Inmates Enraged by Cross Burning Talked of Taking Deputy Hostage

The burning of a cross in Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail so enraged members of a black street gang that there was talk of taking a sheriff’s deputy hostage in retaliation, according to letters of discharge sent to two fired deputies.

“This incident may well have escalated into a full-scale riot that could have endangered lives,” the letters advised Brian E. Kazmierski and Richard D. Bolks, who have appealed their discharge to the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission.

Robert J. Ciulik, a 30-year veteran who heads the sheriff’s custody division, testified at the hearing Friday that he recommended firing the two deputies because they demonstrated “poor judgment” and there was “no other way to go.”

After a lengthy inquiry, the Sheriff’s Department accused Kazmierski and Bolks of burning a cross inside a module where members of the Crips street gang were housed. Authorities said the incident occurred sometime between Dec. 26, 1987, and Jan. 11, 1988, in Module 4800.

“The module lights were dimmed and heavy metal music, which is considered as ‘devil worship’ or ‘satanic’ music by the Crips, was played and racial remarks . . . were also made over the loudspeaker system,” the letter stated.

It advised Kazmierski, a four-year veteran, that inmates had identified him as “making a cross, which appeared to be made of some kind of paper products,” and then placing it in a window of a control booth.

“As the inmates watched, you lit a match and held it in front of an aerosol can,” the letter said. “As the spray from the aerosol can came in contact with the flame from the match it set the spray on fire giving a blowtorch effect. The flame then set the cross on fire.

“The incident incited the inmates to such a degree that some inmates talked of taking a deputy hostage in retaliation for the racial tones of the incident. . . . By your actions in this matter, you have demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of your fellow officers, as well as that of the inmates.”

The letter of discharge given to Bolks, who has been a deputy sheriff for about three years, gave similar details.

During his opening statement to the commission, attorney Richard Shinee, who represents Kazmierski and Bolks, denied charges that a cross was burned in the Crips’ section. He contended that the incident was merely “horseplay” and had been exaggerated by gang members to “get the deputies in trouble.”

In questioning inmates who claimed to have witnessed the cross burning, Shinee has carefully pointed up inconsistencies in their descriptions of the size of the cross and who set it afire.

In testimony Friday, Deputy Frank Plass, an 18-year veteran who has been assigned to Central Jail for about four years, said he first learned from inmates that something was burned in Module 4800’s control booth and reported it.

Plass said he was assigned to investigate further and that Kazmierski later admitted he had burned the cross.