Sunday, April 12, 2015 – 10:00 a.m.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has a problem with San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos.
It was bound to happen sooner or later!
Ramos’ treatment of his office as a political machine for his own benefit may finally cost him.
There’s a detailed story in the Sunday edition of The Sun newspaper that raises valid concerns. To read it, click the following link: ACLU calls for expanded probe of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
The videotaped beating of a unarmed High Desert man, after he stole a horse and led San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies on a long drawn out chase, is unfortunate catalyst.
I know. It actually sounds like something from a Western.
Sheriff John McMahon, at a Friday afternoon news conference, made a statement that appears to have raised eyebrows at the ACLU. The statement being that McMahon’s agency would investigate everything, related to the arrest of Francis Pusok. McMahon then went on to say that he had spoken personally to Ramos. McMahon said his agency would turn over its findings to Ramos for review to determine whether or not charges will be filed.
Translated: I spoke to my buddy Mike, and he’s got my back.
But some ninety minutes later, the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C. and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), all crashed the party.
The new development? The FBI will conduct its own probe, and the Justice Department will decide what happens.
Translated: Attorney General Eric Holder and most likely President Barack Obama watched the video.
In reality, this scenario begs a few questions.
Why would the “Sheriff”, not an underling, be personally calling the “District Attorney”, not an underling, directly over a use-of-force incident involving his own agency, prior to the completion of any investigation?
Why would the “District Attorney”, not an underling, feel the need to reach out and reassure the public that he will do the right thing?
Apparently the term “Arms Length” is alien to these two “Elected Officials”.
This is the second major investigation the Justice Department has picked up, involving the Sheriff’s Department, in the past thirteen months.
The first time both local agencies, Sheriff and District Attorney, were essentially shut out. That would appear to be happening this time as well.
The ACLU, among other things, points to essentially a cheap political stunt, where Ramos went on the offensive against Comedian Jon Stewart. The issue was over a partially-inaccurate statement Stewart made about a recent Taser death, involving the now “internationally-infamous” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
In his Youtube attack on Stewart, Ramos basically said someone needed to defend law enforcement.
To clarify, here’s a little excerpt from the aforementioned Sun news article:
Wong, however, challenged Ramos’ objectivity, pointing to a YouTube video in which Ramos blasted comedian Jon Stewart over his portrayal of the Dante Parker incident and argued that law enforcement officers deserved to be defended.
“I truly believe that someone needs to stand up and have a voice for the people who are protecting us on a daily basis,” Ramos said in the video.
Ramos may be correct.
But I guess Ramos, an elected District Attorney for God’s Sake, decided to take up the job himself. Being that Ramos is running for California Attorney General and all, and needs law enforcement union support.
Let’s face it. Ramos has no one watching over or supervising him. Especially the California Attorney General, who herself is running for another office.
Also, don’t count on any help from the Board of Supervisors in this mess. They’re scared to death of Ramos and McMahon. The county supervisors, key word here being “supervisors”, and county chief executive officer, all believe if Ramos can’t find anything to charge them with, he’ll just make something up. After all, Ramos’ reputation for protecting his friends and allies, while legally blistering his perceived enemies, is known far and wide. So they, county management, refuse to deny both men any budget request, or dare to speak out against them.
Let’s not forget. McMahon falls into the aforementioned category of a Ramos friend and ally.
Now back to the soon-to-be beating case.
The Justice Department has one risk in letting Ramos do any local prosecutions here. That risk being, can they trust him to not tube the case, if charges are filed.
Remember the white wash Ramos just engineered on the Sheriff pay scandal case?
Remember back when Ramos referred to himself and former Sheriff Gary Penrod as Batman and Robin?
Remember the failed prosecution of a Deputy Sheriff for allegedly attempting to steal a cigarette lighter? (Yeah I know. But it’s true.)
Remember the failed prosecution of a Deputy Sheriff, who allegedly tried to extort money from a San Manuel Tribal Member?
Remember the outright dismissal of a case where a San Manuel Tribal member allegedly attempted to set his girlfriend on fire?
Remember the case where Ramos let two San Manuel Tribal Members, convicted in a murder-for hire scheme, receive fifteen years probation?
Unfortunately, the list is longer.
But in actuality, there shouldn’t even be a list.
One thing is becoming crystal clear. A Federal microscope is coming into focus on the application of justice in San Bernardino County, and the local media, which has protected this machine for more than a decade, has much responsibility to bear.
The whole situation is pathetic.
I knew something like this would happen under McMahon’s watch. He was not prepared for the job of Sheriff. Not much experience other than admin duties. A little traffic Inv over the years but not really any police work as a front line officer. He is a very personable guy who is a excellent gladhander. He surrounded himself with his fathers friends in the construction industry very early on. His father Jack built a home for Gary Penrod and a few others. John now lives in Penrod’s old house/ranch in Oak Hills.
McMahon and his family have close ties to a lot of supporters of past Sheriff’s in the County. When you ask John how he is doing? his answer is always the same ” PERFECT” always upbeat and friendly. Nothing wrong with this but it comes off phony and something a politician would say.
If you really get to know him he is not the same guy inside as he projects. He can be very mean. I heard a story about him many many years ago. One of his young daughters forgot to give one of his horses water. His way of teaching his daughter a lesson was to withhold water from her for an entire day. Not the good fellow you would expect from a guy who says everything is perfect.
To be a true leader of a large department you have have some understanding of Patrol and Investigations and what deputies do while working. Sitting behind a desk for 30 years and riding horses with donors does not cut it.
Going to be a hard road for many on the Department for many years to come with the feds and the likes of the ACLU watching every move. Sad thing is McMahon will grab that $250K per year pension in two years and move to his ranch in Idaho, leaving the department in shambles.
Nice HDC, but McMahon’s pension is going to be based on his highest-year salary & benefits and will be a lot higher than $250k/yr… the Devil’s Will be done.
Does anyone reading this blog have an opinion about Mike Ramos running for AG…will he do it as a Republican, Democrat or independent?
Let’s bump this article up a notch.
We heard Sheriff McMahon tell everyone in the news conference that his specialized investigative unit was doing the criminal part of this incident.
The Sheriffs best friend is Captain Leland Boldt is the commander of specialized. They have property together in Idaho. Look at McMahons Facebook. You’ll find pictures of the Boldt’s hanging out with John. Hurry before the pictures come down.
Beyond that, myself and Sharon Gilbert watched both McMahon and Bolt ADMIT under oath when cross examined by attorney Michael Schwartz they were GOOD friends. NO not a crime.
Now what brave soul wants to put his name behind saying ” Leland would call BS on McMahon”?
I think Ramos would run on a Republican platform. But who really knows with him.
This agency needs to be looked at so there is not another LAPD or LASO. They have more than enough information and persons willing to provide information to support a more in depth and historical look at the culture of corruption. You have deputies behaving this way because it is a reflection of the top brass. Those “company men” always get a pass. One of these deputies is the son of a Lt. Two case in points, Deputy Paul Gallant and Deputy Joseph Catallano. Both deputies still work for the department. Both deputies are “company men” both by actions and family relationship. Both deputies are convicted criminals. YES, convicted criminals. Why isn’t this being discussed? How is it that a Deputy Sheriff, CONVICTED for ASSAULT UNDER THE COLOR OF AUTHORITY 149PC is still on patrol? How is it that a deputy who served JAIL TIME for ASSAULT while a deputy sheriff, is still a deputy sheriff?
The answer is obvious. Can someone explain why the IA department within the sheriffs department can knowingly and continually lie under oath, fabricate and withhold evidence, conspire to commit these acts (all documented in transcripts and evidence) and nobody does anything? And we wonder how these things happen?
Is the FBI or ACLU going to take the lead and prevent, rather than respond after the fact. This incident is nothing when compared to the travesty of justice from recent incidents. You only need to look at this blog and iepolitics to get a taste of events lately. Employees being fired for standing up against the agencey, yet no support from outside agencies. A Nurse refusing to violate an inmates rights is fired, then exonerated and nothing? Deputies shooting victims of crimes without cause and then being allowed to “stress” retire. How much more money do idiots like James Mills think is acceptable and “the cost of doing business” before leadership is FORCED into this agency.
There are current employees (appealing) and former employees who have been fired false and unsupported charges. Evidence was falsified, lost, fabricated, and withheld. IA investigators, command staff caught lying. The DA and PIU refusing to look into these cases without a report (really? by those who are accused of wrong doing) The Public Defender who does not want the information because “its the duty of the DA to provide it”(that sound like the best interest of defendants?) The county RE HIRES Laura Ornelas, the one person solely responsible for numerous bad termination pay outs. Support Cynthia O’Neil who violates her code of Ethics routinely. A County who places a FORMER Deputy Chief on the Civil Service Commission to support their terminations.
Yet people like James Mills and others think this is acceptable behavior. It’s disgusting, Unethical, immoral, and unprofessional.
If the FBI, Attorney General, or ACLU don’t step up to the plate, this gency and county board of supervisors will continue hide behind closed doors and sealed payouts to keep business as usual.
Paul Schrader for sheriff
Maybe Mike Ramos would like to try and explain how he protected Lt. Bill Maddox?
The FBI had no difficulty taking down the shenanigans of the largest Sheriffs Department in the country LASD.
You think John McMahon has more juice than Lee Baca? I doubt it. Where is Baca. Crickets!!!
18 months from start to finish in obtaining convictions on those idiots who followed orders.
And its being reported their still not done looking.
Play stupid with federal investigators, I bet they have room in their jail.
If I were McMahon I’d be worried all those folks out there that he, Hoops, and Penrod screwed moving up the ladder.
McMahon can throw all the little employees he wants to under the bus. I suspect by now the FEDS know what a diversion is.
Look at the “training” div and who they have doing the “training”.
#6 LASD and LAPD look and run much better than SBSD. McMahon and SBSD is looked upon as a place for fired cops and cops who have criminal histories to get hired. The only people that think SBSD is so bitchen are the few SBSD deputies that are on McMahon’s leg. Get real that azz beating on TV the other day is probably normal for 50 percent of the poorly trained morons at SBSD.
I would say poorly ran depending on who the boss is. Many of the upper echelon have done some ugly stuff themelves and it didn’t prevent them from moving up. When the troops see that over and over it sets piss poor example. You know get your truck registered in Idaho. Others got fired, days off, demoted or hand slapped for the same thing. Do as I say not as I do might be a killer for McMahon. I suspect a federal judge will be assisting McMahon on decision making before long. A deputy and nurse took McMahon to task not long ago. McMahon’s only real challenge in his career. I can’t see McMahon being smarter than the FBI even with the assistance of his little buddy Mike Ramos. McMahon just lost one of his ace coverup lawyers. Mills put his foot in his mouth again.
McMahon isn’t smart. He was just a step and fetch it for Hoops.
They should investigate SANBAG while they are in town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFCLfcDRQUU