LAPD detention officer arrested in bail solicitation scheme, police say

An LAPD detention officer has been arrested on suspicion of accepting compensation from bail agents in exchange for information about inmates booked at the Van Nuys Jail, authorities said.

Leonard Ramirez, 42, was taken into custody Monday for bribery and participating in the bail solicitation scheme, according to a Los Angeles Police Department statement.

Ramirez, who is not a sworn police officer, worked with bail agents, who compensated him for giving them inmate information, police said.

Calls to Ramirez, who was released on bail, were not immediately returned.

The department’s Professional Standards Bureau launched an investigation after receiving “multiple complaints of unlawful bail solicitation” at the jail in the 6200 block of Sylmar Avenue.

Soon after, investigators determined Ramirez was involved in the scheme.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office had not filed charges against Ramirez as of Wednesday. The LAPD said it will refer the case to the district attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division.

LAPD officials declined to disclose additional details.

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