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•February 14, 2012

Movie Review: Rampart

"Rampart" is another depiction of the evil white-guy cop, played this time by over-the-top Woody Harrelson, and the good black guy played by gangbanger-gone-actor Ice Cube.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•January 23, 2012

The Bite of Illegal Immigrant Gang Members

"10 Years On the Line" is the factual account of Mike Ligon's 10 years as an immigration, customs and border officer. It illuminates and places a critical magnifying glass over the checkpoint at Douglas, Arizona—this nation's most corrupt point of entry.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•January 11, 2012

The National Gang Threat Assessment's Sanitized Statistics

The National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC) generates several law enforcement reports about the activity and numbers of criminal gangs in the United States. The intended purpose of these reports is to "reduce the threat, incidence, and prevalence of violent crime."

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•December 27, 2011

Knocking Down Barrio Azteca

The Barrio Azteca gang members organize themselves using a paramilitary structure and apply English terms or their Spanish equivalent words for ranks such as captain, lieutenant, and sergeant. By current estimates, more than 2,000 members make up their ranks. They often use the letters "BA" or numbers "21" as their identifying symbols and tattoos.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•November 23, 2011

How a Cartel Enforcer Thrived In Lockup

Jose "Bat" Marquez received a life sentence for trafficking methamphetamine from a prison cell. Most law enforcement officials would consider this a success; however, it was too little, too late for those of us familiar with his criminal past as a violent enforcer for Mexican Mafia and Tijuana drug cartel.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•November 7, 2011

California's Budget Fix: Cut Gang and Drug Fighters

State lawmakers are positioning their budget axe over the heads of the state Department of Justice's Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (BNE) and Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence (BII).

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•October 27, 2011

Medical Marijuana: California's Biggest Losers

Wake up California; you've been sold a lie. This lie has allowed the Mexican (and other) cartels and gangs to produce huge crops of unregulated marijuana here in our state. These fields produce hybrid dope high in THC content and high in illicit profit. For this, some men are willing to kill.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•October 20, 2011

Gang Profile: Varrio Hawaiian Gardens

Varrio Hawaiian Gardens was a Sureño gang fiercely loyal to the Mexican Mafia, and the Mafia was in a racial war against Blacks. Varrio Hawaiian Gardens (HG) was also known as the "Hate Gang" because of the hate crimes it had committed against African Americans.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•October 11, 2011

Chicano Power and the Brown Berets

Although the Brown Berets claimed to be advocates of education and the politically informed, the majority of the Brown Beret members were high school drop-outs, and many were street gang members. They were motivated more by marijuana than the moratorium.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•October 5, 2011

The Hidden Agendas of Latino Activists

Across the U.S., there are numerous highly placed lawyers, and city, state, and national officeholders who came through the university system in the southwest where liberal professors preached these La Raza racist ideas and taught the myth of Aztlan. They are representatives of the mythical land of Aztlan and believe—"For the Race everything. Outside the Race nothing."

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