Wednesday, February 11, 2015 – 09:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 – 03:00 p.m.
It’s safe to say last week wasn’t a good week for San Bernardino County Government.
For a county whose main mission is to sweep problems and dirty laundry under the rug in order to keep it from the public eye, medication is probably in order.
The first bit of bad news involved Michael Lipsitz, a now former Field Representative for Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos. The Sheriff’s Department accused the former aide of smuggling drugs to an inmate fire crew worker at the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center – North facility.
What made the whole incident ridiculous, was how it was handled.
Ramos, Lipsitz’s employer, crawled under a rock. Then out of left field comes Sheriff-Coroner, John McMahon, who via a press release, attempted to cover for the supervisor.
It’s really no secret that Ramos couldn’t talk his way out of a paper bag. So is any of this really surprising? But should we expect anything else from a politician, who’s alleged public outreach consists entirely of social media.
There’s a back story to this debacle. We’ll just have to wait for it to leak out.
Then there was new developments in the federal criminal civil rights investigation into misconduct at the county jail facilities, in particular, the West Valley Detention Center. We would normally use the term alleged misconduct. But officers have already been either fired or suspended.
The number of inmates making allegations is approaching fifty. That number will almost likely include individuals who were victims of absolutely nothing. But the door is open, and they’re going to walk through it for a hefty payday.
New filings, in five related federal civil rights cases, brought by current and former inmates, who allege they were tortured by deputies, indicate a Federal Grand Jury has been impaneled, and is currently taking testimony in Riverside.
It would, at least, appear the U.S. Attorney has developed enough information to actually present to a Grand Jury. It’s not a good sign.
When this whole situation initially broke, McMahon was blaming the entire ordeal on a few “bad apples”. He further said his agency was on top of the situation, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) came knocking at the door.
But that was during campaign season. Now that McMahon has secured election to a four-year term, he’s been as quiet as a church mouse.
One thing is for certain here. The alleged conduct apparently involves more than a few bad apples.
How far up the chain did official know about the shenanigans? We’ll know very soon.
It will also be interesting to find out who knew what, and when?
The Sheriff and District Attorney ran a joint reelection campaign. So the District Attorney overseeing any investigation into the Sheriff’s operation is laughable at best. It’s common knowledge the two officials are socially thick as thieves. The whole relationship stinks of conflict of interest.
It should be noted that the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s are doing their own stand-a-lone investigation.
No “Joint Task Force” here!
Expect an indictment in the next six weeks, or so, depending on how frequently the Grand Jury meets.
The bigger question here is how many millions of taxpayer dollars will go to clean up this mess?
There will be a joint task force in trying to clean all this up, you can bet money. McMahon will employ his best troopers for all that.
There is a couple of spin masters already in place doing their best and pretty much failing across the board.
LOL, medication needed? Some type of substance is being used by the cheerleaders and we all know it. They will need more before this is over.
This thing with the Ramos rep really smells.
LET US SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Dirty John McMahon seems to be continuing the tradition of dis-servce to us citizens. The jail is in one hell of a mess. A trained monkey could do better than this idiot. I wonder how much we’ve paid out in litigation this year due to McMahon failing to do his fiduciary duties. Talk with him for two minutes and you wonder how he passed the intrance exam to SBSD. Folks he is one of the biggest reasons this county is in the bad shape it’s in. Mills you cannot give any twist to McMahon”s failed leadership. Your an old fool.
Good, ’cause the JOINT TASK FORCE was really a JOINT TASK FARCE!
It will be interesting to see if they (FBI) interviewed any of the medical staff
Haha. You boys will never be happy. If the department would’ve not made an arrest in the Lipsitz deal, you would have made all sorts of allegations. Now that they did the right thing, you still spin it! Shows how prejudiced you are.
Same with the jail incident. It was in fact a few dumb asses abusing their power. They were dealt with and yet you can’t get over it. They will answer for their crimes. But yet, it remains a continued conspiracy. No matter who the sheriff is or was, these incidents will always occur. But you will never be happy because you are idiotic. God bless. Yes, this old man is right and yes, you heard it here first!
@Only A Nurse, James Mills behavior resembles a psychiatric condition, but the name escapes me, care to help?
Mills again hot booze breath and nothing else. I’m sure the ACLU will probe McMahon.
James that God of yours might have something to say about your buddies and your defense of them when you meet him. We all get judged correctly eventually, you heard it here first!
James Mills is still rock solid on the testimony of meth addicts, but won’t admit that civil rights were actually violated when deputies have been fired…go figure.
One just needs to compare McMahons past history to NBC News Anchor Brian Williams recent debacle.
Someone warns NBC Williams is telling lies, the complaint is ignored.
Williams tells his “stolen valor” story from the Iraq war again, and the flight crew and pilot call BS on Williams. The snowball grows very quickly from there.
Fox News and others do there own research and sure enough the lie is obvious. What does Williams do when the cat is out of the bag? Apologizes and LIES again.
Social media has a field day with Williams and so do other media outlets.
In fact TWO additional potential “official” lies are being investigated and others are looking deeper than that.
NBC brass feel the heat even though they ignored the initial complaint. NBC hammers Williams to CYA.
Now I bet Mills thinks when Williams comes back off his 6 month suspension his slate for lying is wiped clean, and he should be believed and never questioned again?
McMahon makes Williams look like a choir boy.
#7 dillusional dementia. Brought on by excessive alcohol consumption? Just read his writings for the past several years. He wrote it here first.
Yep I’m delusional. Not one voice here offers a reason how the county screwed up by arresting an individual for an alleged felony! What is wrong with how the deputy handled this? County and the sheriff did the appropriate thing. Just can’t make you happy, because no matter what you are bitter.
And kenny, I never said they didn’t violate anybody civil rights. It certainly appears they will be held accountable for their actions, just as they should be. Once again, appropriate remedies are being taken by both the Feds and the county. You boys will never learn. You heard it here.
@12, perfect diagnosis
@ACU, yep, another lie has been confirmed. He stated while reporting in New Orleans, after the floods, he was saved by Police from gangs at his Hotel.
Fact: No Gangs were in the Hotel in question, New Orleans PD has no history of calls to Hotel during that period, owner of Hotel said Williams is off his rocker.
The M&M motto: Don’t worry, be (dumb &) happy!
Mills still has no defense for McMahon . The spin never works based on lies. We will see. Henry wasn’t and now still isn’t respected . Not sure why he would comment.
James you will never figure out that once you rise to the level of BRADY, MORE than once, it’s a piece of luggage your stuck with. McMahon is CLEARLY a BRADY candidate.
If you say NO, FINE. His boys are, nothing has been done about. Both Internal Affairs and County Council have SERIOUS unresolved issues.
NO ONE says the arrest of RAMOS,s rep was unlawful. Like always the defendant is calling BS. But lately the defendants or ENOUGH of them are proving BS was IN FACT TRUE.
Now if the defendant has a WEAK golf playing attorney we may NEVER know what happened at Glen Helen.
You ALSO forget McMahon TRIED to keep the jail scandal under raps. ABSOLUTE fact. This blog broke the story NOT the newspapers. He should have broke that story as quick as he did the Ramos rep story. Hmm MAYBE he is learning.
DO NOT suggest McMahon is a hero in this jail scandal. He DOES NOT have much choice unless he wants an obstruction of justice charge attached to his butt. Refer LASD jail scandal if in doubt.
Just like the POST scandal SOME are scrambling to SAVE their sorry asses. And what happened in that case? They hammered some INNOCENT people. Hmm that’s happened recently with civilians too.
If your keeping score old man you need glasses. SBSD brass are trailing badly in the overall SCORE on honesty and ethics.
I said when MCMAHON got appointed LETS see what happens giving him the benefit of the doubt if ONLY for a short time. When he got tagged with the false registration scam it’s been down hill since then.
And since you have serious baggage from the Wimberly cover up many moons ago and we move forward to today’s dat
And we move forward to today’s date it would be fair to say status quo 30 years later.
Only difference NO social media here to call BS on the crooks.
That’s a bitch. I bet Brain Williams think so.
Mr. Mills believes one good deed by McMahon is time for celebration. Still waiting for that good deed to appear. Good deed above and beyond the normal expectation of the job requirements. We already know how they throw their own under the bus.
@14 thanks for the info on Williams. Is there any doubt sharks are in the water with him?
If Williams had told these stories under oath it would be interesting to see if he would be charged with perjury?
Probably not since him and Obama are such tight buds they drive to the hamburger joint for burgers in the “beast”. (Presidential limo) during one of his interviews.
I think Williams is history. Funny how VERY few have stepped up on his behalf, especially his crew.
#13 mills, you did suggest those in the jail are criminals, most likely all liars. Innocent until proven guilty is not your way of thinking and never has been. But when you flip the coin on your corrupt friends we see you call bs immediately, with your wait and see. Funny you cops don’t mind using crooks convicted or otherwise to catch others. But when the crooks call you a crook, they can’t be trusted or believed. Frickin hilarious. SBSD standards are in the toilet.
Yes. Most people in jails are liars and criminals. Too bad you have never worked in a jail there MR. Anonymous. Innocent till proved guilty? Yes. But that hardly negates the fact that most who are incarcerated are in fact guilty. Now as far as my “corrupt friends”— if they are in jail then yes, they violated the law. But sorry idiot, Mcmahon hasn’t been incarcerated for anything and as much as you and kenny claim “Brady” cop- I can only say that is simply not true. You point to a select few passages in a select few documents and think you have nailed him. Read in context girls. Stop making the issues as you see them to be. Oh and when you boys think Mcmahon will be charged with some crime, let me know. I can guarantee that simply won’t happen. You heard it here first. God bless.
I somehow think McMahon will get his Big Chicken Dinner before his time is up.
Mills we know McMahon won’t be charged with any crimes at the local level. Like you he is part of the good old boy system. Since your hero isn’t a brady issue I am sure we will see his happy face in federal court throwing the indicted ones under the bus. I am sure you will be in the audience cheering him on. We would expect nothing less.
When McMahon actually goes to a real trial where he is truly scrutinized for whatever and survives, his ability so far is very questionable, he has not been there done that. Either has mills.
Actually 25, I have to disagree with you on your statement, “When McMahon actually goes to a real trial where he is truly scrutinized for whatever and survives, his ability so far is very questionable, he has not been there done that”
When McMahon was put on the stand in Federal court and in the Civil Service hearings of 2 recent employees and drilled by a competent attorney, he crashed and burned so badly, after each of his cross examinations, the cases were settled. Transcripts of his testimony were posted on here in the Bauer case. He proved he’s as sharp as a marble.
26 sorry I should have been more specific. When McMahon goes to a jury trial and 12 people, a judge get to evaluate him for what he is. Yes he folded like a wounded bird in those cases you mention. He is a easy target.
Yep, the only thing that saves him is that they are all in it together. They all better hope nobody decides to throw them under the bus…
I hear the bus is warming up
And it’s not a short bus, it’s the SBx!!