Los Angeles, CA: What qualifications does it take to become the civilian police monitor for the largest county in the nation? In a newly released two-part interview, on the Full Disclosure Network® (FDN), UC Berkeley educated attorney Merrick Bobb, reveals his background on how he got the job as the civilian monitor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He describes how he develops recommendations on strategic police tactics and jail operations while under contract to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and responds to a critical report prepared by the Sheriffs Deputy's union.
Viewers are invited to watch a FREE four-minute preview of this two-part interview with Bobb, conducted by host Leslie Dutton and now available online, 24/7, on demand, as a public service. Also featured in the interview and preview is Roy Burns, former President of ALADS, the Association of L.A. Deputy Sheriffs. The full interview is featured on 43 cable TV systems and eventually available online to FDN subscribers.
Highlights of the full interview are:
Part I: Background & Foot Pursuits
Segment #1
Merrick Bobb describes in detail how he became interested in law enforcement policy and tactics following the Rodney King incident when he served as a Deputy Legal Counsel on the Christopher Commission to reform the LAPD.
Segment #2
Bobb describes how he developed the LASD policy to ban solo foot pursuits by Deputies chasing fleeing suspects and expresses the concerns that motivated him alone to initiate this policy recommendation.
Segment #3
He fields criticism leveled at him by the ALADS (Sheriffs Deputy's Union). He details his recommendations on when, how and why Sheriffs Deputies should call for back up. This segment features Roy Burns, former LASD Detective who was instrumental in organizing a scathing rebuttal to Merrick Bobb's Report to the Board of Supervisors on the solo foot pursuit ban.
Part II: Methodology & Jail Operations
Segment #1
As the civilian monitor Bobb describes his goals and methods used to develop recommendations while not having a law enforcement background or training. He points out his experience on the COLTS Commission as having been important. And he describes the values and traits found in most law enforcement officers as being important considerations for the motivation behind their actions.
Segment #2
In this segment Bobb explains the purpose of JAIL and the difference between county jails and state prisons and the role of jailers. He comments on the strikingly different jail operations in Maricopa County, Arizona and condemns conditions that would make inmates uncomfortable, citing rehabilitation as a goal and the Constitution prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment.
Segment #3
Finally, Bobb points out that there is one major reason why there are problems in jail operations. He carefully states that he does not fault the County Board of Supervisors for the problem. He addresses the early release of inmates versus the need to build more jails. And, defers to a "smarter and safer" approach to law enforcement over a "softer and gentler" one.
Full Disclosure® program is billed as "the news behind the news". Host Leslie Dutton has been conducting interviews with law enforcement officials regarding police politics and public policy since 1992, interviewing all the Chief's of Police from Ed Davis to William Bratton and most of the Police Commission Presidents and Los Angeles County Sheriffs Block and Baca. In 2002 Dutton was presented with a local public affairs Emmy Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the series "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism".
Comments to date: 7. This is page 1 of 1.
Larry Fink Cedar Ridge Ca
Posted: 03:42 pm [PST] on October 03 2009
During my career as a CHP officer, we knowingly carried ammunition for over 6 years, which "would not kill." This was a over-penetration liability issue with the 357 magnum round we had traditionally carried. And then, rather obviously concern for offcier safety was not involved. As a trainnig officer during those years, I taught officers not to shoot directly at the suspect, so that he would not know you lacked th ability to actually hurt him. People like Bobb, simply do not have a clue. They take thier supporting information from those at the top, who have either never been in harms way, or have been in an office for 20+ years dealing with departmental liability civil actions. People like Bobb advocate that police not get invovled in car pursuits. In neighboring Rocklin, only a few years back, a police officer was in an evening high speed pursuit for no other reason than because the offender fled. When cornered and taken into custody by the lone officer, a young girl was found tied up in the trunk of that vehicle. Were that "my" daughter, I would be today still looking for the likes of Bobb. These "paid professional cop haters" are no less than a boil, on the ass of society. Street officers go to work each day only to be emersed in horror.... and litterally put thier lives on the line to protect people.....even people such as Bobb.
Lamarr Alabama
Posted: 09:23 am [PST] on June 27 2009
Bobb is obviously another left coast nutcase. Having him critique the police is like having doctor critique the military. Neither of whom have the expert knowledge or experience to do so.
Phillip Lambro Los Angeles
Posted: 11:46 am [PST] on June 16 2007
Reduce the birthrate and there will definitely be less criminals.
If you take 50 field mice in the area of a football field, they all get along; if you take 50 field mice and you put them in a box, they will attack each other.
Robert Los Angeles
Posted: 05:01 pm [PST] on June 10 2007
The compassionate Merrick Bobb doesn't say this outright, but I assume he'd rather release prisoners much earlier than their full sentence, to ease overcrowding in the jails, rather than have prisoners sweat from the heat in the tents. Bobb seems to think that if we're as nice as possible to criminals, they would be less likely to commit more crimes when they're released. But I think just the opposite is true. When prisoners are release too early, before they are properly reformed, they present a higher danger to the public. I wish the compassionate Bobb would have addressed this issue of increased danger. His salary of $200,000 per year doesn't make sense, especially when his criticisms weaken law enforcement as a whole.
Jerry Boyd, Chief of Police-ret Baker City OR
Posted: 10:42 am [PST] on June 04 2007
Another example of an ivory tower academician's liberal views which, unfortunately, even some so-called law enforcement leaders buy into.
Chloe Bystrom Simi Valley, CA
Posted: 08:16 am [PST] on June 04 2007
Awesome!! I also like your new marketing stance. Glad someone is taking on Merrick Bobb and the ACLU and telling it like it is.
Jack Miller Torrance
Posted: 02:18 am [PST] on June 04 2007
What a bunch of crap....This guy "Bobb" is an arrogant ass!