Task Force on Jail Slayings Appointed

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley on Tuesday named the members of a citizen task force to review recent slayings in the County Jail system and to make recommendations on improving witness protection.

The task force will submit its suggestions to the Board of Supervisors and Sheriff Lee Baca by mid-August, Cooley said.

Members plan to analyze jailhouse killings and attacks and review several recent civil grand jury reports on the jails. They also will address witness protection outside the jail.

Named to the task force were Clayton Anderson, Oreal Cotton, Elizabeth A. Dickinson, Alex Jacinto, Rosario Marin, George Nicholaw and eight members of Cooley’s staff, who will have an advisory role.

Anderson is former chief of the district attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, where he spent 30 years. He also directed the investigative office of the State Bar of California and served as a civil grand jury foreman.

Cotton served as the assistant chief of the district attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and worked for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Dickinson is a former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and chief of the department’s detective division. She worked at the department for 36 years.

Jacinto is a defense attorney and member of the Mexican American Bar Assn.

Marin served as U.S. treasurer and as Huntington Park mayor and councilwoman. She recently lost a primary race to oppose U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat

Nicholaw worked at KNX-AM (1070) for 36 years, serving as vice president and general manager. Best-known for his on-air editorials, he left the station in October.