Friday, “No on P” signs were taken by resident James Kretzschmar, driving a Bentley stopped before leaving city limits. Eight “No on P” signs were in the back seat. Despite clear evidence and citizen’s arrest, he was neither arrested or cited.
Immediately on STOP’s behalf, we went to file a formal complaint with LBPD and get information. LBPD would not give us the thief’s name or any details, telling us instead that we’d get the police report in 3-5 days. Over the next 72 hours all requests to get details on the thief, the Bentley’s registered owner, and other details such as on whose behalf he may have been stealing the signs, were refused. On Sunday we were told the report had been sent to the DA for investigation, had been sealed, and we would have no access to the report for 3-4 weeks, after the election. Yet the LBPD gave the name of the thief and details of the report to at least four separate media sources within hours. Why?
On Monday morning, LBPD again refused this information. We asked to see Chief Farinella and were denied. It was only when told that councilman Dicterow was present that chief agreed to meet. City Manager Pietig was there, inserting himself into an LBPD investigation. Why? It was clear Pietig was calling the shots. It was a very sad display of the lack of independence of our LBPD, who is obviously engaged in politics at the behest of the City Manager.
I objected to Pietig being present. He is pushing Measure P (the sales tax increase), fueling the “fire and fear” campaign and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars advocating for the unnecessary tax increase. Pietig refused to leave and threatened to stop the meeting if we didn’t play by his rules.
Bottom line, our police chief should be able to do her job independently. But it’s clear the LBPD is not independent – it does the bidding as directed for our overbearing City Manager and his agenda. As a resident, that concerns me. If we can’t trust the LBPD to be independent, there to protect and serve our residents, and not play politics, something must change. Maybe replace the LBPD and contract with the OC Sherriff’s office instead?
The report was finally received (it had not been sent to the DA), missing important facts that would encourage prosecution. Why? We’ll take that up with the DA.
Jennifer Zeiter, Laguna Beach
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This is the type of non-transparent behavior that can quickly and almost rationally spin out of control. That an arrogant, entitled Newport Beach commercial real estate scofflaw comes into our city in his Bentley and brazenly break the law under shrouds of secrecy asks every one else to do the same thing without any repercussions. So we just put it in the DA’s hands. That is an absolute pass the buck and deserve much better.
In 2011 I calculate the cost of police enforcement per resident is twice the cost in Laguna compared to Dana Point, that’s because DP uses a county sheriff and fewer of them.