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UPDATE: LBPD Officer Charged With 12 Grand Theft Counts by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 08.10.10 |
+ 9:30am Tuesday, August 10 | The Long Beach Police Department officer suspected of stealing four firearms has been charged with more than one dozen counts that included grand theft and embezzlement, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The Los Angeles Times reports today that the officer, Damian Ramos, pleaded Not Guilty. His bail has been set at $100,000. Ramos, 33, has been suspended without pay from the force. He stands accused of taking four firearms that were to be booked as property after a Long Beach business discovered the weapons and turned them over to police. Only one of the weapons has been recovered. The five-year LBPD veteran was formally charged with four counts each of grand theft of personal property, grand theft firearm and embezzlement by a police officer. He was also charged with one count of possessing an assault weapon. Ramos could face more than eight years in state prison if convicted on all counts. His next hearing has been set for August 23. * 3:15pm Friday, August 6 | An officer of the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) has been arrested for stealing firearms that had been turned over for evidence, in an investigation conducted internally by the LBPD. He has been booked at the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail and is being held on $1,000,000 bail. Damian Ramos, a five-year employee of the department, was arrested on charges of grand theft of weapons after the LBPD conducted searches with multiple warrants and acquired evidence connecting Ramos to the case. A press release did not state what evidence was recovered, or specify the type of firearms in question. Ramos apparently was called to a business after a found property call and received numerous weapons that were to be entered into evidence. The department found, however, that the number of weapons turned in did not match the number that had been reported by the business. Police then conducted searches and found evidence connecting Ramos to the crime, although the press release did not specify whether or not the firearms have been recovered. "Upon learning of the potential misconduct by one of our own, we took swift action to ensure that the investigation was handled thoroughly, and I am confident that these were the actions of a single officer," reads a statement from Long Beach Chief of Police Jim McDonnell. "It is our responsibility to ensure the public’s trust within our Police Department, and anyone who compromises the integrity of this organization will be dealt with immediately." Ramos has been suspended without pay while the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Justice Integrity Division is presented with the case.
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18 Comments so far.
BUGGA BOO BOO It was also reported by un-named sourses that there were some donuts missing from stores lockup.. mike woodward Really hate to see these type of stories,LBPD has had some problems but it is a great department that you can trust. Its great to see that the dept. maintains its pride and integrity, no matter the cost. JR Salazar Whoops. Charlie Tuna Well Salazar - That's what happens when you get caught with your hands in the cookie jar - tsk tsk tsk that's a no no! CHARLIE WOW - a million dollar bail? This LA County DA is tough-mmmmm ma ma! DEPUTY DOG I wonder what the POA has to say about this? Oh oh Paul Those weapons should have been passed out to the law abiding residents of neighborhoods in Long Beach, that the LBPD no longer seems able to protect. Look at the high bail to see how out of touch our Long Beach anti gun leadership is. John Q. Public The LPBD is one of the most corrupt organizations around. You just don't see it. Why? Two reasons: 1.) They hide it. 2.) You don't want to know. In the words of Petronius, "The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived." Angel Mr. Woodward, I absolutely agree with you! I too, "Really hate to see these type of stories,LBPD like others has some problems but it is a great department that we can trust. Its great to see that the dept. maintains its pride and integrity." But the cost is greater if it not publicly addressed. Local Citizen I understand the officer did wrong, but the bail seem out of line with the crime. Murder gets a lower bail. Resident With all the talk about what heroes’ police and firemen are these days and the media types as well as citizens putting them up on a pedestal, I wonder, Shouldn’t the BAIL and PENALTY to be paid be for the people hired to enforce the laws be greater than the average citizen. If we expect our kids to grow up respecting the law, I think these so called heroes should be held to a much higher standard by everyone, and that goes for elected city officials also. Artie "Resident" is right. our police must be held to a higher standard of lawfulness. They have more power than the average citizen does and have access to things we don't. If we can't trust the very people hired to protect us then the entire system of law and order is in jeopardy.A policeman's job on the street is not an easy one. I support them 100 percent but in return I expect them to be trustworthy and honest. Artie "Resident" is right. our police must be held to a higher standard of lawfulness. They have more power than the average citizen does and have access to things we don't. If we can't trust the very people hired to protect us then the entire system of law and order is in jeopardy.A policeman's job on the street is not an easy one. I support them 100 percent but in return I expect them to be trustworthy and honest. caligal What was he doing with all these guns? What made him think he was above the law? His poor family. seein the lite-- If we can believe TV crime shows, those weapons were destined to be found in the possession of dead bad guys who'd been "set up" by dirty cops. $1 million's 'bout right for this slob's bail (and his partner needs to be looking over his own shoulder, too, sad to say). Want to know Is he still collecting his salary, will he still collect his pension. Interesting to note, that he hasn't been fired. The police unions run the department, not the city. On another subject, the amount of bail is probably based on the value of what he stole, if they suspect he may have sold $100,000's worth of firearms, it would be pretty stupid to set his bail at $25,000. Want to know I see now that is was suspended without pay, still does not address his pension though. CHARLIE Well whatever and it's a darn shame, but he's going to have to pay for his stupidity, and makes me feel less safe as a citizen...
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Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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