Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® presents an hour long, two-part Sheriffs Candidate Forum with the law enforcement officials who are campaigning to become the next Los Angeles County Sheriff on the Internet via streaming video, in their entirety. This video forum is moderated by Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and is made available on the Internet FREE, 24/7, on demand, as a public service of the Full Disclosure Network starting May 31, 2006.
PART ONE:
- EARLY PRISONS RELEASES: Candidates offer their solutions to the stop the early release of prisioners who are serving little or no time in jail due to over crowding, citing the dangers of early releases.
- SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY: The various arguments pro and con as to whether or not the L.A. County Sheriff's Department should be considered a social service agency versus a law enforcement agency.
- ISSUING CONCEALED WEAPON PERMITS & GUN CONTROL: Contrasting procedures on how and when to issue a CCW are presented along with the rationale.
PART TWO: [Click here to watch]
- RETAINING DEPUTIES WHEN COMPETING AGENCIES OFFER BETTER BENEFITS: an examination of policies, procedures that have eroded the morale and size of the work force.
- JAIL VIOLENCE AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: management of the jails and the continual flow of inmates present conditions that aggravate the ability to control the jail population.
- ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, WHAT CAN A SHERIFF DO ABOUT IT?: This segment was was videotaped following the Forum due to the Adelphia Eagle Rock Studio having shut down production. Watch Video News Blog #30 for complete explanation 12 minute video news blog
The high ranking law enforcement officials who are challenging Sheriff Leroy Baca in this election and who appeared on this Forum are: Captain Ray Leyva, Captain Ken Masse, (ret), Lt. Don Meredith and Sheriff's Sgt. Paul Jernigan.
This two-part Full Disclosure Network® Sheriffs Candidate Forum, minus the last segment is scheduled to air on L.A. City Government Channel 35 on Saturday June 3rd from 12 to 1 p.m. and on the L. A. Channel 36 on Sunday, June 4, from 8-9 p.m and Monday, June 5th from 4-5 p.m. Other channels and airtimes are available from the website.
Known as "the news behind the news" Full Disclosure Network® is seen on 43 cable systems and the Internet. In 2002 the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented host Leslie Dutton with an Emmy for the 2001 public affairs series entitled "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism" featuring LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, L.A. County Sheriff Leroy Baca, L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley Thomas and Police Union Director, LAPD Captain Ken Hillman.
Comments to date: 13. This is page 1 of 2.
Rick San Pedro
Posted: 03:33 pm [PST] on July 24 2008
I believe Sheriff Baca should be voted out because of his love of the spotlight. If I have to see one more pic of this bald guy hugging young starlets I will barf. The guy flys around the world like his is the freaking President of the United States. The job has gone to his bald head. Did Andy Griffith jet set all over the damn place? No. He is like President Bush. A big mistake. Lets give Baca a chance to get a gig in Hollywood. He has gotten to big for his britches.
Dr. Bill Anderson Beverly Hills, CA
Posted: 01:57 pm [PST] on July 19 2007
I feel the early release problem is not working because federal inmates are being held in the State's facilities. There is a easy fix to this problem and that is H.R. 3072. Reviving Federal Parole would ease tension in the county jails creating extra room and would allow Federal inmates equal right like the inmates in state facilities. Federal Parole is not just given, it is earned. Reviving Federal Parole would free up a lot of room so that the state inmate would have enough space to house their inmates and that would solve the problem with the early release. The early release program an incentive for good prisoners and should be handled a little better so that these repeated offenders called frequent flyer are not allow to have the privilege of the early release program.
Federal Prisons are being overcrowded with thousands of non-violent 1st time offenders. Some of these offenders are mothers with small children and no criminal history and are serving unnecessary 24 year sentences for first time non-violent offenses thanks to unjust sentencing guidelines and mandatory sentences.
Many of these offenders pose no threat to public safety and don’t need imprisonment. The cost to house just one prisoner alone is over $29,000 per year. The prisoners aren't being paroled because The Federal system no longer has Parole since Congress abolished Federal Parole in the mid 1980’s and passed harsh sentencing laws. However, State prisons still offer parole to state prisoners. Due to Lengthy sentences and no Parole for Federal prisoners, there have been a major increase in the incarceration rate among non-violent first time offenders that are not likely to repeat their offenses. Longer sentences are not necessary for these offenders that could be serving shorter sentences or sentenced to prison alternatives like community service, home detention, or mental and drug treatment programs. The savings could mean billions for tax payers. Money could be applied to schools, colleges, healthcare, housing assistance, job training, small business grants, social security retirement, etc. Instead, federal leaders are wasting money by throwing 1st time offenders in prison for long periods of time at the tax payer’s expense.
Riviving Federal Parole would greatly assist the problem of overcrowding which cause unsafe working conditions for our service men and women in the facilities.
Tom Long Beach
Posted: 10:32 pm [PST] on June 05 2006
I disagree with RAndy. Meredith is the best choice. An outsider is needed, like when Pitchess came to Sheriff's from FBI, or Bratton from NY to LAPD. Plus Meredith has a broader base of experience.
Tom Long Beach
Posted: 10:32 pm [PST] on June 05 2006
I disagree with RAndy. Meredith is the best choice. An outsider is needed, like when Pitchess came to Sheriff's from FBI, or Bratton from NY to LAPD. Plus Meredith has a broader base of experience.
Randy Temple City
Posted: 08:27 pm [PST] on June 05 2006
Ken Masse had the best solutions to the questions. Meredith appeared knowledgeable but lacks the required experience to effectively run the Sheriff's department. It is very doubtful someone from outside the department can run it. Masse is the logical choice.
Al Burbank
Posted: 04:03 pm [PST] on June 03 2006
I do not want Baca, but I found these interesting comments in the news media.
L.A. Weekly’s June 6
Captain Ken Masse lacks the temperament to run a system that serves so many different communities.
By Stuart Pfeifer and Robin Fields, Times Staff Writers
May 24, 2006
One of the challengers, retired Sheriff's Capt. Ken Masse, was recently informed by the district attorney's office that he may have violated state law by soliciting contributions from Sheriff's Department employees. No charges were filed against him.
Joe LA County
Posted: 12:16 pm [PST] on June 03 2006
Nobody has a chance of beating Leroy.
Marie Brouwers Azusa,CA
Posted: 07:10 pm [PST] on June 02 2006
Don Meredith is definitely the best candidate in this race. He has the best solutions to the current issues plaguing the Sheriff's Department. Don Meredith is my choice for the next Sheriff of LA County!!
Marie Brouwers Azusa,CA
Posted: 06:57 pm [PST] on June 02 2006
What a great opportunity for the Sheriff candidates. It is unfortunate that Don Meredith's name is mispelled.
Irving Gonzalez Norwalk, CA
Posted: 01:05 pm [PST] on June 02 2006
I believe that the next leader should not be an administrative officer,but a deputy who is out there on the line who sees what is going on a day to day basis. I believe that LT. Paul Jernigan is the best choice. Another thing we should do,is to put the deputies out on the street right after the academy. Fill their jail positions with civilian jailers or deputies on a lower pay scale.