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•September 27, 2011

Homeboys and the Return of Heroin

Heroin's old dirty image is being revamped to appeal to the younger generation. Heroin that is smokable or snortable can be marketed to avoid the old associations with dirty hypodermic needles.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•September 21, 2011

Exploiting the Mexican Mafia's Weaknesses

The Mexican Mafia is composed of cell-like cliques united in a coalition under the umbrella name. These cliques or sub-groups are led by informal charismatic leaders who function under the overall gang structure. Sometimes the nature of this beast aids law enforcement gang fighters in delivering the critical blow.

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

An EPIC Fail In the Border War

Despite the federal government's politically correct definition of "cross border violence," my experience and intelligence sources tell me that "cross border violence" by these cartels and gangs has been going on inside this country for decades. In Los Angeles, Mexican nationals commit as many murders as all the street gangs do each year; and 95 percent of outstanding warrants are for Mexican nationals.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•September 1, 2011

Iraqis, Grenades, and Mexican Cartels

In a federal indictment charging the suspects, it was alleged that the center of their criminal operation was an Iraqi social club in El Cajon, and authorities say the suspects distributed drugs supplied by Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel to the Detroit area.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•August 16, 2011

Confessions of a Teenage Vandal

I find it hard to be too stern with teenage pranksters. Some say most of the best cops could have gone either way in their youth. I don't know about that, but I'm truly grateful to that good Firestone sheriff's deputy.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•August 9, 2011

Taking Down Mexican Mafia Cliques In the O.C.

Operation Black Flag was another "staggering and comprehensive blow" to California's most powerful gang, according to U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte. However, the La EME prison gang has proved to be resilient to extermination. Mexican Mafia leaders have managed to operate their criminal enterprise from the most secure housing units in the most secure prisons in America.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•August 2, 2011

Keep Your Eye on Pseudo Sureños

Just because a gang may seem unsophisticated and maybe it's just a pseudo-Sureño gang, don't ignore their potential for violence. They may start slow on the gang learning curve but some of them will get tough just trying to survive. Jail and prison will further harden and train them.

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

TV Gang Docs: Turning Hoodlums Into Heroes

Why do some people feel the need to rewrite history to suit their needs? Many of these "documentaries" are only as good as their sources of information and the twisted interpretation of facts that the writers and producers invent. Unfortunately, this usually results in the truth winding up on the editing-room floor.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•July 19, 2011

America's Cage War Against Radical Islam

Our Judeo-Christian culture has been challenged in the arena of global conflict. We're locked in the "ultimate fighting cage" of war, a place we've been before. We're in a fight against extremist terrorism, and this isn't the first round.

Inside the Badge •by Richard Valdemar•July 14, 2011

The Best Argument Against the Death Penalty

Former Mexican Mafia leader Ramon "Mundo" Mendoza's motivation for writing, "Mexican Mafia: The Gang of Gangs," is to get the book into the hands of gang members and inmates in the hope that it might prevent them from following in his footsteps. His intent is to break the negative brainwashing the prison gangs utilize and illuminate the path to redemption.

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