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$1.275 million settlement awarded to sheriff whistleblower who testified in federal obstruction case

by Ed Lyon

 Tara Jan Adams was an exceptional deputy in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department ("LASD"). Striving for a patrol officer’s slot, she began her career in the records division, where it also ended, due to her integrity and honesty.

During an FBI investigation into L.A. county jail abuses, members of the LASD told Adams to remove an informant’s name from the jail database in order to secrete him from FBI access. She refused. An argument ensued and escalated until one of the civilian technicians complied and gave the informant’s file to the requesters, all against jail policy.

Adams was ostracized by fellow officers, incurred two minor assaults by a male deputy and was denied a transfer to patrol. Other deputies warned her to always have her pistol and be prepared to use it. She testified before federal grand and petit juries, helping to secure numerous convictions for corrupt LASD deputies. This ultimately resulted in her constructive termination from the LASO.

 Source: latimes.com;  Tara Jan Adams v. County of Los Angeles, United States District Court Case No. 15-CV-4501

 

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Tara Jan Adams v. County of Los Angeles

 

 

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