Police Magazine

Richard Valdemar

Sergeant (Ret.)

Sgt. Richard Valdemar retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after spending most of his 33 years on the job combating gangs. For the last 20 years, he was assigned to Major Crimes Bureau. He was also cross-designated as an FBI agent for 10 years of his career when he served on the Federal Metropolitan Gang Task Force. From 1995 until his retirement in 2004, Valdemar was a member of the California Prison Gang Task Force, helping prosecute members of the Mexican Mafia.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•July 29, 2009

Gang Members Practice Their Skills

One at a time each of the three targets got out of the vehicle, walked in a big circle around the McDonald’s, went inside, only to return to the vehicle with a small drink. Then the next target did the exact same thing. Finally the third did the same. In tactical police terminology this is a clue that they were casing the McDonalds before robbing it.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•July 27, 2009

Keep Your Word to Gang Members, Even If It Causes You Pain

An expert should be a credible proponent of the truth, and not an advocate for either the prosecution or the defense. Because of what we do and our knowledge of gangs, 95 percent of the time this will benefit the prosecution, but on occasion our knowledge and experience might benefit the defense.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•June 25, 2009

Hunting Homeboys in the Hood

The courageous women were individually shown the ELA mug books and they each identified El Hoyo (The Hole) Maravilla gang members Vincent and Luis Arias as the men who robbed the bank. Although both brothers were admitted gang members, they chose to dress more like hip college students rather than the typical Hispanic “Cholos” of El Hoyo.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•June 19, 2009

Vigilante Justice

We all fear that the justice system seems unable to protect us or punish the bad guys. When these conditions and feelings become extreme, self protection groups are spawned, and average people become vigilantes.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•May 28, 2009

Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Monsters

One day my team conducted a parole search of a Nazi Low Rider. Coincidently, it happened on his four-year-old son’s birthday. We found a birthday cake fashioned into a Nazi flag with a huge black swastika in the center. The little boy’s birthday card was handmade by his convict father and featured “The Fourteen Words” pledge of the hate-filled white supremacist.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•May 21, 2009

Gang Tats Visible on Kicking Incident Suspect

Photos of the suspect Richard Rodriguez show a two-inch-high tattoo of “EMF” on his face under his lower lip and a large “Flores” tattooed across his neck. (I’ll bet those tattoos hurt more than that alleged kick.) “EMF” stands for the largest of the dozen or so El Monte gangs, El Monte Flores.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•May 20, 2009

Oldie But Baddie: El Monte Flores Gang

The fleeing felon was named Richard Rodriguez, and he had a two-inch-high tattoo of "EMF" on his face under his lower lip and a large "Flores" tattooed across his neck. I'll bet those tattoos hurt more than that alleged kick.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•May 1, 2009

Love and Murder in Gangland

Homegirl Trinia Aguirre was Spooky’s new girlfriend. While Spooky covered the hostages, Trinia roughly began tying them up, gagging them, and laying them in a long row, belly down on the living room floor.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•April 10, 2009

Roots of Evil

Gangs calling themselves the Hole Stoners, ELA Stoners, The Lot Stoners, Mid City Stoners, and Mara Salvatrucha Stoners (MS13) sprang up all over Los Angeles.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•April 3, 2009

There is Such a Thing as a Bad Boy

Less than 10 percent of the kids from even the worst neighborhoods join criminal gangs. Recognizing and giving gang members: “respect,” after they choose to ignore society’s rules and community standards sends a confusing sign to the good kids who play by the rules. “Respect” equals “fear” to gang members. Respect is only gained when one is feared by another.

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