The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) was established by the California Legislature in 1959. Its purpose is to set minimum standards and levels of training for law enforcement officers in the state of California. According to their website:
The POST program is voluntary and incentive-based. Participating agencies agree to abide by the standards established by POST. The more than 600 agencies in the POST program are eligible to receive the Commission’s services and benefits, such as job-related assessment tools, research into improved officer selection standards, management counseling services, the development of new training courses, reimbursement for training, and quality leadership training programs. POST also awards professional certificates to recognize peace officer achievement and proficiency.
Here are a few of the certificates offered by POST:
The Basic Certificate is awarded, as defined in Commission Procedure F-1-5 (doc) to currently full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite Basic Course requirement and the employing agency’s probationary period.
The Intermediate Certificate is awarded, as defined in Commission Procedure F-1-6 (doc) to currently employed full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who possess a Basic Certificate and who have acquired the specified training and education points and/or college degree and the prescribed years of law enforcement experience.
The Advanced Certificate is awarded, as defined in Commission Procedure F-1-7 (doc) to currently employed full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who possess an Intermediate Certificate and who have acquired the specified training and education points and/or college degree and the prescribed years of law enforcement experience.
The Supervisory Certificate is awarded, as defined in Commission Procedure F-1-8 (doc) to currently employed full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who possess an Intermediate Certificate, have earned a minimum of sixty semester units an an accredited college, served for a period of two years as a first-level supervisor and who have completed the Supervisory Course.
The Management Certificate is awarded, as defined in Commission Procedure F-1-9 (doc) to currently employed full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who possess an Advanced Certificate, have earned a minimum of sixty semester units at an accredited college, served for a period of two years as a middle manager and who have completed the Management Course.
The Executive Certificate is awarded, as defined in Commission Procedure F-1-10 (doc) to currently employed full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who possess an Advanced Certificate, have earned a minimum of sixty semester units at an accredited college, served for a period of two years as the department head and who have completed the Executive Development Course.
When an individual completes the Basic Academy at Glen Helen Sheriff’s Academy, he/she earns his/her Basic Certificate and can become a deputy sheriff in San Bernardino County. As the deputy gains experience and completes additional training and /or college coursework, he/she becomes eligible for additional certificates, such as those listed above. Once the coursework is completed and the experience obtained, an application is submitted, signed under penalty of perjury, approved by the Sheriff’s Department and submitted to POST. If POST determines that the applicant has met the minimum requirements, the certificate is issued and the county automatically increases the deputy’s gross pay by a percentage, depending on the certificate. And, it is this desire for additional pay, without the desire to complete the requirements to EARN the certificate, that this article is about.
A civilian employee and wife to Sheriff’s Captain Bart Gray, Angie Gray, was stationed at Glen Helen North at the Academy. Her duties included arranging for POST-certified training, both to earn additional certification and to renew current certification, and certifying that the training was completed.
Last year it was discovered that Angie Gray had falsified training records for her husband, Captain Bart Gray, thus causing his bi-weekly earnings to increase, totalling approximately $16,000 over a period of time. As inquiries continued, it was discovered that her husband was not the only benefactor of her misdeeds. Their good friend, Sergeant Bill Zehms, along with 14- 22 other Sheriff’s employees, also were the recipients of POST certificates they had not earned.
As noted above, each application for a POST certificate includes a declaration under penalty of perjury. Perjury in the state of California is a felony. Therefore, each of these Sheriff’s Department employees who submitted an application with false certification committed a felony. And if the authorizing Sheriff’s manager was aware of the same, he/she also committed a felony by being an accessory at minimum.
Captain Gray was allowed to pay back the money and retire. Angie Gray was transferred out of the Glen Helen North. Sergeant Zehms also retired. It is unknown if there will be punishment for the remaining 14-22 other employees involved in this scheme.
It is important to note that this situation was discovered last year and covered up all of this time. This is troubling for several reasons. First, Sheriff Hoops is up for re-election and should be above reproach. Instead he chose to cover up malfeasance in his department. Second, by allowing Gray to pay back the money and retire, his criminal prosecution is likely compromised. As he was a Hoops supporter, one can only assume that was by design. And finally, the Peace Officer Bill of Rights places a one-year statute of limitations on the investigation. Because so much time was wasted in the cover up, it is conceivable that the investigation cannot be adequately completed and charges filed before the statute of limitations has expired.
This is just one more example of the “Good Ol’ Boy” network alive and well in San Bernardino County and in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. It is absolutely shameful that Sheriff Hoops tolerates and aids and abets in criminal activity by Sheriff’s Brass. But as the title suggest, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has a history of malfeasance and that malfeasance starts at the top. Thank God that a vast majority of the rank and file are dedicated, honest cops whose only goal is to keep our communities safe.
For the record it was reported early on that employees were getting credit for taking classes in order to maintain their current certificates as required by POST.
The employees signed up for the classes and never attented them, but received credit and pay from the Sheriff’s Department.
What ever official documents were signed and submitted to POST were done so under the penalty of perjury.
EACH and everytime that was done is was a seperate and distinct violation of Penal Code section 118. A Felony.
If you take this case all by itself and nothing more, and trust me there are many other cases out there we could talk about, it tells a story.
The story is by Sheriff Hoop’s own statement that at least 3 employees have been disciplined.
Those employees whether civilian or sworn were demoted and transfered to another assignment.
But Captain Gray was allowed to pay the money back and retire.
Captain Gray was allowed to use his vacation time when this scandal broke. Take vacation until you retire.
WHY was he not put on administrative leave immediatley, like so many others in similiar situations and stripped of his gun and badge?
We can go a lot farther on this case a lone. THOSE who supervised Ms.Gray and the Deputy involved in this case. Was the person Captain Mascetti?
Captain Gray was the commander of Yucaipa, some 25 miles away from Glen Helen. So who supervised Ms.Gray?
Some of you might say maybe the supervisor did not know, maybe.
Seems the last couple years the Sheriff’s Department has elected to discipline their Sergeants for not
supervising the employees working under them.
Did management tell the Sergeants they “should have known” what their employees were doing before they gave those Sergeants days off or transferred them to another assignment? Seems to be the case.
Why wasn’t Sergeant Zehms stripped of his gun and badge instead of all of a sudden going on “medical leave”?
Just a couple weeks ago he walks into Yucaipa station turns his equipment in and walks out and will not talk to anyone. Officially retired was the word I got.
Did Sheriff Hoops say anything to indicate there were more than the 4 suspects? Seems it’s just 3 employees and Captain Gray.
So 3 employees taking care of Captain Gray is what one would believe from reading the newspaper?
This type of case is where SEBA should be stepping up to the plate on behalf of it’s members and yelling foul.
There are dozens of cases out there to justify SEBA acting out.
SEBA and their attorneys are the ONLY buffer between the rank and file and management that can prevent a total break down in the system before it becomes dysfunctional.
SEBA and their lawyers refuse to put Sheriff’s Management on the witness stand and grill them on this type of conduct.
Now some of you might understand why Sheriff Hoops feels comfortable disciplining rank and file in the manner that he does and will take his chances in covering up for the upper echelon.
He has District Attorney Ramos to help him out in that area.
Do anyone of you doubt how the good old boy system works now?
Even you honorable cowboys out there should be disturbed by some of this. I said honorable!!
Anti, Remember what Bill’s name was at central? The White Rat. For years I watched him “jokingly” rat out every person he ever knew. He would start out with a joke as to what someone did. Next thing you knew IA would show up. I hope no one continues to look into the past of many involved. The flashlight incident that left someone almost dead just to mention a few. How about retirement without a CCW or flat badge as a start for some of them?
SickofTheBs, I am not aware of the flashlight incident. Feel free to tell us all, I’d love to know.
I saw enough of Bill Zehms when he was my supervisor at West Valley to write a new chapter in the book of stupid.
I can tell you that when you approached Bill Zehms one on one after he did something stupid or just played tuff guy, he would shake like a dog pooping peach seeds he was so scared.
He had a yellow streak down his back wider than a set of double yellow lines on a highway.
You reading this post Bill Zehms? I hope you see my finger waiving at you pal, that is for all you have done to destroy others in your career.
Now let me tell the story why I feel the way I do about Bill Zehms and those who were behind this little scheme.
While I was assigned to Glen Helen 1998-2000, the Sheriff’s Department IA boys were calling me in on about a dozen different issues they wanted to investigate hoping to strengthen their case on a pending Civil Service Hearing.
These investigations took place over several months.
About 6 months after being assigned to Glen Helen becasue of an off duty incident a few elected to at every chance they could find, play games with me and investigate every little incident.
Their intent and purpose, cause stress to the level I would explode and do something violent, punch or beat someone up, and then they could fire me outright. Yes folks a true story.
Now the brass knew I hated Zehms and made no bones about it.
So after about 6 months of playing games, Deputy Chief Norman Hurst and I am sure with the assistance of Richard Beemer and Rick Roper decided to send me to see the “head doctor”, yes the shrink.
Those of us in the business know if there is a problem with someone who is violent or has the potential, you do not wait 6 months to act,it’s immediate.
Well my leaders decided I had some issues, NO not a specific issue, just issues. Yes by law there needs to be a specific issue, you can’t go on a fishing expedition as they did.
Well the brass decided to give Bill Zehms the assignment of coming to Glen Helen to serve me with the order called a “fit for duty”.
Now the brass didn’t give that task to any of my present supervisors at Glen Helen, because a few of them saw what was happening and were supportive of me.
YOU supervisors out there reading this, be careful about supporting anyone who is a target. Yes I am being sarcastic.
So they gave it to Billy boy who was working at West Valley Detention Center who was not my supervisor and had not been for 6 months.
Seems Billy was going to toy with me and maybe make a comment or two to see if I would go off the deep end and then they would have me where they wanted me.
Well a particular IA Sergeant who no doubt felt all of this was out of control snatched up the order and brought it to Glen Helen and he served the notice himself. That was indeed a brave thing to do.
Not sure what the Sergeant said to Lieutenant JoAnn Curry, but it was compelling information.
I went to the shrink as ordered and asked her why I was there? All she could say was well there are some issues your department wants me to look at.
Thanks Doctor I appreciate all that, but I want answers right now to my questions. She could not give one.
She said I am going to give you a series of tests to make some basic determinations blah blah blah. I said “NO YOUR NOT”. YOU won’t get anything from me until you give me an answer.
I had already played this game before folks, so I knew the drill. AND no the other doctors never found anything wrong with me on the first tests.
So let’s pick a fight, when the employee get’s angry we can send him to the shrink, YA that will work.
Sorry publius if your reading this post. More than a couple doctors found me fit to carry a gun and badge.And for the record it was the County’s selected shrink too.
So me and the Doc didn’t get much accomplished that day and she said I needed to come back. I said that won’t be happeneing. She said but you have been ordered to be here.
I said no the order states just for this date and time. I said see ya Doc.
Shortly after that visit I learned the true motives of what had taken place.WOW I did feel just a little like Detective Serprico from New York PD.
When I learned of the true nature of this outrageous conduct, I went to Jim Erwin told him, he was the SEBA President at the time and decided to call in some bigger guns on this issue.
Attorney Greg Petersen who beat up the Sheriff’s Department on the Steve Moran retaliation case was asked to handle the matter.
I immediately went to see Lt.Curry who could not believe what she was hearing. She authorized an immediate 30 day vacation and told me to dissappear.
Poor Lt.Curry caught hell from Deputy Chief Hurst on that one. Curry had the fortitude and charcter to tell Hurst she was not going to go to jail for anyone.
Lt.Curry went on vaction and never returned and retired. Thank you JoAnn, I never had the chance to thank you for your obvious courage and outstanding charcater.
If anyone doesn’t see anything evil about that, PLEASE tell me what I might have missed?
Oh there is more to the story. Check back in later.
Anti, Are you sure you were not sent to our famous Boyles Woman without the CREDS? Maybe we should all start bring up her tactics, how she never kept anything client privilege! Think that might just bring up a few stories. The flashlight incident was back in the mid 80′s, I think in Grand Terrace. If you ever mentioned to a certain Sgt. on duty about this he would start having yet another heart attack. Poor guy.
Nope they were not going to send me to see Nancy B, I call BS on her operation long before that.
For anyone who knows, has Nancy Bohls or any of her staff EVER spoke out against the Sheriff’s Department on any issue?
Anyone in her staff ever testified against the Sheriff’s Department on say a Workman’s Comp issue?
Think about that?
The most recent Command staff at the training center were Gregg Bottrell and Tony Allen before the more recent moves. Mysteriously, they both retired shortly after the POST story broke. I am sure that is coincidence though. Kind of funny how everyone involved except the lowest on the totem pole suddenly “retired.”
No Sgt it was not concidence, I was told after this case came forward to expect unexplained retirements.
I would not think if those two worked in Barstow or a way out of the way station.
But not at the Academy. Bingo that was what I was looking for.
I am surprised at Tony Allen, Bottrell is another story.
You do not have everyone involved retiring. There are other names mentioned and have appeared in print in several articiles but they are still working and employed by the Department.
Over the years the department has practiced “selective enforcement” and if you have worked for the department you have seen it with your own eyes. The others named will come out okay because this is an election year and how does it look if several members, Captains, Lt. and Sgt’s are involved in this issue.
I am more then sure they will find a way to make sure that these people are not touched in any way, shape or manner. They will continue to hold their positions and jobs and everything will continue as norm. Yet you will have a deputy or two take the hit for the others and after a period of time this issue will be forgotten. I am more than sure that these people have been told to “forget about it okay”?
It is amazing that the department will spend thousands of dollars to conduct an investigation into someone that they do not like and at the conclusion of the investigation recommend numerous days off, termination or demotion and yet do nothing to the ones they do like. Everyone can and will do something some day that may not be an intentional act and they put them thru the ringer. Yet when you have someone sign you up for classes and you do not attend them yet submit for a POST certification or college credits I would think that you knew what you were doing. When you go to a bar and beat someone up and get arrested you knew what you were doing. When you drive a county car under the influence and get arrested you knew what you were doing. When you beat up your wife and the police are called you would think that you knew what you were doing. And then the report disappears and lord and behold you keep getting promoted. Yet the “Good ole boys” commit these type of activities and keep there jobs and in many cases get promoted.
As it has been demonstrated in the past with the select few if you go along with the program and do not buck the system they will reward you in the end. I do think that both ACU and SGT will agree with this as I am sure they have witnessed it for themselves.
This type of activity has been practiced for years and handed down from Sheriff to Sheriff. Do you think that the last two sheriff’s were selected to that position prior to election for any good reason.
Zehms beating incident was back in the 80′s at the once known bar the “Bee Hive” on Mission Blvd next to Pomona. It was two drunks he beat in the head with his flashlight, one of the perp’s did go to the hospital and remained in a coma for several days.
Yep truth I have seen the cover for one who should be in jail and then get’s promoted a year later. Lost count on how many times I have seen that.
Long lost friend thanks for info on Zehms. He must have had a crowd of badges around him when he beat those drunks. I can’t imagine him doing that all by himself. He has never struck me as someone who could take care of business by himself.
A fine example of getting promoted after committing a crime is like Sergeant Dorsey getting stopped for DUI in a county car.
His Captain is called, comes and get’s him. He get’s 2 days off, is not prosecuted. A year later he is promoted to Lieutenant. Such a deal.
But a new Deputy in the jail witnesses an inmate getting beat, does not report it, is fired.
I would like to know why not one word of any of this has been mentioned in the Yucaipa home town paper – “The News Mirror”??? I happen to know they know all about this, but decided NOT to report it!
Because one of the reporters there is the girlfriend of one of the suspects.
So yes your right media corruption.
I am glad to hear people speaking out about this stuff 30 years with the dept and saw a lot of people get screwed over by the people mentioned above, including me. Funny how the bodies of your enemies do float by if you wait long enough.
Wow Wow, no bodies, they were allowed to retire and we the tax payers now pay for their full pension. In just over a month, the statute will have run and no charges will have been filed.