LA County Undersheriff Paul Tanaka Grilled About Deputy Abuse Of Inmates
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Los Angeles County Undersheriff Paul Tanaka has to face some tough questions concerning the abuse of inmates by deputies in the county jails.
The FBI is investigating alleged misconduct in the jail system and the ACLU claims deputies have beat up prisoners at least 70 times.
The County Board of Supervisors appointed the Citizens Commission on Jail Violence to take testimony.
The commission has heard complaints of excessive force and that reports of deputies behaving like gangs were ignored.
Commission attorney Bert Deixler had pointed questions for Tanaka, who was in charge of the jails for more than two years, KNX 1070's John Brooks reported.
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"At no time, did anybody mention to you or you even aware that there was a problem in the Men's Central Jail of excessive force?" Deixler said.
"That was never brought to my attention as a problem," Tanaka said.
Sheriff Lee Baca, who 14 years ago pledged to end excessive use of force and brutality by deputies during his campaign, will be questioned next.
