L.A. Deputies Convicted for Fraud: Are Overtime Cuts to Blame?

From the time we can walk and talk we start learning the difference between right and wrong. We are taught by our parents, our teachers, and in the case of police officers, probably in basic training as well. Three sheriff’s deputies from Los Angeles County seem to have forgotten that lesson.

The three deputies, who were all convicted of insurance fraud, did time at the Twin Towers jail.

According to ABC News, one of the deputies actually worked in the jail where all three served out their sentences. Investigators note that these crimes are part of a disturbing spike that the department’s “watchdog” thinks may be linked to overtime cuts that are pushing cash-strapped deputies to commit crimes.

After being arrested, convicted and jailed for insurance fraud in three separate incidents, in which they faked reports that their new personal cars had been stolen, the Los Angeles County deputies were fired.

“It looked like deputies are in over their heads and are trying to find a way to dispose of these extra amenities,” said Mike Gennaco, chief attorney of the Office of Independent Review.

Other cases are also imminent, according to the Office of Independent Review, which monitors law enforcement.

“We have never have had more than one a year before this,” said Gennaco.

The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is already stating that there will be more training; they are reaching out to all deputies that were hit hard by the economy.

“Live within your means, spend what you have,” said department spokesman Steve Whitmore. “Don’t spend what you want, but spend what you have.”

One case noted in the report describes a seven-year veteran who had three vehicles, a substantial mortgage and three credit cards with balances of $1,000 each. His car was found torched.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the deputy’s car was found burning in a field near his home. He told investigators it must have been stolen, and then proceeded to file a claim with his insurance company. An expert from his insurance company however, concluded that the car couldn’t have been driven into the field to be torched without the deputy’s enhanced-security car key.

After the deputy was placed in the field by cell phone records, which of course contradicted his alibi, he was charged with arson, insurance fraud and several other felonies, for which he received a six-month jail sentence.

He resigned before he could be terminated.

In a second case, more cell phone records told investigators that a deputy had driven his own car to Mexico and dumped it, with a fellow law enforcement official who apparently drove the deputy back after he abandoned his car, which was later reported stolen.

According to the report, that deputy, Eugene Peter Boese, was charged with several felonies but eventually pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge.

In another case, two deputies are facing federal charges in an alleged out-of-state mortgage fraud scheme. If convicted, one faces up to 45 years in prison and the other up to 105 years, Gennaco said.

Finally, in a fourth incident that was found in the report, a rookie deputy got in touch with a law enforcement friend from another agency to tell him that his house had been burglarized the day before. He said he didn’t need a unit sent out because he had already cleaned up the crime scene. He did want a police report with a list of the “stolen” items to file an insurance claim though.

That agency then launched an investigation due to the deputy’s odd behavior. The deputy resigned and eventually pleaded no contest to filing a false police report, according to the sheriff’s oversight agency.

The Sheriff’s Department, citing personnel constraints, refused to release the names of the deputies in any of the cases — even though the criminal cases are public record

None of the deputies that have been charged mention loss of overtime as a reason, but the Office of Independent Review says there’s evidence it was a factor and has flagged it.

“We’re just sorry that careers have been lost and people have now convictions as a result of crossing that line,” said Gennaco.

The incidents follow $58 million in overtime cuts.