West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station

I understand that officers are often the victims of spurious complaints, but I witnessed my friend being wrongfully arrested. The officer involved (who no one was able to give me the name of, at the scene or after) knowingly made a false report — complete fabrication and story telling. In short, he arrested my friend for absolutely nothing, and so far has gotten away with it scotch free. This kind of behavior compromises criminal cases for legitimate victims in the city.
This officer claimed to his fellow officers, and the supervisor that my friend «threw something at him». He pulled this out of thin air. We watched as the officers looked for a trace of something thrown to which they did not prevail.
There was no warning, and no previous interaction with the officer. He came out of no where, and arrested him based on what I believe was solely the officers unrealistic and uncontrollable rage due to a comment he over heard.
My friend said something to the effect of «I wonder if the trolley is going to stop with this fing cop car parked here». Apparently all the officer heard was «fing cop» and ranted «this is the respect you show» as he illegally arrested my friend.
The officer was physically shaking with rage when he made the arrest. This kind of inability to have self control is a liability for the department. Yet despite providing the contact information for other witnesses at the scene, the West Hollywood Police Department has done nothing to discipline this cop. They won’t even give me the name of the officer.
Accountability is key to healthy law enforcement. This is not the level of service that I expect from an officer in West Hollywood. It is astonishing that an officer can get away with something like this.
I spent $ 1,000 to meet my friends $ 10,000 bail for an unconstitutional falsified arrest. My friend was almost fired for not showing up to work, and for what? He was not doing a single thing wrong but waiting for the trolley. They physically removed him from the street, locked him in a cage, and held him for ransom for committing no crime. You have to be a real sick sociopath to even think about doing this to an innocent person. My friend is the nicest person, who has never been in any kind of trouble.
My friend was encouraged to accept a plea deal which included probation for a year to avoid the potential of loosing the case. My friend can’t sue the department until his case is closed, which wont be until after he successfully completes probation. It’s convenient that a wrongful arrest suit has a statue of limitations of 1 year. Sick stuff! I no longer have any confidence in our system whats so ever! The U.S. criminal justice system lacks a shred of justice.
To top it all off, my friend reported to me that the officer referred to him, speaking to a fellow officer, as a «f***ing f*g». Why is this homophobic cop working in West Hollywood?
I’ve provided a photo below of the extremely short-​statured, loose cannon of an officer who feels the need to make up for his physical inadequacy by bulling innocent citizens. A classic example of The Napoleon Complex.
To quote the departments official response to me, «the employee’s actions appeared reasonable.»
This man needs to be fired! If you know this officers name, or have been treated poorly or illegally by this officer, please message me. I want to investigate any trends with him. I have not been able to get any information from the department as they hide this sicko behind their blue shield. Based on the confidence he had doing something so blatantly wrong, it is very likely that he has done things like this before.

I am glad to see this department is making the effort to reach out. That being said, after my absolutely insane experience calling and emailing this department for months after being the victim of an event, I’m sure no one is surprised I choose to continue airing out grievances in a public setting.
At this point, I am far from believing that any justice could be brought to the baffoon who decided to intimidate me on the road. Though I have video/​photos of his car along with photographic proof of damages to my vehicle, it’s over a year after the fact. That being said, you could address the treatment I received from your department after filing my incident.
The officers that responded on site were a chauvinist and a meek yes woman. Your sexist officer told me, «sweetie, you can just buff this out,» «it’s not hundreds of dollars of damage, honey» (later proved I was right and it was after visiting a body shop), and «I see there are a lot of other dings on your car too…» (from street parking at work) in the tone of a man who probably tells his wife she is better off in the kitchen (I wish I were joking and I am being creative in describing it, but it was nasty nonetheless). As for the woman, I could see the concern in her eyes and left her a message at the precinct to follow up since I had felt more comfortable with her — but of course, I heard no reply and knew then that she was yet another female who was perfectly satisfied with taking the lead of her «superiors.»
Not to mention the «24÷7» complaint line I had called — the officer who answered not only told me I should «keep studying» when I told him I was in the process of becoming an attorney after he asked what my profession was (is that a typical line of questioning? Also, why question a citizen for a complaint?), he also abruptly shut down the line under the guise of a meeting after I refused to budge on the matter until further action was taken. Don’t call it a ²⁴⁄₇ line if it is nothing but a façade. Speaking with this man did nothing but fuel my anger at your station’s incompetence even more.
I would be absolutely happy to name and shame these disgraces to your department, but I do have to honest in worrying for my safety in such an action. As the news shows, you can never be too careful these days.
Anyway, I’ve called, emailed — done pretty much everything I could about the issue but visit the precinct. I felt that wasn’t a good idea, as you can see with my lack of filter. With the political climate today, I hope you are making efforts to better address the concerns of citizens. I look forward to your reply!

The station was very responsive in getting me to come down and talk in person. I want to say first off that the people in email and on the phone were polite and genuinely seemed to care.
Once there, the officer asked me for the details regarding the alleged assault. Because the assault occurred in a club at night, the officer said he wouldn’t file charges because a) it could have been too dark to see, it was a club (assumed crowded even though it wasn’t and was Monday night) and b) the employee who struck and shoved my lower back may have tripped and done so, even though the employee did not say «excuse me» and even though I completely know when someone hits me or touches me with intent to harm.
I am grateful the officer met with me, but I am disappointed he didn’t file charges. He said he didn’t think they’d fly, but now, I will be less likely to go out and spend my money in the local economy and help support a working California. Less consumer spending will result in less money for businesses, employees, and will lead to more EBT and government assistance, as well as crime.
You marginalize an entire free society by refusing to go after criminals, even if it means we’d lose officially, but the thugs will start getting the message.
The officer told me to write a review on Unilocal which I already had. There are things more important than money, like the ability for a 6’3″ athletic self employed military veteran who gives to charity and keeps to himself for the most part like me to have the freedom to go to a bar in West Hollywood, have a few drinks, talk to an attractive woman while minding my own business on a Monday night when it’s not crowded without being assaulted, then when I turn around, the guy is ignoring me and did it blatantly on purpose. He did it ON PURPOSE.
I’ve been a doorman in night clubs on numerous occasions, I served in the military, I have lived all over the country and seen a lot and done a lot. I’m college educated with a degree in political science and a minor in interpersonal communication. I’ve even been to jail and see how they act in there, which is not dissimilar from the behavior of the employee at the bar who assaulted me.
I know the difference between respectful touch, accidental touch, reckless touch, and blatantly purposeful touch meant to fuck with you and disrespect you.
Wake up cops, threats evolve over time, and if you’re not aware of the newest threats because you’re not in the street game any more, then at least don’t make it seem like the other person was in the right or that the story was impossible to prove in court.
Did Leonitas in 300 fight for what’s right, or only fight when he knew he could win?
Stop following Eric Holder’s playbook and going for only the assured victories.
I asked the officer what would happen if I turned around and socked the dude and he agreed that it would be like I was the bad guy, and then witnesses could say I started it.
My criminal record is free and clear, and non violent, so I have already adjusted my mindset to accept having to spend time in jail for defending myself physically next time something like this happens.
Guys, if I’m the one creating a burden to the criminal justice system for standing up for my rights and defending myself against a cheap shot physical attacker who knows exactly what he’s doing, then something is seriously wrong with this country, and from my experience in the last few years, there definitely is.
And cops don’t help when they choose not to go after the real criminals.

I unfortunately had the pleasure of making a very expensive mistake which brings me to this place every month. I’ve never had a problem in the 8 months that I’ve been giving restitution payments, today however was very different! Usually you’re greeted by a very nice volunteer, she does her best to get things moving and does it in a polite way. Today I was greeted by a woman who seemed very new and puzzled by my request to pay my fine. (That was ok, being I’ve never done business with this particular volunteer). I was then greeted by a very dismissive female officer who didn’t know what she was doing at all, and seemed confused and bothered by my request to give them payment. Shortly after the door closed as the first officer went to the back another officer barges in telling me we don’t accept cash and the officers who know what they are doing aren’t there. I then informed him I had a card and he quickly cut me off and said come back some other time. THIS IS BEING POLITE! Today was unreal!
I understand that I made a mistake, but I’m taking the appropriate action to make it right. I’m not asking for anything special as far treatment, but what I would like is to be greeted and helped with respect and dignity! these people are put in place to serve and protect, and with the attitude and passive agressive demeanor I experienced today it makes me question their compassion in the FIELD.
If you must deal with this department, ask for deputy Edwards, deputy panotti, or officer Vanderhoven they will treat you with respect and dignity!

Honestly, this has been the worst experience. The sheriff that was helping me with my registration sign off was rude, disrespectful, and unable to explain exactly why he could not help me.

I had to stop by to get a receipt for something and I can understand the terrible reviews for this place. The officer working the front desk was very short-​tempered, rude and came across like he probably had a 100 other things he’d rather be doing than helping civilians. Though I was able to get what I needed without trouble (I kept my head down and didn’t make much eye-​contact), I was there while he helped other people and he was just down right nasty. In a small attempt to understand his behavior, there was a crazy woman trying to scheme her way into keeping a lost phone she had found and was turning in. Okay, I get it. You work in a field where you deal with more crazy people than most, but, you should probably figure out a better way to handle your anger/​patience. Yikes. I hope I don’t have to go back any time soon.

This isn’t a review about the deputies or the department. Your experience will vary there.
This is about the actual physical station itself.
For a wealthy city with a huge budget surplus, why do they have octogenarian «volunteers» behind the desk to deal with serious matters like murder, rape, robbery, parking tickets?
The volunteers are often senile, moody, and half the time, sleeping!
Imagine you just got beat up on the street, robbed, who knows what, and you run into the police station for help, and it’s some 90 year old snoring on the chair!
One old lady is so neurotic and anxious that coming in for a parking permit is uncomfortable. She likes to lecture about the littlest thing and freaks out about untidy handwriting?
Pay somebody who can staff the desk with some efficiency and professionalism… doesn’t have to be a deputy but at least an administrative professional.
SIDE NOTE, I am not trying to disrespect the seniors who volunteer here, some of who have decades of service to the community and have built respectable careers. At the same time, I think their volunteer efforts would be better suited somewhere other than the front desk.
Also, the bathroom is incredibly disgusting. Worse than any bar or fast food bathroom in the area. You would think one of the local dives would be worse, actually no, this is the worst. The lock doesn’t even work!
Finally, no air flow at all. No AC, incredibly hot and stuffy all the time. If nothing else, invest in some air for your poor senior volunteers!

This review was written out of spite and anger, and would have been much worse had I composed it the day of the incident.
Being early 2015, the image of cops has been skewered to the max. Even though everyone has their opinions and (probably negative) past experiences with them, I’d like to think they are there for us in our desperate time of need. Truth, I never had a bad run with cops. Until recently.
One afternoon, I was at a stop light on Santa Moinca Boulevard near the San Vicente/​Robertson area. In my hand I had a receipt that I was checking to make sure I was charged properly, and then I saw a cop on a motorcycle sitting on the opposite side of the road. I glanced briefly at him and replaced the receipts up into my visor as traffic started moving. All of a sudden, I saw his lights on behind me. I couldn’t seriously think he was after me (my tags are current, etc.) so I pull on over, following procedure. He saunters on over to me, telling me straight away I was on my phone. I was flabbergasted. Obviously, a lot of people are constantly on their phones in their cars even though they should not be, but in all honesty, I was not one of them. I do have a white phone, and the way I was holding my receipts possible from a distance could have left the impression that I was. Bad luck on my side, as my phone was sitting in the passenger seat, charging from console, so it looked as though I just tossed it there quickly. But this asshole wouldn’t have it. He threw his head back and laughed-​I kid you not-​as he basically mocked me. This fool had the smile of the joker-​after his awful plastic surgery in Tim Burton’s 1989 version of Batman-​and I couldn’t see the rest of his face due to his bike helmet. Probably better off I didn’t.
The fact that this overweight jerk was standing there in uniform finding this funny made me more angry than I should have been. I certainly had some choice words for him but wisely kept them in my head. Perhaps it’s better off he mocked ME because I’m sure he wouldn’t have, had I not been who I was, if you catch my drift. I don’t feel I need to elaborate. Perhaps I helped him meet his demographic quota?
In the end, he was still shaking his head at me as he walked off, chuckling, his last words being ‘stay off your phone.’ Dick, if I was on it in the first place, I’d actually listen to you.
I watched him further down Santa Monica Blvd, cruising between cars, and within a minute, he pulled someone else over. I think he was going between everyone to see if people were on their phones. I wonder if he was right this time?
Here’s a tip to the West Hollywood PD: keep Officer Pudge behind the desk.

I recently had an altercation with a crazy guest of a neighbor at my home and had to call out the sheriff department. This was a very stressful situation and tension was running high. I must say I was very pleased with the response time and the way the situation was dealt with. The two officers that came out listened carefully and took my complaint very seriously. 5 stars for the sherrif department

I TRIED to file a police report against someone who broke into my apartment, stole some checks and attempted to pass them at a bank. I learned his name/​phone number (he wrote them on the check!) and actually got him to confess to the break-​in in text messages. Despite having two witnesses/​video of him bolting from the bank, despite having his confession in text messages, despite having his photo and address from his facebook page, and despite being able to locate him precisely by supplying the police with his court appearance dates, I was told there wasn’t enough evidence!!!
On the other hand, they have arrested this man more than 20 times in the past year, so I got that goin’ for me, which is nice. But hey, Detective N., you could have reduced WeHo’s crime rate by 1−2% simply by prosecuting him for my break-​in (residential burglary with a prior-that’s a strike)! So I’m going to let bygones be bygones and give them 2 stars for doing their 20 arrests. I’m wondering how much longer they are going to keep arresting this frequent flier before they get serious
about reducing crime.

If I could I would give negative. I called the Sheriffs dept last night asking for help after I got a text from a friend across town that said «being robbed please call cops», I called, gave the address and all. Next thing I know is 5 cop cars show up, open my door. throw my pregnant ass and my husband against the wall, cuffed us, said they were called out for us fighting, and then they actually entered my home searching for drugs?! with no warrant and thrashed the place. The refused to give names, they refused to hear me out– I was the one that called! I JUST called the Staff Commander and he told me that opening someones front door and cuffing them is totally legal, and they can basically do whatever they want. I cannot believe it. myself and 5 other tenants are all filing a complaint and notice to sue the county. If anyone else encounters this, or has please comment. Also I should state that they insulted my home, red lips& tounge from the sore throat spray I had just used and accused me and my man of being on drugs, they then asked what prescriptions I was on and what dosage and what time they were taken which I just found out from the lawyer I hired violates HIPPA laws. So now, we and 4 other neighbors are NOT letting this go. IT IS illegal to do what they did and my lawyer said that they will never get in trouble BUT they will have marks on their records and not be able to get promotions. SO if anyone else has this problem, get the incident report, get statements from people who saw, call the news (already did that) BLOG and be a pain in the ass until court. my rental insurance adjuster just came and estimated the damage to the apartment is over $ 1000. We ever calling them for help with something– fire department only. These «officers of the law» are a joke and will not help you, they only harass, intrude and break the rules they vowed to follow. I am now contacting the newspapers. I am disgusted. I used to teach criminology and am now quitting because it is all bullshit. And this little Hispanic «cop» kept telling me to stay still– I am pregnant and needed to pee, she said «just shut up»
I also just donated 700.00 to them for needed gear. UNBELIEVABLE.

TERRIBLE STAY. Ok, where to begin. First off, lets start with the room, if you can even call it that. The bed, TERRIBLE! 2 inch thick mattress with no pillow and no blanket! Are you kidding me? The springs under the mattress squeaked loudly every time you shifted in bed, which you will do a lot due to the unpleasantness of the mattress. Amenities? NOPE! They give you one meal in the morning, bread and old corn flakes with no milk, YUMMM. thankfully the breakfast was all comped by the staff after we complained. Lunch? Hope you’re still hungry for bread. Dinner? Some sort of ‘meat’ that looks like it was cooked by a guy who never even went to chef school. I voiced all of these concerns to the people in charge who did not seem to care in the slightest. The room had no view whatsoever, and there were iron bars obstructing what little view we had. The door to the room was also jammed for nearly the entire stay, and I was unable to have anybody assist me with it, thus I was stuck in my room for almost the whole stay.
On top of all that, there was another person IN THE SAME ROOM AS ME. Management informed me this was because it was a «very busy weekend». I found this totally unacceptable, and was offered a complimentary bottle of water which my roommate stole from me.
The only positive to the whole stay was the shuttle provided to us on our arrival, though even this was less than stellar, as the backseat was hard as a rock and the driver insisted on binding our hands for some reason. Get your act together, WeHo!