Block Says 8 Sheriff’s Employees Were in Jail Vigilante Group

Sheriff Sherman Block on Friday said that an internal investigation into the beating of a mentally ill inmate has confirmed that eight sheriff’s employees believed to be responsible were members of an organized vigilante group formed to “discipline” unruly inmates at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

“This is what we are told. They are a loose-knit group of people that call themselves ‘the posse,’ ” Block said at an afternoon news conference.

On Thursday, the sheriff told The Times that his investigators were still looking into reports that the self-styled vigilante group was involved in the Aug. 10 beating of an inmate who was left with flashlight marks on his back and boot prints on his side.

Block said that the eight employees--seven sworn deputies and one custody assistant, who have been relieved of duty--have refused comment to investigators.

But he said that other deputies have identified all eight as members of the group, and that at least six other deputies are also members.

“They have no leader,” Block said of the group, “and they have some way of communicating, bringing them together when they feel they have a duty to perform, in their terms.”

That “duty,” Block said, was to punish inmates who they believed were being “coddled” in the new jail’s special ward for mentally ill inmates.

Block also said that the investigation has shown that “absolutely none” of the three deputies involved in the controversial death of inmate Danny Smith were involved in any way with the vigilante group--despite the contentions of some sources that they were.

The controversy over the alleged vigilante group became political fodder as well Friday, with Block’s challenger in the November runoff saying he is “deeply disturbed” by reports about the group.

Sheriff’s Chief Lee Baca said serious reforms are needed.

In a statement, Baca said the problems are because of understaffing and too many vacancies, overcrowding, lack of audits and that some jailhouse deputies receive less than half of the full 23-week training course.

Block confirmed that some of the deputies had received only a limited training course created particularly for those working in the jails.

But he added that Baca was one of the sheriff’s administrators who decided to give deputies the shortened course. “He’s full of baloney,” Block said of Baca. “He’s a hypocrite.”