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| Calif. Officers Union Accused in Probe |
| By Los Angeles Times |
| Published: 06/04/2003 |
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Two veteran internal affairs investigators for the state Department of Corrections charged Monday that the state prison officers' union used its influence to block their investigation into charges that officers at Chino state prison beat five inmates a year ago. The investigators were looking into allegations that the inmates 'were attacked and beaten by a group of staff members' early last May. The complaint says the inmates were 'in full restraints' when the incident occurred. According to the complaint, the Chino officers were retaliating for a fight earlier in the day between prisoners and correctional officers near one of the sprawling prison's cafeterias. In their complaint, investigators Robert Maldonado and Richard Feaster charge that the investigation was stymied when the California Correctional Peace Officers Association convinced state Corrections Director Edward Alameida to order that they turn over taped interviews with inmates to the suspects' union representatives. The investigators balked at what they said was a rule that would jeopardize their investigation, and turned to state Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer's office for help. Lockyer's office took control of the probe. But according to the complaint, the state Department of Justice 'failed to actively pursue the investigation' because of pressure from the officers' union. No specifics were given as to the pressure allegedly applied on the attorney general. Lockyer's office denied that its investigation was hindered. 'I can tell you this: We did the best investigation we could under the circumstances,' said Lockyer spokesman Nathan Barankin. Union officials denied that their intervention disrupted the investigation. Barankin said the attorney general's office turned over its findings a month ago to the San Bernardino County district attorney to make a decision about whether to file charges. Prosecutors are still reviewing the matter, a spokeswoman said Monday. The investigators filed their complaint with the state Board of Control as a prelude to bringing a lawsuit against the state. The five-page document says the officers have suffered 'damage to career and reputation' and 'potential elimination of job and/or punitive job transfer.' Their allegations are expected to become a focus of a legislative hearing later this month. 'They were just doing their job,' said San Francisco lawyer John H. Scott, who represents Maldonado and Feaster. 'They're a hair's breadth away from having their jobs eliminated and probably having their careers ruined because they're being identified as whistle-blowers. They haven't been willing to roll over and let a criminal investigation be pushed under the carpet.' |
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