Baca Calls for Law on Code of Silence

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable

October 14, 2011
for Immediate Release
Contact:

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

323-383-6145

Press Advisory:

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca Calls for Criminal Prosecution of Deputies that Engage in Code of Silence on Abuse

Says Will Not Resign

 Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca called for a law to make it a criminal offense for law enforcement officers to keep silent when they witness and fail to report abusive behavior by other law enforcement officers. Baca made the call in an exclusive interview with Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson and host of The Hutchinson Report Newsmaker Hour on KTYM 1460 AM Radio, on Friday, October 14. Baca also said that the he would not resign and that the calls for him to resign do not address the problems of Jail violence.

“Sheriff Baca’s frank call to make it a criminal offense for officers to engage in the code of silence on police abuse, “says Hutchinson, “Is a welcome call. Legislators should take action on the Sheriff’s call. The code of silence has no place in law enforcement and has served as a cover to commit and protect officer abuse.”