Sheriff Block Begins Quest for Fifth Term

Getting an early start in his quest for a fifth term, Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block officially kicked off his reelection campaign on Tuesday, saying he is moving forward with plans to tackle a variety of problems facing the department.

“I believe it’s especially important that I remain at the helm during the next four years to guide the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department into the 21st century,” said Block, whose department has come under criticism recently for neglecting the jail system. “Nobody else brings the unique relationships and credibility necessary to keep the Sheriff’s Department afloat.”

Standing on the steps of Men’s Central Jail, Block said the department has formed a partnership with private industry to build a new computer network to track 20,000 inmates. Under the current system--so antiquated that employees call it the “Pony Express”--dozens of inmates have been detained too long or erroneously released each year because of clerical errors.