Gangs and law enforcement and Gangs within law enforcement...

On March 6, 2023, the Los Angeles County Civilian's Oversight commission issues a lengthy report chronicling the existence of gangs within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States, responsible for serving over 4 million residents in Los Angeles County. Unfortunately, like many police departments across the country, the LASD has had its share of issues with gangs within its ranks.

Some experts attribute the prevalence of gangs within law enforcement to the "Code of Police Silence," a culture of loyalty that encourages officers to cover up for each other's mistakes and misconduct. Others point to systemic issues within police departments, such as poor training, inadequate oversight, and a lack of accountability.

In October, 1999, two years after the released of my novel, Code of Police Silence, Behind The Thin Blue Line, as a former peacekeeper, I authored an Op Ed piece in the L.A. Times to draw a distinction between corrupt cops, such as disgraced LAPD officer Rafael Perez who plea bargain to save his hide when caught in criminal conduct, whereas, Riverside Police Officer Rene Rodriquez chose to do the right thing when he spoke out against white cops exchanging high fives following the tragic fatal police shooting of 19-year-old African American, Tyisha Miller. In solidarity for the the officers fired by their police chief, many of the rank-and-file officers in Riverside shaved their heads in protest.

My closing message in 1999 was to ask America's peacekeepers to "speak out against injustice and encourage one another to stand up to those who bring dishonor to America's peacekeepers." Today I ask the community to hold law enforcement accountable for their actions and work together to create a culture of transparency and accountability that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all residents.