Law Enforcement in Southern California and the Islamist Lobby

This past week, local news in Southern California was centered around the announcement from LA Sheriff Lee Baca that he was retiring and withdrawing from his reelection campaign. This came in the wake of the federal indictment of 18 past and present deputies accused of corruption within the LA County Jail. There are also allegations of obstruction in the FBI investigation. As yet, Baca himself has not been accused of wrongdoing though speculation is rife that he too may be under investigation. However, one aspect of Baca's 16-year reign as sheriff was not mentioned. That was his active involvement with several Islamic organizations like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Both organizations have been often linked to radical elements overseas, such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Baca, however, is not the only top law enforcement figure who has allowed himself to be used by questionable organizations and figures. The Chief of the LAPD Counter Terrorist Division, Michael Downing, has also aligned himself with the same people to disturbing lengths as described below.

On February 19th, 2012, this writer attended a town hall event at the Islamic Center of Orange County in Garden Grove, California, the same mosque that spawned Adam Gadahn. The theme of the event was to promote the idea that sharia law was compatible with the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Present at that event, were Muzammil Siddiqi, former president of the Islamic Society of North America and director of the mosque, Baca, Downing, the US Attorney for the Central District of California, Andre Birotte Jr, and three US Congresswomen, Maxine Waters, Judy Chu, and Loretta Sanchez, all Democrats representing Southern California districts. A full report on that event can be read here. Videos taken at the event by another attendee and provided to this writer can be viewed here. They consist of opening speeches by Downing, Baca and Waters. Downing stated in his remarks that "Sharia is not a threat to America". It should be noted that at one point, Sanchez angrily berated an older gentlemen in the audience for videotaping, and everyone not authorized to videotape by the event organizers was told to turn off his or her camera.

As mentioned in the first link above, this writer spoke to Chief Downing minutes after the event and informed him of the fact that in 1992, Siddiqi had actually hosted the convicted terrorist ("Blind Sheikh") Omar Abdul Rahman at  the same mosque and had translated simultaneously the sheikh's sermon on violent jihad. Downing's response, as described in the link, was that "over time some people change".

The same link also describes my conversation with Mr Birotte, in which I expressed my concerns. As stated, he gave me his card and stated that he would be receptive to my writing him a letter in which I would document those concerns. That letter was written and can be read here. I never received a response.

As for Baca and Downing, the above described event is hardly the only one in which they have appeared and lent their prestige and offices to questionable organizations. There was the 12th annual MPAC conference held in December 2012 in Pasadena. Baca and Downing both attended the evening dinner event, as did some of the officers and deputies from their corresponding (LAPD-LASD) anti-terror units as observed by this writer. At other events, Baca has been quoted by concerned citizens who have raised the issue to him as denying that any radical or hateful speech is emanating from mosques in his jurisdiction.

The important point to make here is that the above officials certainly have the duty to defend the civil rights of Muslims. Their anti-terror units and intelligence units have a rightful role in trying to make contacts with the Muslim community and develop cooperation with that community. However, they also have a duty to use caution as to whom they work with and join forces with. When they involve themselves in promoting sharia law and making the argument that sharia is compatible with US law, they are crossing the line into misleading the public. More than anything, they are responsible for ensuring the safety-and rights- of everyone living in their jurisdictions.