Photo courtesy BPD Twitter — Deputy Chief Tom Angel and Chief Scott LaChasse at Angel’s farewell event in Burbank June 23, 2015
The heat from a controversy over email jokes has become too much for Ex-Burbank Deputy Police Chief, Tom Angel. Today Angel reportedly resigned his job as Chief of Staff for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Angel moved into that job after leaving the Burbank PD last June.
Los Angeles County Sheriff, Jim McDonnell, announced Angel’s resignation in a statement today, according to the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper put the heat on McDonnell and Angel last Wednesday with a report on email jokes sent by the former Burbank official while he was on the job here. Angel reportedly forwarded jokes about Muslims, Latinos, blacks, women and others to some of his contacts.
Here’s the Los Angeles Times’ link to derogatory emails sent by Angel in 2012 and 2013. The names and addresses of all of the recipients were redacted expected for one case — a joke sent to Denis Cremins, who now holds the position of patrol captain in the BPD. The Times reports a Burbank city spokesman says the redaction was done to protect the privacy of those who are not employees.
” This incident is one that I find deeply troubling,” McDonnell said in that statement today. “Despite the Sheriff’s Department’s many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do. I intend to turn this situation into a learning opportunity for all LASD personnel.”
Photo: FLLewis / Media City G — Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse appeared before the Burbank City Council Tuesday July 21, 2015
What I find even more troubling is Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse reaction to Angel’s unprofessional emails. LaChasse found out about the emails in 2014, But Angel kept his job as deputy chief and place as a trusted member of the chief’s team. LaChasse’s handling of the Angel matter calls into question his leadership and judgment.
