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Alochol-related incidents involving L.A. County Sheriff's Deputies, whether on or off duty, are up -- way up, according to a Los Angeles County report. This year so far there have been 33 of them, more than all of 2009 alone, says the Daily News.
Detailing the cases are disturbing. One inebriated on-duty sheriff ran a red light, hit a vehicle and injured two people. In another case, a supervisor who concealed vodka in a sports drink bottle fell down when evacuating residents during a wildfire. An off-duty officer on the Redondo Pier allegedly fired his weapon into the air after a night of drinking at a bar.
The problem, of course, is not limited to Sheriff Deputies. Earlier this month, an off-duty LAPD officer allegedly shot at a street lamp in downtown outside a bar. Alcohol has been cited as the "primary factor" in the case.
Not thrilled, Sheriff Lee Baca admitted his efforts to stop the problem head on has not worked. He's going to redouble his efforts and wants to see the sacking of deputies who get sloppy and fire their weapons while off-duty.