Tim Sands
October, 2008
In Loving Memory
On behalf of the Board and all of the members of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, I wish to extend my deepest condolences and sincere prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of Police Officer III Spree DeSha, Office of Operations, who tragically lost her life in the Metrolink crash on Friday, September 12 in Chatsworth. Officer DeSha is surived by her parents Allan and Sha, sister Mariah, and life partner LAPD Officer Laura Gerritsen. Known as a dedicated officer with strong ties to community causes, DeSha will be sorely missed by all who were fortunate enough to know and work with her.
A special thanks to our colleagues at the Fort Worth Police Officers Association: Director Robin Krouse and Sergeant at Arms Stephen Hall. They made a special trip to the League while they were in town on unrelated business so that they could hand deliver a donation to the Officer Spree DeSha Blue Ribbon Trust Fund. We thank them for their generosity and support.
Detective/Director Jack
Cota Retires
It is my honor to congratulate Detective Jack Cota on his retirement after 37 years on the Department. The League extends a heartfelt thank you to Jack for his hard work and commitment to the Department – particularly his invaluable contributions towards combating gang crime; and to the League and its members – both as a Director for the last two years and Delegate for the prior 24. Jack could always be counted on to go the extra mile in ensuring the success of all the League’s endeavors, and his good humor and tireless work ethic will be greatly missed. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement, Jack!
Trying to Fool the Public Though a Clever Ballot Name
Proposition 5 has been accurately called by Steve Cooley “… the worst public safety proposal ever.” That is why the Los Angeles Police Protective League has joined the California District Attorneys Association, the California State Sheriffs Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the California Police Chiefs Association and former Governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis in vigorously opposing Proposition 5 on the November ballot.
The disastrous effects of Proposition 5 can be seen in three areas: the restriction of the criminal justice system; the absence of evidence-based treatment for addicts; and the financial burden to the state of California. The proposition would lighten sentences for criminals who deal multi-pound quantities of drugs and eviscerate the tools needed to ensure drug users successfully complete drug treatment. The proposition is financed by George Soros, who has publicly called for legalizing drugs and eliminating penalties for illegal drug use. The initiative’s title is deliberately misleading – the “Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act” (NORA). Prop 5 is not limited, as its name implies, to non-violent offenders. In fact, it will shorten probation time for meth dealers and other drug felons from three years to six months. Offenders who were convicted of violent crimes more than five years in the past and those who were arrested, but not convicted, of violent crimes would still be eligible for some aspects of Prop 5. Perhaps most distressing is the fact that repeat offenders who were convicted of five different nonviolent felonies in a 2.5-year period would not only be eligible for Prop 5, but judges would not have the discretion to deny them access to the program even in the interest of protecting public safety.
Prop 5 allows offenders to commit six consecutive felonies and/or probation violations before receiving any meaningful sentences; requires that inmates released from prison on parole be supervised only for a few short months; and does not require them to return to prison for committing new misdemeanor crimes or continued drug abuse.
In short, by preventing judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials from doing their jobs of holding criminals accountable, Prop 5 enables offenders to continually violate the law and abuse illegal drugs.
It will also forbid those drug dealers from being sent to prison, meaning already crowded local county jails will become more crowded. In addition, cities and counties will have to foot the bill for housing these new prisoners, meaning less money spent on local law enforcement. It will likely kill off the very effective drug courts in California, which is why Proposition 5 is opposed by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. And finally, it will remove the ability of the Governor to appoint members of the parole board.
The centerpiece of the initiative is the reduction and removal of criminal penalties for most drug crimes. On the surface, this seems like an idea that will lower the prison population and keep Californians safer. However, by removing criminal penalties and crippling the ability of courts to enforce treatment, it will only result in more drug users and dealers.
The “Yes on 5” campaign is being funded by billionaire George Soros and is supported by the ACLU. Soros has publicly stated his opposition to drug laws. In a little-noticed passage of his autobiography, George Soros says that if it were up to him, “I would establish a strictly controlled distribution network through which I would make most drugs, excluding the most dangerous ones like crack, legally available. Initially, I would keep prices low enough to destroy the drug trade. Once that objective was attained I would keep raising the prices, very much like the excise duty on cigarettes, but I would make an exception for registered addicts in order to discourage crime. I would use a portion of the income for prevention and treatment. And I would foster social opprobrium of drug use.”
The most outspoken opponent of Prop 5 is Steve Cooley. “Prop 5 is not about helping drug-dependent individuals; it’s about helping drug users stay drug dependent. It also gives drug dealers a virtual get-out-of-jail-free card. Imagine a dealer caught with more than two pounds of methamphetamine getting the same treatment as someone arrested for a gram,” said Bonnie Dumanis, District Attorney of San Diego County and President of the California District Attorneys Association.
Even well-known Hollywood figures are opposed to this ballot measure. Actor Martin Sheen – like his son Charlie Sheen – has battled substance abuse and is co-chairing an effort against Prop 5. “I believe in rehabilitation and not incarceration. But successful rehabilitation needs accountability and so often demands direct intervention in the life of someone who is addicted to drugs. That’s why Proposition 5 is so terribly dangerous. Proposition 5 promises rehabilitation, but actually prevents it. Proposition 5 would cripple successful rehabilitation programs and dramatically limit the power of judges to help those who need it most,” said Sheen.
Let’s make no mistake about it – the forces behind Proposition 5 are not pushing the measure to reduce the scourge of drug abuse on our society. They are pushing the measure because they believe all drugs should be legal – and knowing they won’t be able to legalize drugs, are trying to do the next best thing, which is to drastically weaken all punishments for drug dealers and users. It is important to get the word out that the provisions of this initiative do not promote safe and effective drug policy; rather, they promote the political positions of those who want to advance the drug legalization movement in California.