Misuse of Badge

[DAL]

Former LAUSD superintendent charged with illegal use of school police badge
September 11, 2009 | 6:42 pm (LATimes.com)

A former Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent has been charged with illegally using a law enforcement badge to try to force another driver to pull over.

Ruben Zacarias, 80, of Alhambra displayed a Los Angeles School Police Department badge to a woman driving on the 57 Freeway in Pomona on July 23, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. The former superintendent also told the woman that he was a "cop," according to authorities.

Zacarias was charged with the a misdemeanor on Aug. 27 and is free on his own recognizance, prosecutors said. He is due back in court Sept. 29 for a pretrial hearing.

Zacarias, who was superintendent for two and a half years before being bought out of his contract by the school board in late 1999, could not be reached for comment.

His attorney, Steve Meister, called the case a misunderstanding. "I’m sure we can clear this up quickly," the attorney said.

-- Jason Song

[SDPDApplicant]

Why in the world would he think it'd be a good idea pulling somebody over with no marked identification in the first place? He's putting himself and others in danger.

[SDPDApplicant]

arg, double post.

[Bearcat357]

Hmmmm....maybe that article about the School District was true.....hmmmmm.....

[pulicords]

But he had a lot of cop friends???

[yellowreef]

I responded about a month ago to some wannabe trying to do this to one of the supervisors in our unit, while the sup was on duty driving an unmarked vehicle. The reply after the usual deny, deny, deny, deny, ok I admit dance... "I thought you were driving too fast and needed to slow down."

[Bully]

Zacarias was an interesting case. He always wanted to be a cop and the dept wanted his support. They sent him through the 832 class and gave him a badge. They then put stealth emergency equipment on his car. He also carried a gun. He loved showing his badge to the officers and claiming that he was part of the dept.

That was back in the late mid-late 90's. Talk about cronyism at its finest.

[Kieth M.]

Zacarias was an interesting case. He always wanted to be a cop and the dept wanted his support. They sent him through the 832 class and gave him a badge. They then put stealth emergency equipment on his car. He also carried a gun. He loved showing his badge to the officers and claiming that he was part of the dept.

Have to wonder if that's one of the 1000 missing LAUSDPD guns mentioned in the LA Weekly article.

[pulicords]

What to do: When politicians who claim to be professional LE's biggest supporters, then turn around and want something in return?

A "pro-department" city councilman showed up at one of our homicide scenes once as a "Lookie Lou." He was shocked when I warned him that attempting to enter the crime scene (crossing the tape) would result in his arrest and booking. The guy just didn't "get it."

[Bully]

Those guns aren't missing. The dept switched to Berettas from .38's. They let the ofcrs buy the wheel guns for $200. They then switched to Glocks and are offering the same deal. They did get 5 Benellis from the Housing Authority. The old armorer traded them to Hans Vang in exchange for Vangcomping 100 shotgun barrels

[DAL]

What to do: When politicians who claim to be professional LE's biggest supporters, then turn around and want something in return?

Politicians always want something in return.

[sap123]

What to do: When politicians who claim to be professional LE's biggest supporters, then turn around and want something in return?

As it turns out, this is how politics works.

[rmjr]

very interesting.....

he gets a gun and badge with only a pc 832......amazing....

i know lots of guys with much more (POST training) that cant get either....

Also, you talk to some officers (no disrespect) and they swear that one cannot get a badge and gun with a PC 832....

[DAL]

very interesting.....

he gets a gun and badge with only a pc 832......amazing....

i know lots of guys with much more (POST training) that cant get either....

Also, you talk to some officers (no disrespect) and they swear that one cannot get a badge and gun with a PC 832....

At one time, the training required for a Level 3 reserve officer was only an 832 PC course. Level 3 reserve officers get badges and guns at most departments, but the training is now 162 hours. Few departments will allow them to carry guns off duty.

But in Zacarias' case, it does not matter how much training he had, because he is not a retired peace officer.

[socalres]

The mere sight of an 80 year old former school superintendent wannabe police officer flashing a badge on the 57 Freeway must of been an interesting sight.

no kidding... and she stopped? Wow... I remember people being reluctant to pull over for CHP in light blue, tan or white CV's back in the 90's near the 57/60.