Gabrielino’s Screamin’ Eagles Speech Team Advances to Nationals, See P.17 rosemeadreader.com
Thursday, May 21, 2015 - May 27, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
TCUSD Announces Teachers of the Year P.14
local news
“Remembering Our Veterans” Events in the SGV P.13
Former No. 2 of LASD Charged With Obstructing Federal Investigation Into Misconduct at County Jails
Paul Tanaka, who was the second in command of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and William Thomas Carey, who oversaw internal criminal investigations at the LASD, have been indicted on obstruction of justice charges for allegedly directing efforts to quash a federal investigation into corruption and civil rights violations by sheriff’s deputies at two downtown jail complexes. A federal grand jury May 13 returned a five-count indictment against Tanaka and Carey, who allegedly participated in a broad conspiracy to obstruct the investigation, a scheme that started when the Sheriff’s Department learned that an inmate at the Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) was an FBI informant. Tanaka and Carey alleg-
edly directed, oversaw, and participated in a conspiracy that last year resulted in the conviction of seven other former LASD deputies. The obstruction of justice case was announced at a news conference by Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Yonekura and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Bowdich. Tanaka and Carey, both 56, are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, and each is named in one count of obstruction of justice. Carey is charged with two counts of making false declarations for perjuring himself last year during the trials of co-conspirators. SEE PG. 18
Paul Tanaka, left was Baca’s Undersheriff and William Thomas Carey oversaw internal criminal investigations.Both men and others have been implicated in one of the worst jail civil rights violations in LASD history. – Photos Courtesy LASD
local news
Embezzlement Allegations Prompt Azusa Officials to Oversee Little League Fundraiser P.12
Volume 19, No. 21
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Lee Baca left his post in January 2014 amidst the federal investigation and the findings of a special commission on jail violence that cited a “failure of leadership” over the jails. While Baca has not been charged with any crime, he did personally “hand pick” Paul Tanaka for the number two position--which leads critics of Baca to believe there is more to this story. – Photo by Terry Miller
And Now for Something Completely Different… The British Are Coming to Sierra Madre June 6 By Terry Miller
business
Business Profile: knot too shabby P.19
I’ll ‘”borrow” the great line from Monty Python’s ‘Flying Circus’ BBC Television Show: “And now, for something completely different…” because it describes, in one absolutely glorious albeit confusing sentence, what the British Home’s June Faire is all about--something very different, indeed. It’s atypical to every “faire” you might attend in these, the former British colonies. The British Home will be holding its 2015 June Faire on Saturday, June 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Don’t miss it, or else! This family-friendly event celebrating “All Things British “is held annually on the first Saturday in June at Sierra Madre’s nonprofit independent and assisted living facility for seniors. In 1920 the British Home was founded by the Daughters of the British Empire and other philanthropic organizations as a retirement home for elderly British immigrants residing in the United States. The British Home later opened its doors to welcome older adults of all nationalities. Today it enjoys a distinct mix of residents from SEE PG. 15
Sierra Madre Middle School Project Manager Resigns By Terry Miller
Former police chief of Sierra Madre consults with her British counterpart at a recent June Faire. The two discussed the never-ending divide between the two languages. – Photo by Terry Miller
According to Adam Wolfson (PIO at PUSD) Fraser Thompson, project manager, resigned from the Sierra Madre Middle school building project that seems to have taken an eternity to get to this point. Wolfson assured Sierra Madre Weekly that the school will be open in time for the next school year. The announcement prompted parents to take action via social media. Organize Sierra Madre Schools Facebook page: “We are sorry to report that the district has officially removed Fraser Thompson from his position as Project Manager at the middle school. This means the completion of the middle school will again be delayed. At the Board meeting we asked you to attend, about 20 parents showed up. This was nowhere near enough support to prompt the district to change course. Unfortunately if we want the district to listen we need at least 200 people SEE PG. 15