Kings County sheriff's deputy jailed on embezzlement charge (Nabbed by a bait car)

The Fresno Bee ^ | Dec 12, 2011 | Lewis Griswold

[Respond Code Three]

A Kings County sheriff's deputy is under arrest for embezzlement after fellow officers set up a sting and caught him stealing $500 from what appeared to be a stash of drug money.

Patrol deputy Nick Simpson, 33, a five-year veteran of the department, was arrested Friday, one day after he had been dispatched to a bait car with a hidden video camera, Sheriff Dave Robinson said Monday.

What Simpson didn't know was that the car in rural northwest Kings County had been planted with 1 ounce of methamphetamine and $1,760 in cash.

[Respond Code Three]

Some will point to this solely as criticism of cops who engage in illegal activities. Others will realize that an allegation was made, it was followed up, and an officer was removed from service as a result of a sting operation. My view is that it serves us all well when Departments are pro-active to prevent deliberate abuses by officers.

[Jonty30]

You can’t get rid of bad cops fast enough.

[crazyhorse691]

Refreshing to read your opinion about bad cops when there is a dedicated bunch here on FR that holds all Law Enforcement are Nazi's and bullies and thieves.

[Jonty30]

Only the ones that act as bullies, Nazi’s and thieves and puppy killers.

[crazyhorse691]

I think we are saying the same thing that the bad ones need to go. but, the good ones can continue with the work.

[Jonty30]

I think 95 percent of cops, my experience, actually try to live the motto, ‘to protect and serve’.

[crazyhorse691]

I think 95 percent of cops, my experience, actually try to live the motto, ‘to protect and serve’.

---

Most are highly devoted to protect and serve, but, there are some that either let their position go to their head(the firewood in front of that store is free for me because I keep somebody from stealing the firewood) or they decide that since the perps have all that money they can't complain when it is gone. But my biggest complaint is their current training that involves them not getting hurt at all costs(shot that pekingese before he ravages your pants cuff). Highly generalized, I know.

[dragnet2]

Authorities got a local tip that the deputy was involved in potentially illegal activity, Robinson said, without going into detail

Reading closer, it appears they did not conduct this sting until they were tipped off. And it appears or suggests only this one deputy was targeted, who was likely the target of the tip.

This begs the question: Are these internal stings done randomly, if so, how often? If not, why not?

Do they have to be "Tipped off" before conducting random internal investigations to determine the extent of corruption?

[dragnet2]

My view is that it serves us all well when Departments are pro-active to prevent deliberate abuses by officers.

See #8. It appears they were not pro-active and did not conduct this sting until they were informed or tipped off.

Pro-active would be random stings to determine the extent of corruption.

[vette6387]

“You can’t get rid of bad cops fast enough.”

That’s the money statement in this thread. And sadly, today, there are more bad cops than ever. The biggest place for these kinds of offenses is in connection with drug interdiction. There’s just too much money and “salable material” around for the weak officers not to tap in to. Here in Contra Costa County. California we have a number of Sheriff’s deputies in jail on this kind of crime together with illegal gun trafficking. The other thing that is rampant is cops failing to observe normal traffic laws while on duty. They routinely fail to obey laws for which they would cite you or me. Finally, another bit that’s happened here is cops working with private investigators working for a particular lawyersin divorce cases helping to set up husbands in compromising situations. They’ve got the cops and the PI. I just wonder if they are going to go after the lawyer who instigated the setups. The whole thing stinks and those of you who revere law enforcement unconditionally, should do yourself a favor and look around.

[starlifter]

To protect and serve whom?

[Molon Labbie]

That’s why I train all newbies that if you find anything of value in a car, money, dope, guns, ANYTHING, treat it like the FEDS are filming you.

They just might be and it’s an easy case and easy way to throw your cert and career away forever.

[dragnet2]

When is the last time the Feds, or even local law enforcement set up that type of internal "random pro-active" sting for local law enforcement, or the FBI?

BTW, this incident here was not random, or pro-active as some up thread suggested.

Thanks.

[Respond Code Three]

My use of the term pro-active was probably not the best to describe the response to a complaint about a Deputy who was breaking the law. But there was a quick reaction and a quick resolution to the complaint. My opinion, was in the case in this thread, is that it was a random incident pertaining to the KCSO.

I can't answer as to the frequency of pro-active "sting" operations run by the various agencies. They could have run all the stings on me they wanted, and if I found drugs, guns, or cash it ALL would have been booked into property. Our department's internal affairs did have a policy of making random calls to see how the officer handled the call, his/her conduct and overall professionalism. If someone screwed up, we wouldn't necessarily all know because of the confidentiality of the investigations.

We read of the occasional officer who is arrested, or the occasional TSA agent being arrested for theft from passenger's luggage, or of a member of ICE arrested for smuggling illegal aliens. There is a Freeper who has run tons of articles about officers getting arrested.

[Respond Code Three]

I had the same attitude. I would look a trainee in eye and tell them if I screwed up, and he/she had to give a statement, DON’T YOU DARE LIE! If I made the mistake then I would be the one to suffer the consequences, and I didn’t want a good officer to throw away a career on my account.

[Respond Code Three]

I’m sorry to read about the corruption up there. My wish is that any officer who is involved in felony activity be found out and dismissed from the force.

[Respond Code Three]

Officers are constantly reminded to be aware of officer safety. After Columbine, our Department Head made it clear that if the lives of students were in danger, that the officers WILL engage the suspects and do his best to save their lives. Our boss and others in our department, were highly critical of the actions of the police at Columbine.

[Respond Code Three]

The overwhelming numbers of officers take the “protect and serve” side of the job seriously. God bless them.

[Respond Code Three]

Thank you. I have known officers who screwed up and were terminated for things like theft, alcoholism, drug abuse, possession of child porn, lying during an investigation, and excessive force. No one at the Department disagreed with their firings. Law enforce agencies do a lot of housecleaning that never makes the newspapers.

[dragnet2]

My opinion, was in the case in this thread, is that it was a random incident pertaining to the KCSO.

Random means random, no specific target. In this case, they did not act until they were tipped off, and had a specific target. They likely had no choice but to react, as there was likely a paper trail, supporting documents/complaint etc.

If law enforcement want's to be pro-active, reduce corruption etc, internal random plants/stings would occur frequently.