cannabisnews.com: L.A. County Probation Officers Want to Carry Guns!





L.A. County Probation Officers Want to Carry Guns!
Posted by FoM on January 02, 1999 at 16:54:46 PT

 LOS ANGELES Historically, police had the firepower to arrest criminals and probation officers the watchful eyes to help rehabilitate them. 
But now, Los Angeles County's 3,200 probation officers want a new tool: guns. Janis Jones says she and other officers need weapons to keep them safe on streets that have grown a lot meaner since the days when the worst problem they might face was a street-corner marijuana peddler. ``We're not in the '70s anymore,'' said Ms. Jones, part of a special unit in the Antelope Valley that works with sheriff's deputies to track down gang members. The unit recovers about a dozen guns every week. ``These guys are into hard-core, heavy firepower to protect their interests,'' she said. ``You feel totally vulnerable.'' Sixty percent of the counties in California arm at least some of their probation officers. But not Los Angeles County, which has the nation's largest probation department. Probation officers are the county's only sworn peace officers forbidden to carry guns while working. Union officials want to change that, arguing that its members' lives are at risk as they monitor 90,000 probationers. They point out the last three Los Angeles police officers killed while on duty allegedly were shot by gang members who were on probation. The union faces tough opposition, including some county supervisors and its own former president. ``The moment you arm them, they basically become an arm of the Sheriff's Department, and they lose the aspect of them that is social worker or rehabilitator,'' said county Supervisor Gloria Molina, who has helped to link probation officers with sheriff's deputies to fight gangs in the San Gabriel Valley. Richard Shumsky, the new head of the Probation Department, admits he is biased against the idea of arming probation officers, even though he supported the idea when he headed the union. Shumsky said he gave his support ``reluctantly'' because it was what the majority of the rank-and-file wanted. Shumsky said he worries that giving guns to probation officers will make them targets. ``We've not been armed and we've not been perceived as being armed,'' he said. The union has hired a political consultant to lobby the Board of Supervisors to arm at least some probation officers. However, Shumsky said a decision is not expected until he finishes a report in March. ``We want to get this right,'' Shumsky said. ``It would fundamentally change the role'' of probation officers. 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #1 posted by Charles Noguera on August 17, 2001 at 08:21:24 PT:
Arming L.A. Probation Officers
Do you have any records showing L.A. County Officers using firearms to protect themselves or any info of L.A. Probation officers or others being victimized that could have been prevented if firearms were availble protection 
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: