Report: LA deputies held arrest contests

[devilgrrl]

Report: LA deputies held arrest contests

LOS ANGELES - Sheriff's deputies have been competing in organized contests to see who could make the most arrests, who could impound the most cars and who could question the most gang members.

The contests were meant to boost morale and motivate deputies, but some observers are crying foul, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

One of the competitions, outlined in an internal Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department e-mail, was "Operation Any Booking." The object of the contest was to see who could arrest the most people in a 24-hour period.

"It's just a friendly competition to have a little fun out here," said Lt. James Tatreau, who helped organize the events. "It's a morale booster."

Tatreau said that when he joined a station in Lakewood, he noticed some patrol deputies made 15 to 20 arrests a month, while others made seven arrests in an entire year.

The prize for winning was "bragging rights," Tatreau said.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071004/ap_on_re_us/arrest_contest

[bryant69]

1. Now that's disturbing

And frankly something that should be clamped down, and probably more common than you'd like to think.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[wtmusic]

2. Lt. James Tatreau sees no problem with it

Some people are so f*cking stupid.

[AX10]

3. Massive lawsuits could be in the works.

[flashl]

4. Prosecutors in Illinois had convictions contests

The Chicago Tribune wrote a long investigative series about the 'Two-Ton Contest'.

One of the articles: The flip side of a fair trial - Some Cook County prosecutors break the rules to win

There MUST be another way to 'build morale'.

[Hepburn]

5. Your would think that the LASO would....

...think back to the LAPD and the Ramparts scandal and realize that playing games or being dishonest is really not a great idea...to say the least.