Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said he was unaware of jail abuse and blamed his command staff for failing to keep him in the loop, in his most candid remarks about allegations that deputies used excessive force on prisoners.
Sheriff Baca, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, pointed the finger at his command staff, in the interview.
"I wasn't ignoring the jails. I just didn't know," Baca told The Times. "People can say, 'What the hell kind of leader is that?' The truth is I should've known. So now I do know."
During a recent visit to Men's Central Jail, Sheriff Baca noticed that video cameras purchased more than a year ago to help monitor deputies and inmates had not been installed. The 69 cameras are still in boxes in a captain's office.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Related: ACLU Calls for L.A. County Sheriff Baca's Resignation