The Examiner.com reports:
"The ethically-challenged San Bernardino County is expected to receive yet another black eye within a week or so. Sheriff's Department officials are accused of falsifying training records that were submitted to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.), resulting in tens of thousands of dollars being paid to each recipient that was not earned.
P.O.S.T. was created to set minimum selection and training standards for California law enforcement. Certificates include basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory, management, and executive. Specialized certificates can also be awarded. Each new level brings with it a raise in hourly pay.
Sources close to the investigation say that up to 27 sealed indictments were issued this past Friday by two grand juries. Some of those involved are said to be high-level officials of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and the indictments could go all the way to the top.
The story originally came to light last year when a local political blog, iepolitics.com, reported details of the story the department had attempted to cover up. Mainstream media did not pick it up. However, during the 2010 Primary when appointed incumbent Sheriff Rodney Hoops faced two opponents, transportation officer Mark Averbeck, and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputy Paul Schrader, the issue resurfaced and some local media covered the story. Hoops quickly dismissed it as having been fully investigated.
Originally, the department claimed that three individuals were involved including, including a captain and his wife. The captain was allowed to pay back approximately $16,000 and then retire. His wife was transferred to a new assignment. But a report surfaced showing many more than three participants. The department continued to cover up the story but eventually the Grand Jury became involved. Now the department's employees are waiting to find out how many of their management staff will be indicted. An answer is expected by March 7".
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Officials expected to be named in indictments involving P.O.S.T. scandal - Los Angeles Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-los-angeles/officials-expected-to-be-named-indictments-involving-p-o-s-t-scandal#ixzz1FI0MIYR4
Blogger Bob's comments: FIRST, What is troubling is the election-time cover-up of the P.O.S.T. false reports--didn't these certifications have to get signed off by Sheriff's Department management? SECOND, weren't there verification procedures in place approved by the command structure? If not, why not? Who knew about the false submissions and did nothing about them AFTER the falsity of submissions came to the attention of Hoops and his Captains? Why wasn't this openly and truthfully dealt with prior to the election by the sheriff's department, the media? It was an issue in the election but it was dismissed as resolved so basically no big deal? THIRD, the question that nags me is what else is the Sheriff's Department burying (no pun intended)? Since the consolidation of the Coronor's office and the Sheriff's department, which this blogger questioned as creating potential conflicts of interest, are notices of death certificates being sent to the Registrar of Voters? I am hearing from relatives of deceased people, that they are still getting mail in ballots for their deceased family members. Can we trust this Sheriff's management team to protect the integrity of the ballot box if they can't accurately oversee and police their own filling out forms under the penalty of perjury? FOURTH, why 2 grand juries?
