In 1997, the LA METRO Board decided to eliminate their own police force in favor of contracting law enforcement services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department. The personnel from the disbanded force were split between the two agencies, with 60% going to LAPD, and the remaining 40% to the Sheriff’s Department.
Since then, the contract has been expanded to include the Long Beach Police Department, which patrols sections of the METRO line that traverses their jurisdiction.
I thought the agreement was a bad idea back then, and think it is an even greater boondoggle today.
As written, the contract called for the LASD to absorb a multitude of administrative and other costs, which to my mind were too high a price to pay. As I recall, then-sheriff Lee Baca was a proponent of the move, apparently more as a way to expand the Sheriff’s Department than to add any meaningful value to public transportation.
Over the ensuing years, the METRO line has come under increasingly harsh criticism for the dramatic rise in crime and the public perception that the system is patently unsafe for riders. To their credit, the staff of the LASD Transit Services Bureau (the bureau responsible for manning and patrolling the system) has done what it can to make the system safer.
Unfortunately, management directives from the METRO Board have made it increasingly difficult for law enforcement to do their jobs properly.
Back in March of this year, the METRO Board made it crystal clear they are angling to once again re-create their own police agency. As part of this plan, they voted to allow METRO CEO Stephanie Wiggins the authority to renew the law enforcement contract on an annual basis for up to a 3-year period. It is during this period that METRO will evaluate how to plan and fund their new agency. As such, the already tenuous relationship between METRO and the LASD has become even more strained.
It is with this in mind that I believe it is high time that the LASD take the steps necessary to terminate their involvement in the METRO contract as soon as humanly possible. I believe that under the contract requirements, the LASD needs to give METRO 6 months’ notice of their intent to terminate. I say do it now. There is absolutely no reason not to make this preemptive move.
What will this do for the LASD? Other than to get out of an untenable, abusive relationship, the immediate benefit would be that the department would be able to transfer 330 personnel, 290 being sworn peace officers, to other patrol stations throughout the county. Imagine, having the ability to infuse high quality, patrol trained personnel directly into line spots to help alleviate the suffocating shortages of personnel in patrol stations, countywide. There would be no need to recruit and train these 290 sworn personnel. With recruitment costs averaging $125K per deputy, it is a huge up-front savings.
This is one of those situations where the LASD needs to just rip off the band aid and move on. It has become increasingly clear that members of the METRO Board are anti-cop and anti-LASD. Dump them now and leave them to their own devices. There is no reason for the department to hang around and wait for the inevitable.
*This story is an exclusive for The Current Report and TNT Radio originally airing on 12/28/22.
Over the Christmas holiday, air travelers scrambled amidst the chaos of winter storms and the unprecedented last minute cancellation of all flights by Southwest Airlines. , the result was thousands of stranded and disgruntled passengers. And now it looks like the future of the FAA, without leadership since March, looks even more bleak as embattled former LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington’s nomination to head the agency will be back on the president’s desk.
The sea of luggage belonging to stranded passengers. Ironically, this photo, posted by Brittany Cristiano is at Denver International Airport where Biden FAA nominee is the current CEO.
Biden hand-picked Washington in July to head the FAA despite the knowledge of multiple on-going local and federal criminal investigations which have resulted in setbacks and lengthening the confirmation process.
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, who heads the panel that overseas the FAA, said she planned to hold a hearing for the current Denver International Airport CEO to head the FAA after the new Congress convenes in January. However, before those hearings can take place, under Senate Rule 31, Biden will have to renominate Washington.
“The F.A.A. has a crucial safety mandate, and filling this role remains a serious priority for the Biden administration,” said White House spokeswoman, Olivia Dalton. Yet the agency continues to go without leadership going on a year now.
Washington’s history with the Biden administration goes back to 2020 where he lead the transition team for Transportation, which included the FAA, with no aviation experience at the time. Only in the past year has he delved into the industry sliding into the CEO spot Denver’s International Airport. To many, including members of the Senate Committee (other than Cantwell) Washington’s lack of experience presents numerous red flags when considering the experience of former heads of the FAA who have been CEOs of major airlines and/or have extensive aviation experience in the military.
Aside from Washington’s troubling lack of aviation experience which is vital when you are responsible for the health and safety of millions of passengers, is the public corruption, fraud, abuse, and discrimination allegations.
On September 14th, as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department descended upon multiple locations serving criminal warrants including LA Metro Headquarters, mainstream media has led us to believe the corruption at LA Metro under Washington was merely a “dispute” between former LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and disgraced former supervisor Sheila Kuehl.
However, when we remove the false political narrative crafted by the White House under the President and in collaboration with current leaders in LA Politics including Barack Obama’s former labor secretary and current LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a bigger story of gender discrimination, anti-semitism and attacks against the LGBTQ and AAPI communities emerges.
The Current Report broke the story of the raids and the LA County Sheriff’s Department served criminal warrants on LA Metro Headquarters shortly after 7 AM.
Washington was named in the criminal warrants along with then LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and her friend and CEO of Peace Over Violence, Patti Giggans. The local criminal investigation spanning three-years under the supervision of Undersheriff Tim Murakami, resulted in Sheriff deputies executing warrants at multiple locations which included the homes of Supervisor Kuehl and Giggans. Deputies seized documents and evidence to support allegations of fraud, abuse and Pay-to-Play at LA Metro.
Multiple DC agencies and watchdog organizations reached out to The Current Report shortly after Washington’s nomination in July after making startling discoveries online of Washington’s alleged criminal activities including the counterfeit mask cover-up exposed by The Current Report. Our story led to two federal investigations.
“When Mr. Washington was nominated in July, I expressed my skepticism surrounding his lack of experience in aviation. Now I am deeply troubled to learn the nominee was named in a search warrant that ties him to allegations of corruption at LA Metro,” Wicker said. “The committee’s vetting process will require additional scrutiny and review into his leadership at LA Metro. I anticipate that this nominee’s credibility will also be a key focus of the committee.”
Washington, backed into a corner once the news of the warrants hit Washington DC, was confronted at the Air Line Pilots Association conference. “All the allegations are false,” he said. However, The Current Report published emails supporting Washington had knowledge of the Peace Over Violence contract contrary to his statement to the ALPA.
In July, when Washington’s confirmation was announced, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) made the following statement:
“America’s aviation industry is facing important challenges in a competitive global marketplace. Now more than ever, FAA must set the gold standard in aviation safety. This starts from the top. I expect and will require strong leadership from the next FAA Administrator. I look forward to careful consideration of Mr. Washington’s nomination during the confirmation process.”
On November 1st, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, who heads the panel that overseas the FAA met with whistleblowers regarding Phillip Washington’s alleged misconduct and corruption at LA Metro.
Despite being informed of additional allegations of gender discrimination, antisemitism and attacks on the LGBTQ and AAPI community during that meeting, Cantwell continued with her support for Washington and announced she planned to hold a hearing for Washington to head the FAA after the new Congress convenes in January.
Cantwell and her office seem to be unconcerned by Washington’s egregious behavior and during the meetings with the whistleblowers, Ronce Almond, Senior Counsel at the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Aviation equated the alleged gender discrimination against woman as “funny” even going as far as calling it “dark humor”.
“It is personally troubling that President Biden believes Washington is qualified to run the FAA, let alone mentally fit.” said whistleblower and Public Corruption Specialist Adam Loew. “The evidence that I have seen leads me to believe that Washington is anti-jew, anti-AAPI, anti-latino, anti-woman and anti-American family leader, who has been personally involved if defrauding that American taxpayer.” It is unfortunate that Senator Cantwell has condoned this behavior and while it looks as if Cantwell may be a friend of Israel for political gain, he behavior presents her as one of America’s anti-jewish senators. As for Ronce Almond expressing misogyny and gender discrimination is a joke or ‘dark humor’ only shows that Cantwell has no control over discrimination on Commerce”.
In July of 2021, attorneys for Phillip Washington threatened federal whistleblowers with a lawsuit in violation of California and federal anti-slapp laws for bringing misconduct to the attention of the media and authorities. In the letter, Washington’s lawyer also eludes to him suffering from “intentional infliction of emotional distress”.
Additionally, the letter indicates the whistleblowers “have caused publications falsely stating or implying that Mr. Washington was connected to or responsible for missing or misappropriated funds at LA Metro and the publication(s) have no factual support, are false, and violate the rights of Mr. Washington”.
The Current Report has been exposing the public corruption and discrimination under Washington at LA Metro since 2020 supported by documentation and evidence in each article contrary to the claims made by Washington’s lawyer in the letter. The Current Report has never received communication from Washington or his counsel, let alone a cease and desist.
To date, no litigation have been filed against the whistleblowers and they continue to cooperate with the Senate Committee exposing Washington’s criminal misconduct.
As previously reported in the Current Report, some of the allegations included that Washington may have been involved in the deaths of multiple bus drivers and train operators when he failed to replace counterfeit Personal Protection Equipment during the early days in the pandemic.
The counterfeit mask cover-up should serve as a reminder that Washington’s questionable decision making in public safety at LA Metro could lead larger scale disasters should he be confirmed to head the FAA.
In May of 2021, Washington left Los Angeles after his contract was not renewed by former mayor Eric Garcetti. Washington then slid into the CEO position at Denver International Airport despite the absence of aviation experience and after he lied to Denver City Council that he was not involved in warrants.
Had Denver officials had done their due diligence, they would have discovered Washington is no stranger to the criminal warrant process or federal indictments including in their own back yard.
Washington left his post as Denver RTD’s General Manager to join L.A. Metro as CEO in May of 2015, however, back at Denver RTD the consequences of Phillip Washington’s public corruption were leading to the imprisonment of one of Denver RTD’s Senior Leadership Team and a direct report of Washington.
Kenneth Hardin, Director of the Denver RTD Civil Rights Division, was convicted in February of 2015 on three counts related to accepting bribes in connection with his official duties as a senior manager at RTD and was sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison.
Federal Investigators were able to prove in Federal Court that that under Phillip Washington’s leadership at Denver RTD, Hardin had exchanged contracts for cash and Hardin had lobbied RTD to renew Access-a-Ride contracts in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
While the country continues to watch the election drama unfold, President-Elect Biden and VP-Elect Kamala Harris continue moving forward with the transition to a new administration despite the monumental roadblocks strategically placed by the Trump Administration.
Using the technicalities to justify their actions, Trump appointee, Emily Murphy, the head of the General Services Administration has failed to affirm that Biden won the election. The GSA, the agency that certifies presidential transitions, has refused to trigger a process which has effectively blocked Biden’s transition team from accessing government resources – and based on information obtained by The Current Report regarding a key member of the transition team, the stall might turn out to be a good thing.
Knowingly or unknowingly, President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris have chosen embattled LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington to lead the new administration’s transition team for Transportation. A rather controversial choice as Washington is involved in multiple federal, state, local and internal L.A. Metro investigations involving allegations of criminal conduct.
Screenshot form the Biden-Harris Transition Website.
L.A. Metro CE, Phillip Washington
It is certainly plausible that the Biden-Harris were unaware that the LA Metro CEO, the head of the third largest transportation agency, is under multiple Federal investigations for allegations that as LA Metro CEO engaged in Pay-to-Play, Public Corruption, Fraud, Wasted and Abuse of Public Funds, and Wire Fraud exposed by reporter Bill Melugin back in September. Counterfeit PPE exposed by The Current Report in October helped open multiple federal investigations into L.A. Metro’s involvement in the import and distribution of fake, federally regulated N95 respirators to Metro staff. If it is found that the counterfeit PPE lead to the death of multiple Metro employees, Washington could also face manslaughter charges.
“Given the number of criminal investigations currently underway, one simply cannot imagine a scenario in which President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris will tolerate Phil Washington’s corruption” said a source close to the criminal investigations at L.A. Metro.“He was able to temporarily stop a criminal investigation by DA Jackie Lacey’s head of Public Integrity unit Alan Yochelson by having his lawyers make campaign contributions to Lacey’s campaign.” the source continued.
The Current Report discovered through a search at the LA County Registrar-Recorder Campaign database that the law firm of Sheppard Mullin, which represents LA Metro and LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington, made their first campaign contribution in 11 years to an L.A. County District Attorney election, and their only L.A. County campaign contribution in the 2020 election cycle, was to District Attorney Jackie Lacey and their only L.A. County campaign contribution in the 2020 election cycle.
In July of 2019, complaints were filed by whistleblowers regarding Public Corruption and Pay-to-Play by L.A. Metro CEO Phillip Washington, LA Metro Karen Gorman (who is accused of stealing taxpayer funds from L.A. Metro) L.A. Metro Employees Aston Greene III and member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors Sheila Kuehl, members of the L.A. City Council, Peace Over Violence and Civilian Oversight Chairman Patti Giggans.
Head District Attorney Joseph Esposito has acknowledged that these complaints are under review. In December of 2019, the law firm of Sheppard Mullin made campaign contributions to the Jackie Lacey for DA Campaign, approximately 45 days after being retained by L.A. Metro and Phillip Washington and New Orleans RTA CEO Alex Wiggins.
As a result, it appears the ADA Yochelson made little effort to investigate multiple allegations into public corruption at L.A. Metro. Yochelson has been exposed previously for his arrogance, bias and unwillingness to hold Malibu City officials accountable for their criminal activities which include alleged bribery, voter intimidation, harassment. “Yochelson is widely considered a primary contributor to corruption in L.A. County, and he will generally cower to the pocketbooks of elected officials and not investigating public corruption in L.A. County.” Said a source who has work in public corruption for several years, “Yochelson is considered the biggest joke in the DA office.” Whistleblowers in the LA Metro case received a letter from Head ADA Joseph Esposito asking for patience. However, the DA’s office has never interviewed any of the whistleblowers in this case.
LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington is no stranger to Federal Investigations. The Director of the Civil Rights Division a Denver’s Regional Transit District (RTD), Kenneth Hardin, was indicted and subsequently convicted of accepting Bribes under Phil Washington’s leadership.
In Los Angeles, several federal investigations have been fueled by Bill Melugin’s Fox11 News story about no-bid contracts between L.A. Metro and Peace Over Violence and Civilian Oversight Committee Chairman, Patti Giggans, who is one of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s best friends.
According to a source who was interviewed by Federal Agents “within minutes of Melugin’s story airing on Fox11 News, the Department of Homeland Security reached out to whistleblowers to request evidence related allegations by L.A. Metro CEO Phillip Washington, L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and Peace Over Violence and LA County Civilian oversight Commission Chair Patti Giggans.”
The corruption is out of control in Los Angeles when it comes to the stranglehold that the triangle of corruption between Washington, Kuehl, and Giggans hold over the heads of prosecutors. Washington, Kuehl, and Giggans, unfortunately, can influence the United States Department of Justice.
“Assistant United States Attorney Brendon Fox, Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, in the Central District of California is frustrating the Department of HomelandSecurity efforts to investigate allegations of criminal activity by Phillip Washington, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and Patti Giggans as it relates to no-bid contracts at LA Metro, specifically around wire fraud.” commented a source who has been interviewed with both Homeland Security and the FBI task force assigned to public corruption in Los Angeles, “Assistant United States Attorney, Brendon Fox wrote a three-page letter to the Department of Homeland Security, outlining why he was preventing Homeland Security from investigating allegations of criminal activity by Washington, Kuehl and Giggans, however, Homeland Security Directors were told privately it was a political favor of L.A. County Supervisor Kuehl.”
When LA County Inspector General Max Huntsman was asked if it was appropriate for Patti Giggans to remain on the Civilian Oversight Commission while being criminally investigated by the LA County DA’s Office Huntsman stated:
“You ask if it is a conflict of interest for someone to be part of a county commission which is being reviewed by the grand jury. No, it is not. It is the civil grand jury’s job to review any aspects of local government at their discretion and that function happens yearly. Should the civil grand jury conclude it appropriate, they are empowered to make recommendations regarding local government. Members of the civil grand jury do not generally also sit on county commissions for that reason. Not only is it appropriate for someone to sit on a commission that is being reviewed by the grand jury, it is expected.” said Huntsman.
A source close to the cases involving Washington stated:
“Huntsman’s arrogance is indicative of the broader sense that LA County Officials are “untouchable” by law enforcement and prosecutors. I work with various law enforcement agencies every day, and I can assure you that Phillip Washington, Supervisor Kuehl, and Patti Giggan’s are subject to very serious investigations. I think the task force that is looking into the criminal activity at LA Metro, LA County and at Peace Over Violence consists of 25 investigators from 5 different agencies, including the FBI task force that formerly investigating Jose Huizar.”
“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on information that has been shared by Law Enforcement or interactions I have had with the Grand Jury. However, if I were Washington, Kuehl or Giggans, I would be actively be retaining a criminal defense attorney, and letting my family know that there is high probability that Grand Jury will hand down indictments.” he continued “As for Huntsman, taunting the DOJ and the Grand Jury, well, sounds like there may be a separate federal investigation in to corruption involving Huntsman. I do know it is never good if the DOJ and Grand Jury know where to find you.”
It is well known that L.A. Metro CEO Phillip Washington wants to be the United States Secretary of Transportation. However, due to the ongoing criminal investigations into Public Corruption, Pay to Play and Fraud, Waste and Abuse of Taxpayer funds, it is highly unlikely that a Cabinet appointment is in LA Metro CEO Philip Washington’s future.
Over the last several days, Vice President Elects Harris’s office has been notified of the Criminal Investigations involving LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington, however, Vice President Elect Harris has declined to return phone calls regarding Washington.
“Phillip Washington could have been the example of the American experience, rising out of the Chicago projects to become the Secretary of Transportation. Instead Phil decided to take shortcuts, lie, cheat, steal and betray the public trust to get what he wanted, and now it is likely that he will be held criminally accountable” concluded sources close to the investigation.
According to the Build Back Better, the official Biden-Harris transition website, Washington continues to hold a key leadership position while the agency he in charge of, L.A. Metro, continues to fail its employees and the public at large. L.A. Metro has yet to notify employees of the counterfeit PPE, discovered in April at the beginning of the pandemic and could possibly be linked to the deaths of at least three employees who contracted COVID19. Additionally, L.A. Metro has yet to publicly address multiple faulty PPE equipment in their inventory – possibly still in circulation – distributed to the over thousands of employees and public at large whose use L.A. Metro services.
As government officials grapple with COVID numbers spiking exponentially, the Biden-Harris appointment of Philip Washington as Team leader for Public Transportation is a disappointing and controversial choice to say the least.
The Biden transition staff did not respond to requests for comment.
As a result of The Current Report’s previous story exposing the counterfeit PPE distributed to employees and drivers at L.A. Metro, a second whistleblower from the Bus Drivers Division has come forward and provided physical evidence of several models of potentially counterfeit N95 masks distributed to frontline employees. “This second whistleblower has offered an amazing amount of credible information and documentation which suggests there were double the number of counterfeit masks distributed to L.A. Metro employees,” said an inside source at the agency.
The counterfeit N95 mask coverup is currently being investigated by multiple federal agencies who contacted The Current Report within hours of the breaking news story.
Agents are interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence to present their case(s) to submit to the United States Assistant District Attorneys, Nicola T. Hanna and Mack Jenkins.
The latest whistleblower, to come forward, a Bus Drivers Union representative, provided photos of the second counterfeit mask (part of a separate shipment), and informed The Current Report of multiple counterfeit models which did not have the required authenticity markings per the CDC website.
Additionally, the whistleblower also provided The Current Report with information that there was a shortage of PPE overall at the agency during the pandemic, leading to increased the risk of exposure and transmission of the COVID-19 virus. According to our source, LA METRO CEO, Phil Washington, was well aware of the shortages and was not only willing to put his employees and the public-at-large at risk, but lied about it when interviewed.
As mentioned in The Current Report’s previous article exposing the cover-up: At the time there was a shortage of PPE and counterfeit masks were being distributed and used by L.A. Metro employees, CEO Washington was put in charge of the COVID19 Response Task Force for all public transportation in the country by APTA Chairman Nuria I. Fernandez who also serves as General Manager and CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose, CA, and also by APTA President and CEO, Paul P. Skoutelas.
Upon his appointment Washington said “In developing this industry-wide commitments program, we are working to build back public confidence in riding transit by increasing sanitation practices, requiring masks for all customers and operators and working around the clock to keep our frontline essential employees healthy.”
Unfortunately, Washington’s commitment program at LA Metro did not meet the level set forth by L.A. County Health directives, let alone achieve the superior program, as claimed, for frontline workers acing a much higher risk of COVID19 exposure.
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who also sits on the L.A. Metro Board, was well aware of the counterfeit PPE and in spite of numerous criminal complaints and current investigations regarding CEO Washington and L.A. Metro, has gone on record to say Washington is “the best manager she has ever seen.”
Kuehl is also one of the Board members who unanimously voted to remove Sheriff Alex Villanueva as Head of Emergency Operations, replacing him with the County CEO Sachi Hamai, who’s experience is largely in Finance, not Public Safety. Hamai’s first move in her new position was political and financial. As head of the EOC, her very first actions, raising red flags, was to require L.A. County Sheriff’s Department deputies to use their vacation pay if quarantined due to exposure of the virus while on duty.
A few days later, under Hamai’s leadership, another red flag was raised regarding L.A. Metro’s disregard for public safety. A driver at the Carson station was reported to have tested positive for the Coronavirus. The positive diagnosis sent city officials immediately into a tail spin.
On Thursday April 2nd, Carson City Council “urged” L.A. Metro to suspend all bus service in the County fearing a potential super spreader could occur among the 100,000 residents and beyond. Mayor Albert Robles outraged at the lack of action and accountability from L.A. Metro executives released this statement:
“Churches are essential, but they’ve been closed down. Many other businesses that provide essential services have been closed down. We have all [sic] done the responsible thing.But for L.A. Metro to not be responsible, not care about their own employees, not care about the passengers, not care about the community at-large and immediately suspend their operations is just irresponsible.”
COVID COUNTERFEIT COVER-UP
The first counterfeit mask was discovered by a Metro employee in April, at the beginning of the pandemic.
On May 8th, a month after the discovery, a signal operator became alarmed that counterfeit masks were still in distribution and being worn by Metro employees who were unaware the masks they were wearing were counterfeit and were continuing to be with a false sense of security.
The signal operator contacted the Director of Safety Certifications at LA Metro, Collins Kalu, regarding the issue of the counterfeit masks still in distribution. Kalu responded by dismissing the issue in an email response, stating the masks in question were “under investigation” and to use other certified PPE’s listed.
The signal operator’s efforts to warn the agency executive fell on deaf ears and according to our sources, not only did L.A. Metro fail to immediately notify employees the masks were counterfeit, the agency did not remove the masks in question from inventory.
To date more than 97 L.A. Metro employees have contracted the virus and 3 died due to complications from the COVID19 virus. The failure to alert agency employees of the counterfeit PPEs in distribution significantly raised the risk of exposure, illness and subsequent deaths of Metro employees which include drivers who serviced the greater Los Angeles area.
More than six months later, and after the story of the cover-up was released on October 7th, no safety advisory has been issued by the agency to employees. In fact, The Current Report contacted Joni Honor, Communications Director at L.A. Metro, about the counterfeit masks and anticipating the story was going to be released, not realizing the evidence we had in our possession, the communications department sent out an email to L.A. Metro employees the next morning denying the existence of the counterfeit masks.
The email sent from L.A. Metro communications department denying the existence of the masks.
PROPAGANDA OVER PUBLIC SAFETY
Multiple news outlets were contacted with the L.A. Metro counterfeit mask information on October 3rd, complete with the fake PPE information, including an incriminating email sent by the Sr. Director of Safety Certifications and Operations, Collins Kalu, yet not one reporter, including L.A. Times transportation reporter, Laura Nelson, and Deputy Managing Editor, Shelby Grad, responded to the source, nor were they motivated to investigate the counterfeit mask claims and potential criminal liability by Metro executives.
Instead, the media’s political affiliations and propaganda pushing took precedence over holding holding city and county officials accountable for endangering L.A. Metro employees and the public at large.
While this story has gained traction with federal investigators at multiple agencies, mainstream media was focused on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors on-going negative campaign in co-operation with the Citizens Oversight Commission against Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The County has gone to great lengths working exclusively with mainstream media, specifically the L.A. Times, to distribute propaganda and falsehoods about Sheriff Villanueva and his efforts to reform LASD since he took office in January 2019. Sheriff Villanueva has made painstaking efforts to release statements correcting the falsehoods distributed by the Board and the media, including an exclusive OP-ED sent to the L.A. Times on October 16th which was rejected by the newspaper. The Current Report is the only news publication to publish the Sheriff’s lengthy update of his accomplishments over the last 22 months.
As the COVID-19 numbers continued to climb, many became frustrated with the lack of transparency coming from the County. Little to no concrete information was being released even though the Board of Supervisors justified spending upwards of $2 million dollars on additional P.R. during the pandemic instead of using existing resources. Acting on a tip, The Current Report submitted a Public Records Act Request requesting communication between Dir. of EOC Kevin McGowan and the Justice Deputies days before Sheriff Villanueva’s removal as the head of EOC.
Additionally, CEO Phil Washington’s knowledge of the counterfeit PPE, willfully putting employees and the public at large at significant risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus, has purposely remained under the radar with cooperation from mainstream media in an effort to distract attention away from the criminal acts committed by the Board members, members of the Citizen Oversight Committee and LA Metro executives. This is yet another reason why the B.O.S. made the unconventional play to remove Sheriff Villanueva as Head of EOC which would therefore limit oversight from law enforcement. “This is about who can coordinate the best – it’s not correct for this to go under just law enforcement,” said Supervisor Kuehl.
The change in command at the EOC at the hands of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors has allowed a pattern of corruption in the public safety sector not seen before. With COVID-19 cases expected to rise significantly, and a mere two weeks before the national election compounded with the anticipation of a civil uprising, County officials continue to engage in a petty assault on law enforcement while the Board continues in their gross negligence in managing public health.
Meanwhile, a full scale, multi-agency investigation into the cover-up at L.A. Metro is active on a federal level and could result in potential criminal manslaughter charges against L.A. Metro executives if the employee deaths can be traced back to the counterfeit PPE.
A potential criminal investigation could be looming over LA Metro CEO Phil Washington, Chief Operations Officer Jim Gallagher, Systems Security and Law Enforcement former Interim Chief and current Executive Officer Aston Greene, as well as other high level executives at the agency, if it is discovered that employees, including drivers of LA Metro buses, were never informed the N95 masks they were issued as PPE back in April of 2020, were counterfeit and offered no protection from the COVID19 virus.
To date, there have been 378 cases and 3 deaths related to COVID19 at LA Metro since the beginning of the pandemic. A total of 97 drivers tested positive with two drivers dying due to complications from COVID19.
CAUSE FOR COVID PANIC
The first red flag raised regarding L.A. Metro’s disregard for public safety was reported early in the pandemic after a driver at the Carson station tested positive for the Coronavirus. The positive diagnosis sent city officials immediately into a tail spin.
On Thursday April 2nd, Carson City Council “urged” L.A. Metro to suspend all bus service in the County fearing a potential super spreader could occur among the 100,000 residents and beyond. Mayor Albert Robles outraged at the lack of action and accountability from L.A. Metro executives released this statement:
“Churches are essential, but they’ve been closed down. Many other businesses that provide essential services have been closed down. Have done the responsible thing.But for L.A. Metro to not be responsible, not care about their own employees, not care about the passengers, not care about the community at-large and immediately suspend their operations is just irresponsible.”
COUNTERFEIT COVID PROTECTION
In May, an employee of L.A. Metro discovered the N95 masks, specifically model DTC3X that were issued to employees in the beginning of April, at approximately the same time the first driver tested positive for the Coronavirus.
A driver wearing one of the counterfeit masks distributed by LA Metro.
On May 8th, 2020, a L.A. Metro Signal Inspector concerned for the safety of employees and the general public using Metro services, contacted Collins Kalu, L.A. Metro’s Sr. Director Safety Certifications and Operations Manager, inquiring about the follow-up – or lack thereof – regarding the notification to agency officials counterfeit masks were distributed more than a month previously and employees were still wearing the masks unaware they provided little, if any protection.
Email from LA Metro employee to the Director of Safety Certifications.
The response from the Director of Safety Certifications acknowledging the claim re: counterfeit masks.
Kalu responded to the Signal Inspector that the counterfeit masks, (although the model number was transposed in his email incorrectly) was “under further investigation”, however, after 97 confirmed infections and two COVID related deaths of bus operators, it appears no notification has been made to employees about the counterfeit masks that were in distribution.
Union representatives were contacted, seemingly unaware and/or not willing to comment on counterfeit masks distributed at LA Metro to employees.
Further investigation also showed no mention or warnings regarding the counterfeit PPE were sent by the union.
Even more alarming is the email I received from L.A. Metro’s PR Department, Joni Honor categorically denying the existence of the counterfeit masks and in anticipation of the release of this article, a follow up notice implying the masks were never in existence went out to Metro employees this morning.
The email sent to me by LA Metro PR Executive Joni Honor.
The email below sent to L.A. Metro employees (after my media inquiry) denying the masks were distributed.
PUBLIC SAFETY IN PERIL
Ironically, at the time the counterfeit masks were being distributed and used by L.A. Metro employees, CEO Phil Washington was put in charge of the COVID response task for all public transportation by APTA for all of Public Transportation in the country by APTA Chairman Nuria I. Fernandez General Manager and CEO Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose, CA and APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. Upon his appointment Washington said “In developing this industry-wide commitments program, we are working to build back public confidence in riding transit by increasing sanitation practices, requiring masks for all customers and operators and working around the clock to keep our frontline essential employees healthy.”
Even though the list of accusations of public corruption and negligence against Washington is long, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl has gone on record to say he is “the best manager she has ever seen.”
However, when Kuehl and the other members of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, who oversees L.A. Metro, were contacted about the counterfeit masks, they received and read, but did not reply to inquiries.
The “read” receipt from Supervisor Sheila Kuehl concerning the counterfeit N95 masks.
SQUEAKY WHEEL
A complaint was filed in the last few days to the Office of Inspector General at LA Metro who is now investigating L.A. Metro’s role in the cover-up of distributing counterfeit PPE and potentially contributing the death of at least two drivers.
SOUNDING THE EOC ALARM
LA County has lived through not one, but two States of Emergency since the beginning of the pandemic with the Board of Supervisors making some very alarming decisions regarding public safety.
Just days into the lockdown, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to give CEO Sachi Hamai control over the Emergency Operations. This calculated power grab by the board was meant to alienate and discredit Sheriff Alex Villanueva who has been target of continuous attacks by the B.O.S. and Civilian Oversight Committee Chairman Patti Giggans, since he took office in January, 2019. The move was rationalized by the Board based on an “audit” after the devastating Woolsey Fire and the apparent “lack of coordination” between agencies, which at the time was under the command of former Sheriff Jim McDonnell. “This radical gutting of the Emergency Code is irresponsible,” Sheriff Villanueva said “The pattern is very clear – when you’re in trouble, you will build more bureaucracy.”
The audit’s recommendation, which was bought and paid for by the Board of Supervisors (to fit their agenda) was that the emergency center be placed under the leadership of the county CEO who, conveniently reports directly to the Board of Supervisors – and would give little to no oversight from the Sheriff. “This is about who can coordinate the best – it’s not correct for this to go under just law enforcement,” said Supervisor Kuehl which has now allowed a pattern of corruption in the public safety sector to rise to dangerous levels not seen before.
As more whistleblowers come forward providing significant evidence of criminal negligence with regard to the health and safety of the county employees and the public at large, the removal of Sheriff Villanueva as the head of Emergency Operations could prove to be a fatal mistake by the ongoing mismanagement of Public Safety by the LA County Board of Supervisors.
Now the responsibility of L.A. Metro executives to notify employees of faulty PPE and rectify the issue, could be the subject of a criminal manslaughter investigation if proven the counterfeit masks did not protect the drivers who died from COVID related illness.
Representatives from Law Enforcement and State Agencies gathered on Sunday, August 19th, at King Gillette Ranch for what was supposed to be an update on “Safety in the Santa Monica Mountains” after the death of Tristan Beaudette at Malibu Creek State Park on June 22.
The murder forced the closure of the campground as well as the discovery of multiple incidents of violence occurring in the area that was not reported to the public by law enforcement and state officials.
News of Beaudette’s murder, and the report of another victim 4 days before on The Local Malibu’s social media, brought forward more victims of shootings. It also shed light on the fact that these incidents had been occurring since late 2016, leaving campers and commuters in the line of fire without their knowledge and many pondering a different scenario…had Tristan Beaudette known about the shootings at Malibu Creek State Park would he most likely have made different camping plans and still be alive today?
A message received and posted on the Local Malibu Facebook page that led to more victims coming out on the same thread.
POSE AND PACIFY
It was an impressive line-up at the King Gillette Auditorium on Sunday morning led by respected local, Senator Henry Stern who grew up in the area. Stern started the Public Safety meeting by stating the reason for bringing top brass from local law enforcement and state agencies together; “We don’t want to be known in this region for these kinds of incidents.” Stern said “We don’t want to be defined by this…we certainly don’t want to live in fear.”
Eight representatives from Lost Hills Sheriffs Department, State Parks, MRCA, CHP – including the Lt. from LASD’s Homicide Bureau, were in attendance. It was an impressive display of macho muscle up on the stage – a necessary, calculated production to “save face” in light of the fact that State Parks and local Law Enforcement chose to keep this information from the public for close to 24 months.
Stern explained to approximately 200 attendees the intention of the meeting was that officials are “…trying to knit some infrastructure together” and announced the formation of the “Santa Monica Interagency Task Force”, a body consisting of the law enforcement and state agencies meant to function together as an ongoing task force to keep the Santa Monica Mountains safe.
However, most residents weren’t interested in the “warm and fuzzy” delivered by Stern (although it did come across as authentic and endearing) or the “kumbaya” law enforcement portrayed about how they have been working together.
Residents were there for answers and they got none.
The meeting, covered by virtually every local news channel, turned out to be more show than tell, as law enforcement left many unanswered questions, giving no real information to satisfy concerned community members. Residents trickled out of the meeting early, confused and unsatisfied – much like they did when law enforcement addressed the Mitrice Richardson case in 2009.
This wasted on my Facebook wall shortly after the meeting.
Astute observers such as Ronda Hampton, a psychologist who has been an integral part of investigating the Mitrice Richardson case, was very disappointed in the meeting, seeing through the “Show of Force” facade and the appearance of a task force she does not believe exists:
“I was also disappointed to hear from a Sgt. from the Lost Hills station that what was being presented as the formation of a task force which included all of the agencies speaking at the meeting, was in fact not a task force at all. It was disappointing to see that as those men sat up there and discussed the fact that they had formed this task force with the idea of better coordinating efforts to improve public safety, it was all a farce. I would challenge the residents to find out information about when the task force meets, how regularly the meetings occur, how and when the task force was formed, what issues has the task force been focused on, if the public is invited to task force meetings, how members of the task force could be contacted, who is the primary contact person of the task force? These questions will not be easily answered as it became clear as the meeting proceeded that this was just a group of men gathered together on stage to placate the community.
A question was presented to the “Task Force” about the unsolved murder of Mitrice Richardson and the continued missing status of Elaine Park who both went missing from the Monte Nido area near Malibu State Creek Park and it was evident by the response from Lt. James Royal that he missed the connection between these cases and the case of Tristan Beaudette. He seemed a bit irritated that Mitrice Ricardson’s name and Elaine Park’s name were mentioned in the meeting. What he needs to understand is that there is a reason that members of the communities of Agoura, Calabasas and Malibu still reach out to me, they want want Mitirce’s murder solved, they want to know what happened to Elaine Park and they do not want Tristain Beaudette to be another Mitrice Richardson or Elaine Park, unsolved. I think Royal does not understand the impact that unsolved murder cases and missing persons cases have on a small tight knit community. As much as people who live in the community are concerned for their own safety, they are also concerned for those who visit their beautiful community and Lt. Royal should understand that. ”
Hampton became involved in the Mitrice Richardson case after Richardson, her psychology intern, was found dead in the area. Hampton has been communicating with the Monte Nido community and with law enforcement ever since:
“I will forever be connected to the communities of Malibu, Agoura, Calabasas and particularly the community of Monte Nido. After Mitrice Richardson, my former psychology intern, went missing in 2009 it was those communities that rallied around Mitrice’s friends and family. For years I spent much time in the area and in many ways I know these communities better than my own. I was happy to hear the announcement of community meeting regarding the recent shootings and I attended the meeting after some who live in the area suggested that I attend. When incidents, such as the murder of Tristan Beaudette and the other shootings occur I think it is very important for law enforcement and public officials to reach out to the community and offer them the opportunity to express their fears and concerns and to hear a plan for safety. The meeting, hosted by Senator Stern, fell short of offering any additional information about the case of Mr. Beaudette and offered no helpful information that would inform the community of how to best protect themselves while the murderer is still on the loose. In short, the meeting was disappointing and I think that is evident by the fact that people began leaving the meeting after a short time when it was clear that no helpful information was going to be provided.”
Lt. James Royal of Lost Hills SD read a detailed list of incidents that have occurred since the June 22nd murder at Malibu Creek State Park. Most reports were “reports of shots fired”, however, Lt. Royal cautioned the crowd eluding these incidents may not be connected…and then again…maybe they are.
Royal seemed to downplay at least one of these incidents, a reported “road rage” on August 9th, now being called a being “a heat related” back window blowout instead of a shooting incident.
While LHSD did a thorough search of the vehicle and found no forensic evidence to to call it a shooting, Lt. Royal did not include in his explanation that his front desk confirmed it was reported as a road rage (we confirmed the report as did other residents). The driver of the vehicle (of the blown out window) also admitted he was involved in a confrontation with another driver at the time. So, at this point, Lt. Royal impressing upon the “heat related” aspect (in fairness he did supply this reporter with a link to similar blowouts on this vehicle) is still misleading in my opinion, especially when you add together the other information reported in the same incident.
A road rage incident was reported and confirmed by Lost Hills SD on Aug. 9th.
Another report Lt. Royal referred to was a blown transformer, which was clarified quite quickly by residents, law enforcement and Southern California Edison. While it was initially reported as “report of shots fired”, I’m curious as to why that particular incident was thrown into the mix if it was confirmed not to be related?
Lumping the “blown out back window” and the blown transformer along with the rest of the “reports of shots fired” unfortunately leads us to believe law enforcement might be dismissing some of these incidents and contradicting their own statements.
Lt. Royal clearly stated: “Although they have not confirmed to be related, we have treated them as if they may be”.
It is true their may be a lack of forensic evidence to definitively tie these events together or to the shooter or shooters, however, that does not mean residents and commuters in the area are crazy. They didn’t all of the sudden start hearing things that aren’t there and they are not making these incidents up. Neighbors are confirming what they hear with each other. Not everyone is paranoid.
Are law enforcement and state officials taking every report seriously? You bet they are now. They are pulling out all the stops with multiple units responding to reports of shots fired, and in most cases, adding air and canine ground support. While it may seem like they are dismissing some events after the fact, they respond to them swiftly, with the assumption the shooter (or shooters) are active and in the area.
LHSD is fully aware they must leave no stone unturned and are looking to the community for support and information as well the apprehend the person or persons responsible for these crimes.
INFORMATION HIGHWAY
Lt. Rodney Moore of the LASD Homicide Bureau was in attendance to address the recent gang activity (two body dumps since May) and assure residents that those incidents are not believed to be associated with the shootings or the murder of Tristan Beaudette. However, Lt. Moore and Lt. Royal kept mum about details of the case, understandably so on some level, but why law enforcement did not address details already released by the media – including our publication The Local Malibu – is still a mystery.
The first reports of Beaudette’s murder hit the local and national news stations revealing the time Beaudette was murdered (4:44 a.m. – some reports are 4:45 ) which was initially released by officials at the scene. As more information and more victims came forward, a timeline, or “witching hour”, as to when the crimes were being committed, was clearly evident. So, it is unclear as to why investigators did not at least touch upon what is already confirmed and floating around on the internet via various news outlets.
Richard Winton’s article for L.A. Times ABOVE, details the time of the shooting incident with Tatangelo, and TOP, CNN reports on the time of Beaudette’s murder. The shootings occurring before the murder, had a window of 3-6 a.m. Since the murder, reports of shots fired are all over the map regarding time of day, leading to the possibility of more than one shooter.
Multiple photos of vehicles shot in the area have been published as well and most gun enthusiasts have established that the same type of weapon could have used both types of ammunition involved in the crimes that occurred before Beaudette’s murder.
Without question, investigators have sound reasoning behind not releasing vital information that could potentially compromise the investigation, however, there is a lot they could have clarified based on what has already been reported. For that matter, there are a few local news publications who asked questions at the meeting, when most of the answers were already out there had they done a little more investigating. Not doing so leads to more confusion.
Gun enthusiasts and hunters will verify that a shotgun can use birdshot as in the photo of the white car and also used in the shooting of James Rogers as he slept in his hammock. (Rogers fully recovered). Slugs like the photo of Meliss Tatangelo’s car above and in video she posted on The Local Malibu’s Facebook page can also be used in the same weapon. Both of these types of ammunition were used in most of the incidents leading up to the murder of Tristan Beaudette.
A MOUNTAIN OF MYSTERIES
To add salt to the proverbial wound, two young, adult males went missing in the area in the last 10 days.
Matt Weaver Jr.’s vehicle was found on on Stunt Rd. and Shueren RD. on August 11th. LHSD and Search and Rescue were dispatched, but have not located a body to date. Flyers have been actively distributed throughout the communities on both sides of Malibu Canyon/Las Virgenes Rd.
Another young male, Jose Martinez was last seen on Heathercliff Rd. and PCH on Aug.17th at approximately 8 p.m. Flyers have also been distributed locally in hopes of gathering information.
The mountain mysteries continue…
*These are developing stories.
Jose Martinez was last seen on Aug. 17th at Heathercliff Rd and PCH.Photos of the Sheriff and Search and Rescue response of Matt Weaver at Stunt Rd & Shueren Rd.Photos of the Sheriff and Search and Rescue response of Matt Weaver at Stunt Rd & Shueren Rd.Flyer asking for information on Matt Weaver’s disappearance.
On Sunday, August 19th, State Senator Henry Stern (and Malibu Local) will host a Public Safety Meeting at King Gillette Ranch to discuss measures being taken to improve the safety of the Santa Monica Mountains which has become a hot spot for violent crimes.
The murder of Tristan Beaudette on June 22nd ignited a firestorm of criticism of State Parks and local Law Enforcement for keeping a series of dangerous shooting incidents from the public.
It was revealed on social media when multiple victims came forward on The Local Malibu Facebook Page that the shootings spanned over a two year period.
A message from a resident the morning after the murder at Malibu Creek State Park revealed a community member’s Tesla was struck in the hood on Malibu Canyon at approximately the same time and in approximately the same area as Beaudette’s murder.
Shooting victim Melissa Tatangelo posted a video of the gunshot the hit her car on The Local Facebook page in the comments section regarding the Tesla shot in the same vicinity.
The good news is, local Law enforcement is leaving no stone unturned, rolling out multiple units, including ground and air support in almost every incident reported of shots fired in the area.
Lost Hills Sheriffs department is taking no chances and does have a well planned strategy in place that will hopefully lead to arrest of the person or persons responsible for these crimes. A reward for any information leading to the arrest of shooter or shooters has reached $35,000.
Lt. Rodney Moore of the Homicide division of the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department will be in attendance at Sunday’s meeting, however, because of the sensitive nature of the case, More will not be discussing details of the investigation.
To reserve your spot at the highly anticipated meeting, click here.
In July of 2019, complaints were filed by whistleblowers regarding Public Corruption and Pay-to-Play by L.A. Metro CEO Phillip Washington, LA Metro Karen Gorman (who is accused of stealing taxpayer funds from L.A. Metro) L.A. Metro Employees Aston Greene III and member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors Sheila Kuehl, members of the L.A. City Council, Peace Over Violence and Civilian Oversight Chairman Patti Giggans.
