Retired Bell, CA police officer, James Corcoran, is snitching on former colleagues alleging that they distributed absentee ballots to voters and told them which candidates to select. In addition, according to L.A. Times online, "Corcoran claimed that officers instructed individuals how to vote and that some ballots were filled out for deceased people." These claims are documented in a lawsuit that Corcoran filed this week charging that he was forced out of his job for informing authorities about the officers' actions as well as for a variety of other actions that he says top city leaders did not like. Whoopsie!
Also, according to said lawsuit per the L.A. Times' article, "Corcoran in 2009 reported to the California secretary of state’s chief investigator and the FBI 'that off-duty police officers were taking absentee ballots and providing them to voters to fill out.'” It has yet to be determined whether or not the CA Secretary's Chief Investigator or the FBI ever pursued the case. Corcoran says before he retired he was demoted and eventually fired (via forced retirement) for "taking on the city officials".
Now with all of Bell, CA upside down because of the recent outing of city officials' exorbitant salaries, Corcoran has a good chance of being heard. Personally, we feel he should be reinstated and promoted! CA Attorney General, Jerry Brown (who is running for Governor) has launched a formal investigation into the City of Bell, CA and their practices and has already subpoenaed records relating to city official elections and salary increases.
City residents have been protesting with demands for the Mayor and the final 2 council members to resign from there jobs. They marched in the streets over the weekend with picket signs, even taking it to the front lawn of the mayor's home, as well as the homes of the 2 remaining council members on Sunday. After a council meeting just last night, it has been reported that they have elected to take 90% pay decreases (minus the Mayor who offers to work for free) but are still in their positions for now. Best believe we will be following this story as it develops. Shame on them all! [L.A. Times]
This is an amazing story and i can't wait to hear it all- The question that first comes to mind is... who approved these salaries,when were they posted for the city council to see them and how long have these Public Servants been collecting them...
ReplyDeleteThe actions towards the Police officer is very common for "whistle blowers... however, as much as I support a person done wrong... did he have anything to do with the actions he is talking about-
Bell does not seem to be as "clear as a Bell" as it should be.... hmmmmm