Failed state parole system almost cost LAPD officers their lives…again
Parolee-at-large tries to kill 3 officers

Contact: Eric Rose (805) 624-0572 or
Paul Haney (626) 755-4759

LOS ANGELES, September 29, 2010 – Last night in the 1600 block of Temple Avenue, LAPD officers shot and killed a parolee-at-large who assaulted them with a high-powered assault rifle.

Moments before the deadly encounter, a check of the license plate revealed that the car had been reported stolen. As the three officers prepared to make the stop, Jack Schlesinger, 28, a parolee-at-large, stopped suddenly and attempted to kill the officers with the assault rifle. The officers immediately fired their weapons, striking the parolee and killing him.

“Yet again, the failure of our parole system has nearly cost LAPD officers their life. While the case illustrates the dangers LAPD officers face every day, it also is a deadly reminder that the administration of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) needs to be immediately overhauled. Schlesinger was only one of 13,000 dangerous felons that the CDCR was supposed to be supervising, but who had not reported to his parole officers and therefore was classified as “at-large”, free to roam our streets," said Paul M. Weber, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League.

In July, a parolee who had been dumped on our streets under new CDCR “non-revocable” parole policies attempted to murder two other LAPD officers. In that case, a hard-core gang member, misclassified as “low-level, non-violent,” opened fire on two officers who were attempting to stop him for a DUI offense. In the resulting exchange of gunfire, Javier Joseph Rueda, the parolee, was killed.”

“We warned the public and CDCR well ahead of the fact that their early release, non-revocable parole program and missing parolees would threaten the lives of police and the public. CDCR cavalierly and stubbornly refused to listen to reason, instead embarrassing themselves with comments that their dumping of felons would “incentivize” the police to arrest them for new crimes. Within weeks of implementing the program, the CDCR admitted that nearly 656 inmates had been mistakenly released early because they had misclassified them as non-violent,” added Weber.

“With 13,000 parolees-at-large, one of whom tried to kill three police officers last night, coupled with an ill-conceived early release program that misclassifies inmates and nearly cost two other police officers their lives in July, we have no confidence in the leadership of the CDCR. Their driving motivation is cost-cutting, not public safety. Is it going to take the death of a police officer to replace those who run CDCR with competent administrators?” asked Weber.

This is not the first time the League has raised issues about the CDCR and their ability to do their job. For two years, the LAPPL has been warning state leaders and residents that the CDCR’s various failures, from early-release to failing to supervise parolees, represent a significant threat to the public.

Related releases:

1. Wanted parolee in Valley killing highlights parole system failures
   Omar Armando Loera is one of over 13,000 parolees unaccounted for
2. Failed state parole early-release program nearly costs LAPD officers their lives (7/14/10)
3. Los Angeles Police Officers call on Governor to Stop Dangerous New Parole Program (5/5/09)
4. LAPPL Statement on Proposed Massive Prisoner Release (5/23/09)
5. Los Angeles police officers denounce inmate early releases as dangerous and counterproductive (7/9/09)
6. State to release thousands of felons; Prison gates open January 25 (1/15/10)
7. Governor "commutes" sentences of 6,000 inmates (1/21/10)
   
   
   

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.