After overtime cuts, LA County sees spike in financial crimes by deputies

[Liberal_in_LA]

L.A. County is seeing a spike in deputy-fraud allegations
Watchdog agency says rise in financial crimes may be linked to overtime cuts, because many had become dependent on the extra income. In one case, a deputy torched his car and sought an insurance payout.

Several Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies have been entangled in fraud allegations in the last year, a spike that the department's watchdog says may be linked to overtime cuts pushing cash-strapped deputies to commit crimes.

One deputy torched his own car for an insurance payout, another fabricated a burglary and a third enlisted a fellow cop to help him drive his car to Mexico, where he abandoned it and later claimed it was stolen. Two other deputies are facing federal charges in an alleged mortgage fraud scheme, according to the report provided to The Times Monday by the Office of Independent Review.

Financial crimes committed by deputies in past years consisted mainly of petty theft and other minor infractions, but recently the allegations have become more serious and frequent, said Michael Gennaco, who heads up the watchdog agency.

Gennaco said that although deputies receive relatively good pay and benefits, it was reasonable to link the crimes to overtime cuts because many had become accustomed to a standard of living that's not possible without the extra income. Losing that, he said, may have pushed some deputies to pad their salaries illegally.

In one instance, a deputy's car was found burning in a field near his home. He told investigators it must have been stolen, then filed a claim with his insurance company, according to the report. But an expert from his insurance company concluded that the car couldn't have been driven into the field where it was torched without the deputy's enhanced-security car key.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lasd-fraud-20110719,0,1484216.story