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Daily Report: Health & Welfare, Public Safety

Release of uncensored developmental center citations ordered

September 19, 2012, 6:46 PM
A state court today ordered the California Department of Public Health to disclose uncensored copies of dozens of patient abuse cases at institutions for the developmentally disabled. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Center for Investigative Reporting in Sacramento County Superior... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Bills to reform developmental center police reach governor

September 5, 2012, 12:05 AM
Two bills that would require outside police and advocates to be informed about alleged crimes against the developmentally disabled at California’s board-and-care institutions have reached Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. Brown has 30 days to sign the legislation – SB 1051... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Attorney general files charges in police overtime case

August 31, 2012, 12:05 AM
The California attorney general’s office filed criminal charges this week against two former officials at the state developmental centers’ in-house police force for allegedly embezzling more than $100,000 in overtime pay. The charges stem from more than 2,500 overtime hours... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Report slams state institution for neglect, weak oversight

August 23, 2012, 12:05 AM
California’s largest institution for the developmentally disabled risks losing millions of dollars in federal funding because of poor medical care and widespread failures to prevent abuse and thoroughly investigate when patients are harmed, state officials said in a confidential report. ... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Developmental centers seek new police chief

August 16, 2012, 12:05 AM
The in-house police force at California’s institutions for the developmentally disabled is searching for a new chief as scrutiny of its work on criminal investigations intensifies. After two years in the top job, Corey Smith received a demotion to second-in-command for the force, the... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

State lawmakers order audit of developmental center police

August 9, 2012, 12:05 AM
Lawmakers directed the California State Auditor yesterday to examine the in-house police force at the state’s board-and-care institutions for the severely developmentally disabled. The force, called the Office of Protective Services, is responsible for protecting roughly 1,700 patients... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

State inquiry sought on Taser abuse against disabled patients

August 3, 2012, 12:05 AM
A prominent advocacy group for the disabled and parents of Sonoma Developmental Center patients are calling for an outside investigation into stun gun assaults last fall against a dozen patients at the institution. The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy in California distributed an open letter to... + read more
Spotlight: Public Safety

Questions surround handling of Taser assaults on disabled patients

July 31, 2012, 11:05 PM
With a suspect from the start, the Sonoma Developmental Center’s in-house police force made no arrest in a dozen patient assaults, choosing to handle the case administratively.  + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Lawmaker calls for full audit of developmental center police

July 11, 2012, 12:05 AM
The state Assembly’s Republican leader yesterday called for an exhaustive audit of the police force at California’s board-and-care institutions for the severely developmentally disabled. In a letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Assemblywoman Connie Conway, R-Tulare,... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Developmental center police investigating officer’s overtime

June 14, 2012, 12:05 AM
The in-house police force at California’s developmental centers is investigating one of its patrol officers for large overtime paychecks and an admission that he has slept on the job. Thomas Lopez, an officer at the Porterville Developmental Center, has doubled and tripled his base... + read more
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