Covert Mission
September 29, 1999, 05:07 PM
Wednesday, September 29, 1999
Sheriff's Special Reserves Got Quick Approval
Law enforcement: One 'executive' recruit was recently involved in his second alleged weapons incident.
By TINA DAUNT, Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles County sheriff's officials were so eager to
avoid having to comply with a new state law that triples
the amount of training required for reserve law
enforcement officers that they rushed Sheriff Lee Baca's new
"executive" recruits through their normal screening process,
admitting one reservist who had been convicted of a weapons
violation.
Officials said Tuesday they were unaware that reserve deputy
Scott Zacky pleaded no contest in 1992 to the misdemeanor
charge of brandishing a weapon and was subsequently sentenced
to 90 days' house arrest and prohibited from possessing a
dangerous weapon during his two-year probation, according to
court records.
After Zacky completed the sentence, his attorney had the
conviction expunged, court documents show. Zacky--a member of
the family that owns Zacky Farms--has been relieved of duty and
is again under investigation for brandishing a gun at a couple
outside his Bel-Air house.
He was issued a badge and gun as part of the department's
new reserve program--set up for celebrities, executives,
athletes and other notable community members--after just 64
hours of training rather than the 162 hours state law has
required since July 1.
According to department sources, the applications were
rushed through to beat the new law. Recruits for the new
unit--one of Baca's pet projects--were spared the customary
polygraph examination and in some instances were assisted in
filling out their applications by deputies who went to their
homes to complete the paperwork so the recruits would not be
inconvenienced, the sources said.
"It was a sham," a knowledgeable departmental source said.
"It was a rush job with incomplete applications because they
were friends of the sheriff or money people. Investigators knew
that no matter what . . . everyone had to pass."
Capt. Doyle Campbell, who is in charge of the department's
reserve program, disputed the allegations. He said he knows of
two applicants who were turned away because of criminal
backgrounds. Although he acknowledged that the background
checks were done in an expedient manner, he said, "That doesn't
mean they were incomplete."
As for Zacky, Campbell said investigators simply did not find
the criminal filing against the executive during their background
checks, possibly because the matter was later expunged.
He also said he is uncertain whether the conviction would
have had any bearing on the department's decision to allow Zacky
into the program. "It depends on the circumstances," Campbell
said. He added: "It's not a felony that he was convicted of."
Zacky's court records were found by The Times after a routine
check of cases involving the 35-year-old business executive.
According to a four-page synopsis of the proceedings in the case,
Zacky appeared in court with his attorney, David Ogden, in
November 1992 to enter a plea of no contest to a charge of
brandishing a firearm. The charge stemmed from allegations that
Zacky displayed a gun during a traffic dispute with another
motorist. In January 1993, Zacky was sentenced. Then in 1995,
he had the matter expunged, according to documents provided to
The Times by the West Los Angeles Municipal Court.
When contacted at his home, Zacky said he knew nothing of
the conviction. "I have never been convicted or pleaded no
contest," Zacky said. "I don't know anything about this. I'm
dumbfounded."
Ogden declined to talk about the matter other than to say that
Zacky "entered a plea to it."
"I really can't tell you anything about that," Ogden said. "It
was what it was."
Zacky is under investigation for an incident in which he
allegedly mistook a couple who were out on a date and
attempting to fix a window on their car for auto burglars.
Witnesses told investigators that Zacky, 35, ran out of his house
in his boxer shorts, waved a gun and yelled: "Stop! Police!"
authorities said.
The couple drove away in fear and contacted the Los Angeles
Police Department, which launched an investigation, police said.
Zacky said the incident was nothing more than a
misunderstanding. He said one of his neighbors called to tell him
that a man wearing gloves and a ski cap appeared to be breaking
into cars. He said he armed himself and went to investigate. He
said that as he crossed the street, a car came at him--prompting
him to point his gun at the vehicle and yell "Stop!" He said he
never yelled "police" and he was wearing short pants--not boxer
shorts.
So far, no charges have been filed against Zacky, but the city
attorney's office has set a hearing on the matter for next month.
Sheriff's officials said Zacky, who was sworn in to the special
reserve unit Aug. 29, has been relieved of duty.
After the LAPD concludes its investigation, Campbell said,
sheriff's officials will conduct their own investigation of the
Aug. 31 incident.
Baca proposed the new unit in an effort to get more
high-profile members of the community involved in departmental
activities.
Campbell said that members of the executive reserve unit
were explicitly told not to take police action while off duty.
"There is nothing in their training that gives them police
powers off duty or allows them to carry a gun off duty,"
Campbell said. "And they have extremely limited police powers
on duty. They do not get involved in an arrest situation unless
they are accompanied by a regular officer."
Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times. All Rights Reserved
Search the archives of the Los Angeles Times for similar stories about:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,
POLICE TRAINING, POLICE RESERVES, SCOTT ZACKY, CELEBRITIES, LEE BACA. You
will not be charged to look for stories, only to retrieve one.
Sheriff's Special Reserves Got Quick Approval
Law enforcement: One 'executive' recruit was recently involved in his second alleged weapons incident.
By TINA DAUNT, Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles County sheriff's officials were so eager to
avoid having to comply with a new state law that triples
the amount of training required for reserve law
enforcement officers that they rushed Sheriff Lee Baca's new
"executive" recruits through their normal screening process,
admitting one reservist who had been convicted of a weapons
violation.
Officials said Tuesday they were unaware that reserve deputy
Scott Zacky pleaded no contest in 1992 to the misdemeanor
charge of brandishing a weapon and was subsequently sentenced
to 90 days' house arrest and prohibited from possessing a
dangerous weapon during his two-year probation, according to
court records.
After Zacky completed the sentence, his attorney had the
conviction expunged, court documents show. Zacky--a member of
the family that owns Zacky Farms--has been relieved of duty and
is again under investigation for brandishing a gun at a couple
outside his Bel-Air house.
He was issued a badge and gun as part of the department's
new reserve program--set up for celebrities, executives,
athletes and other notable community members--after just 64
hours of training rather than the 162 hours state law has
required since July 1.
According to department sources, the applications were
rushed through to beat the new law. Recruits for the new
unit--one of Baca's pet projects--were spared the customary
polygraph examination and in some instances were assisted in
filling out their applications by deputies who went to their
homes to complete the paperwork so the recruits would not be
inconvenienced, the sources said.
"It was a sham," a knowledgeable departmental source said.
"It was a rush job with incomplete applications because they
were friends of the sheriff or money people. Investigators knew
that no matter what . . . everyone had to pass."
Capt. Doyle Campbell, who is in charge of the department's
reserve program, disputed the allegations. He said he knows of
two applicants who were turned away because of criminal
backgrounds. Although he acknowledged that the background
checks were done in an expedient manner, he said, "That doesn't
mean they were incomplete."
As for Zacky, Campbell said investigators simply did not find
the criminal filing against the executive during their background
checks, possibly because the matter was later expunged.
He also said he is uncertain whether the conviction would
have had any bearing on the department's decision to allow Zacky
into the program. "It depends on the circumstances," Campbell
said. He added: "It's not a felony that he was convicted of."
Zacky's court records were found by The Times after a routine
check of cases involving the 35-year-old business executive.
According to a four-page synopsis of the proceedings in the case,
Zacky appeared in court with his attorney, David Ogden, in
November 1992 to enter a plea of no contest to a charge of
brandishing a firearm. The charge stemmed from allegations that
Zacky displayed a gun during a traffic dispute with another
motorist. In January 1993, Zacky was sentenced. Then in 1995,
he had the matter expunged, according to documents provided to
The Times by the West Los Angeles Municipal Court.
When contacted at his home, Zacky said he knew nothing of
the conviction. "I have never been convicted or pleaded no
contest," Zacky said. "I don't know anything about this. I'm
dumbfounded."
Ogden declined to talk about the matter other than to say that
Zacky "entered a plea to it."
"I really can't tell you anything about that," Ogden said. "It
was what it was."
Zacky is under investigation for an incident in which he
allegedly mistook a couple who were out on a date and
attempting to fix a window on their car for auto burglars.
Witnesses told investigators that Zacky, 35, ran out of his house
in his boxer shorts, waved a gun and yelled: "Stop! Police!"
authorities said.
The couple drove away in fear and contacted the Los Angeles
Police Department, which launched an investigation, police said.
Zacky said the incident was nothing more than a
misunderstanding. He said one of his neighbors called to tell him
that a man wearing gloves and a ski cap appeared to be breaking
into cars. He said he armed himself and went to investigate. He
said that as he crossed the street, a car came at him--prompting
him to point his gun at the vehicle and yell "Stop!" He said he
never yelled "police" and he was wearing short pants--not boxer
shorts.
So far, no charges have been filed against Zacky, but the city
attorney's office has set a hearing on the matter for next month.
Sheriff's officials said Zacky, who was sworn in to the special
reserve unit Aug. 29, has been relieved of duty.
After the LAPD concludes its investigation, Campbell said,
sheriff's officials will conduct their own investigation of the
Aug. 31 incident.
Baca proposed the new unit in an effort to get more
high-profile members of the community involved in departmental
activities.
Campbell said that members of the executive reserve unit
were explicitly told not to take police action while off duty.
"There is nothing in their training that gives them police
powers off duty or allows them to carry a gun off duty,"
Campbell said. "And they have extremely limited police powers
on duty. They do not get involved in an arrest situation unless
they are accompanied by a regular officer."
Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times. All Rights Reserved
Search the archives of the Los Angeles Times for similar stories about:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,
POLICE TRAINING, POLICE RESERVES, SCOTT ZACKY, CELEBRITIES, LEE BACA. You
will not be charged to look for stories, only to retrieve one.