Los Angeles police official resigns after offensive emails revealed
LOS ANGELES -- A top Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department official resigned Sunday in the wake of a controversy over offensive emails he apparently forwarded to people from his work computer, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Tom Angel, who until Sunday was chief of staff for Sheriff Jim McDonnell, apparently forwarded the emails three to four years ago while he was working as second-in-command at the Burbank Police Department.
The emails were recently uncovered in an Los Angeles Times report and Angel faced public backlash.
One message reads:
"I took my biology exam last Friday. I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently 'Blacks' and 'Mexicans' were NOT the correct answers."
Another message makes fun of Muslims who are worried about profiling and belittles the religion's rituals.
"It's despicable because I can't believe that a person of such authority can use government services -- using a government Listserv to circulate such trash against all minorities," said Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
McDonnell said in a statement Sunday that he had accepted Angel's resignation.
"Very recently I learned that three to four years ago LASD Chief Tom Angel shared inappropriate and unprofessional e-mails with others, during his service as Burbank Police Department Assistant Chief," McDonnell said in a statement. "This incident is one that I find deeply troubling. Chief Angel has offered his resignation, and I have accepted it. I thank him for his many years of service, and wish him and his family well."
"Despite the Sheriff's Department's many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do. I intend to turn this situation into a learning opportunity for all LASD personnel," the statement continued.