This isn't the first time that Paul's "Moral Compass" has come into issue.
My comment from the prior times still applies. Paul most certainly does have a "Moral Compass". The problem is that his compass has a bunch of magnets on its binnacle that he can move around as the situation dictates. (Nautical types will understand – the point being that Paul could make his "Moral Compass" point anywhere that he wanted it to.)
So I take it all those suck ups that were there supporting him and Leroy at the CCJVC hearings were not there? Well they already got theirs and continue to do so under this new failed leadership. Speaking of which, rumor has it a few Station Captains are in hot water for alcohol related incidents. Anybody have any direct information on that?
malibucvb says:
To "Ownership" @2: Re: Judy Gearhardt testimony. One of 3 custodial witnesses. Testimony (by way of EXHIBETS of email chains) involved primarily receipt, tracking and forwarding of subpoenas, among them the Fed Writ for AB, and same for AB's original Records Jacket.
4Trump,
Nice one. I had forgotten about that. Your example is perfect, in three ways.
1. It shows the depth of Moonbeam's issues.
2. It shows Sexton was travelling the world with him, before Moonbeam brings him in as a chief.
3. It shows just what a good time Moonbeam was having globetrotting the world, while the little guy was left to mind the store. Consequently Tanaka was able to become the de facto boss of the LASD.
Again, VERY NICE!
#18, OldUniform,
Okay. Fair enough. So the WC knew that they had a "Special" and they weren't to ask any questions. He was told to call Tanaka if they had a problem with it and it was walled off like the Great Wall of China.
Sounds to me like the SDM WC would've made a great prosecution witness. He might not of known the inmate's name, but he didn't need to. All he needed to know, for purposes of this case is exactly what you described in #18.
Factoid says:
Unfortunately the hallmark of Pandora's Box along with the legacyof the past regime will be "Blind Loyalty & No Balls". The "Yeah Boss" mannequins will ride into retirement and infamy as gutless.
Kudos to Commander Olmsted Captain Clark, Lt Gonzales and other unnamed people who had the courage to refuse to play ball with bullies.
I don't see any reason testimony couldn't have been given regarding this. Any potential witnesses are probably still waiting on subpoenas.
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