A new report shows that alcohol abuse has increased among Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies. |
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies have been involved in 33 alcohol-related incidents since January -- more than during all of last year, a report published Tuesday found.
The report was carried out by the county's Office of Independent Review, which monitors the sheriff's department. It found that in several instances, deputies were intoxicated while working.
In one case, a supervisor who appeared drunk and fell down while evacuating residents during a wildfire later admitted drinking vodka during the blaze. He had concealed the liquor in a sports drink bottle.
Once the sheriff's department learned of the incident, and an internal investigation was launched, that deputy was immediately relieved of duty, according to sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Another incident detailed in the report describes an on-duty deputy who was arrested while driving drunk on his way to an assignment. He ran a red light, hitting another vehicle and injuring two passengers.
In yet another case, a deputy who had been drinking at a bar was later arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly firing his handgun in the air from Redondo Beach pier.
Sheriff Lee Baca acknowledged that recent attempts to clamp down on drinking had failed and vowed to redouble efforts to tackle the issue.
He wants to implement measures that would see the dismissal of deputies who fire weapons belligerently while off-duty.
The report was carried out by the county's Office of Independent Review, which monitors the sheriff's department. It found that in several instances, deputies were intoxicated while working.
In one case, a supervisor who appeared drunk and fell down while evacuating residents during a wildfire later admitted drinking vodka during the blaze. He had concealed the liquor in a sports drink bottle.
Once the sheriff's department learned of the incident, and an internal investigation was launched, that deputy was immediately relieved of duty, according to sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Another incident detailed in the report describes an on-duty deputy who was arrested while driving drunk on his way to an assignment. He ran a red light, hitting another vehicle and injuring two passengers.
In yet another case, a deputy who had been drinking at a bar was later arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly firing his handgun in the air from Redondo Beach pier.
Sheriff Lee Baca acknowledged that recent attempts to clamp down on drinking had failed and vowed to redouble efforts to tackle the issue.
He wants to implement measures that would see the dismissal of deputies who fire weapons belligerently while off-duty.
