Ex-LA Undersheriff Confesses to Deputy Gang Tattoo
Former Undersheriff Timothy Murakami Testifies About Deputy Gang Tattoo
In an ongoing investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Fee (COC), former undersheriff Timothy Murakami testified about receiving a tattoo of the Cavemen deputy gang whereas stationed at East LA within the Eighties. The fee had issued a subpoena to Murakami and former Sheriff Alex Villanueva in June 2022, resulting in a two-year authorized battle to compel their testimony.
Murakami lastly appeared earlier than the fee after being ordered by a Superior Courtroom Choose and proceeded to supply particulars about his involvement with the Cavemen group. He disclosed that the tattoo symbolized delight and onerous work for him, regardless of holding a place within the gang suppression workforce.
Throughout the listening to, Murakami revealed that he had a second tattoo however refused to reveal any details about it, citing counsel recommendation. He admitted that solely invited deputies might be a part of the Cavemen gang and shared that he received the tattoo together with a bunch of deputies in a tattoo store on Whittier Boulevard.
Furthermore, Murakami acknowledged that regardless of the destructive media consideration, he solely had his Cavemen tattoo eliminated 5 years in the past and maintained that having such tattoos was not problematic. He additionally declined to reply questions associated to his use of racial epithets, following the recommendation of his authorized illustration.
The investigation expanded to Murakami’s time on the Business station, the place he spent 20 years and rose to the rank of captain. He addressed his information of the Business Indians deputy gang and the incident involving members at a Montclair bowling alley. Regardless of figuring out the concerned deputies, Murakami claimed ignorance of the incident till a lot later as a result of it didn’t warrant his consideration.
Moreover, Murakami’s function in investigating different deputy gangs just like the Banditos and Executioners was scrutinized throughout the listening to. He mentioned interactions with then-Sheriff Villanueva concerning the promotion of people related to these teams. Murakami additionally talked about the division’s investigations into the alleged deputy gangs and the shortage of concrete findings, resulting in deputies with suspected tattoos being transferred.
Concerning division insurance policies on deputy gangs, Murakami talked about appointing April Tardy to research the allegations and handing over information to the FBI. He reported instructing the Danger Administration Bureau to investigate the correlation between deputy gangs and shootings by deputies, concluding with no substantial findings.
Regardless of Murakami’s testimony, questions stay about LASD’s stance on deputy gang tattoos and the implementation of COC suggestions to fight such teams. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna’s assertion about drafting insurance policies to get rid of deputy gangs, awaiting union overview, suggests ongoing efforts to handle this concern throughout the division.
It’s important to observe the developments on this investigation to grasp the potential impression on LASD’s operations and the broader implications for legislation enforcement practices in Los Angeles County.
