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UPDATED: Why OC sheriffs attended Michael Jackson’s funeral
July 9th, 2009, 2:47 pm · 116 Comments · posted by Jennifer Muir
Janet Jackson. Stevie Wonder. Usher. Assistant Orange County Sheriff Michael Hillmann?
Yes, Hillmann was among the VIPs at Staples Center Monday during a massive memorial service for the king of pop, Michael Jackson.
Hillmann brought along five other high-ranking sheriff’s officials to the funeral for an on-the-clock mission. The event was a “tremendous learning experience” for officials charged with coordinating personnel and communications during large scale events in Orange County, he said.
“All of us were there to participate as observers,” Hillmann said. “I think they got a great deal out of it. We have learned how to be able to staff up a department operations center and train a mobile field force.”
Incidentally, Hillmann was in charge of coordinating security for events like this at the LAPD before joining the sheriff’s department under Sandra Hutchens. He said observing events like Jackson’s funeral provides important training, and said he’s also sent officials to observe the LA Lakers parade and hurricane season in Texas.
Hillmann called LAPD to organize the mission a day before the funeral. With an O.K. from Hutchens, the group headed for LA at 5 a.m. and met up with LAPD officers at a staging area, where they split up.
Hillmann, a captain in the county’s emergency communications bureau and another lieutenant got an assignment that gave them access to a show alongside some 17,500 folks who had won a lottery to watch musical performances and hear intimate stories commemorating Jackson’s life. Shadowing LAPD’s incident commander, they started the day outside Staples Center, observing traffic coordination and plans to provide security for Jackson’s famous family.
Then they moved inside, where they watched the crowd and the police staffing for about two-thirds of the internationally-televised funeral.
“We were talking about the response to having to deal with security for the family if something were to happen,” Hillmann said. “You can’t help but participate and look at the event itself and look at the crowd.”
A lieutenant and an investigator stayed outside Staples Center with LAPD’s mobile field force, which deals with crowd control and plans for rescues, or potentially dangerous situations, such as a shooting.
Another lieutenant was deployed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department’s mutual aid group, which had developed a contingency plan to assist the LAPD if needed.
None were paid overtime for the trip, and all were back at their posts in Orange County by noon, he said.
He hopes the experience will help his staff get ready for potentially similar events in Orange County, such as the Angels or Ducks winning a championship or a large event at Saddleback Church.
UPDATED 7/10/09: Sheriff Sandra Hutchens defended the Jackson funeral mission during a live online web chat with readers today.
Reader Sushmita Rai asked this question:
There has been a lot of scrutiny of the people from your department attending the Jackson Funeral, what is your opinion of that?
Here’s how the sheriff responded:
I directed some of my personnel to attend the event at the Staples center as part of our mutual aid responsibility and as a learning tool. This is not unusual—during the recent fires in Orange County, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s personnel responded to this county to assist. There is a mutual aid structure in this state that is very effective. I sent key emergency response personnel from this Department to assist and observe this large scale event. They will bring lessons learned back to this County so that we are prepared for any large scale event and/or response. This was done as part of their duties.
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Correct me if I’m wrong but the Angels and the Ducks have already won several championships and Saddleback Church has hosted multiple large events. What did the OCSD learn during those events? Sounds to me like a few OCSD officers wanted to hang out with their LAPD buddies and enjoy the show. Did they get one of those box lunches LA paid through the nose for?
Not several championships, but one each, and I think Anaheim PD mostly handled those things.
Grunt, if you count division and league titles and not just the World Series or Stanley Cup then the Angels and Ducks have many championships among them. Those events all draw large crowds. I was at the ‘02 World Series and things never got out of hand. They’ve already got it under control.
You are tight about Anheim PD, but the OCSD handles any major even in the County so they would be involved in any major event. So going to the MJ thing is and was a waste of money!
Now that is so ture it is funny
Why can’t people understand the issue of JURISDICTION! The Sheriff will simply NOT have jurisdiction where ANY major issue might arise. If it is, for example, at Anaheim Stadium, Convention Center or Pond, Anaheim PD will have primary jurisdiction. If something happens in downtown Santa Ana, it will be Santa Ana PD that has jurisdiction. If there’s a 10-34 at the Los Alamitos Race Course, it’s up to Cypress PD to make the call.
OK, if there should be a fish uprising at Irvine Lake, The Princess can send her people.
All this points to is that there was even LESS reason for any of The Princess’s people to freeload up in L.A.
Just another glowing example of Hillman salivating and perhaps hoping that things will turn ugly so he can run into the crowd and put his hands around the throat of an unruly idiot in the crowd. I wonder if his LAPD buddies gave him a bullhorn at the memorial service??
C’mon, who the hell is he trying to kid? This County was formed 120 years ago and we’ve had lots of incidents during that time, prior to his arrival, that were handled without any major mishaps. The Angels & Ducks have won their respective championship series and the mutual aid that has been in place for decades allowed for folks to show up and enjoy those celebrations without the overturning and burning of police cars and a whole host of other acts of civil disobedience that we witness in LA whenever the Lakers win the NBA crown.
Hillman is itching to get the OC into some type of situation that will enable him to fire up the troops & kick some butt. Sorry Mike, this isn’t LA. Calm down & take your meds, things will be OK. The OC isn’t some backward, rural county. And contrary to your belief, the police agencies and sheriff’s department here are very well trained and very capable of handling major events at the Honda Center, Anaheim Stadium or Saddleback Church.
If things ever turn ugly for whatever reason in this county, keep your eye on Hillman. He’s sure to be out in front, getting everyone all fired up and more than likely to cause more problems instead of solving them…..he just can’t help himself.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Sounds like you know the man. I’ll take your word for it.
Good post. LAPD has been under Federal over site for years. They had the riot at McArther Park, recently, where news media personnel were whacked with batons. They paid millions in law suit settlements. Why would we want to emulate LAPD? The only remnant of LAPD worth saving, is their SWAT team.
Hillmann and five other high ranking sheriffs attended the Jackson funeral as a learning experience.
I call it a Junket!
BS
this aint a junket– it’s a car ride– good job ocsd—–moron’s complain about everything
Sad…..
what a load of cr@p
The BS meter is pegged on this one “she-riff!”
The BOS’s need to step and ask why ?????
Think it was good to attent. Can never get too much training. It also gives them a view into how LA County does crowd control and compare it to the way we do things.
I liked all of Michael Jackson’s videos and music. I gre up in Illinois and started watching him in 1983 . I have a dvd of his and I wanna get more and keep them as memories. God Bless your family. Love you
Brian
Ohhhhh, Brian. I’m so sad for you. But WTF does this have to do with this article?
Geezus. I hope you don’t vote. No, you did–that’s why the OTHER moron, BO, got elected.
Btw, shouldn’t Hillman be mandatorily retired because he’s 5150?
Issued a straight jacket?
He threatened suicide by sticking a pencil in his eye.
What say you “she-riff?”
Wait maybe the BOS” were there…
This was the biggest waste of OC money. We had no business going there at all. We don’t need to go to those things. We have no venues like that in our jurisdiction. When the Angels and Ducks won their championships we helped out with security but we were not in charge. Those venues are in the City of Anaheim. They handled the coordination we merely provided support. Someone needs to call Hillman on his conduct. He’s trying to turn the OCSD into the LAPD. You think things have been bad lately, wait til he tries to make this agency into a mirror image of LAPD, the most hated agency in law enforcement. For years that agency has been making life hard on the rest of us with their poor conduct, poor policies, poor accountability and like he said, Hillman was one of those people in charge of that agency. The worst mistake this county ever made was bringing on Hutchens. She may have been okay but once again we have a Sheriff putting people in places of authority that have no business being there. Hillman is not liked at this agency, he’s a lunatic, he thinks he’s big time SWAT commander and runs every operation just like it’s a swat call out. That’s not needed here and many of us believe that. People of OC need to speak up. Call the OC board of supervisors, not that they’re much better but someone needs to say something. The furor HIllman needs to go. He needs to retire or go back to LAPD but we certainly don’t NEED or WANT him here.
It sounds like Insider is one of those life long jail deputies who are upset that their Xboxes were taken away or a lop-of-$&$# sgt/lieutenant who acually have to work now. What jurisdiction was the Mojeska Canyon fires in??? I guess you would say that was handled well…not! That was a waste of resources and poorly managed. What about the LA riots, yep OCSD was there…poorly managed. Remember the shop own who hung a Ho Chi Men poster in his store and an entire city was going to kill him. That wasn’t in OCSD jurisdiction, but we were the largest group of law enforcement there. You are a moron.
Insider wrote: “LAPD, the most hated agency in law enforcement…”
Well said! Once upon a time, it was the cleanest, most respected law enforcement in America. With goosebumps, I can so well remember Control One announcing the event that would change it all:
“Attention all Units and Stations. We have lost a cop’s cop. Bill Parker died tonight at 8:49 pm.”
A lot of tears were shed that night. LAPD has never been the same since, especially since they began to go outside the department and bring in the pond scum such as Willie Williams and the other East Coast mobsters.
That The Princess saturated OCSD with her LAPD and LASD has in a few short month has destroyed morale and make it the laugh of the County Government and county police agencies.
what a waste of time!!!!!!
probably a veteran of Theo Lacy who misses their VCR, huh?
they are barely taking notes? that is sad.
I’m glad they used this event as a learning experience. When the next major event happens, and it will happen, the OCSD will be better prepared and more capable of handling the situation professionally and respectfully. Is it better to pay overtime to train in a static “exercise” or to pay straight time for a real live event where the situation is evolving and decisions need to be made in real time. Good job OCSD. Way to make the most out of a real event.
This expedition was so much cr*ap! This is the first time I’ve spoken against our Sheriff but this Hillman guy had NO business being sent to hang out with his buddies at this event at taxpayer expense. He should have entered the lottery like everyone else who wanted to go. Orange County has done quite well without him - for years in fact. We didn’t have Rodney King, The Watts Riots, or the MacArthur gang war. The solution to the gangs “taxing” the old men playing chess in MacArthur Park, in fact,was the removal of the tables in the park so the old men would be “safe” from the gangs, i.e. have to go to the senior centers to play chess. We have nothing to learn from the L.A. Police Dept. And I think we’ve had many events here in OC that brought in even the president and didn’t require the magnitude of police “protection” apparently deemed necessary by this guy who is just looking for a fight. I’m disapointed in the Sheriff. I have heard that representative from some local police departments were also on this junket. Would love to hear about those and why they felt they needt to “learn” from the L.A. PD
OC LE officers/deputies have held a number of training exercises since the early 60’s regarding mutual aid for terrorist’s attacks, riots, and other emergencies. They have participated in multi-agency task forces or mutual aid for police funerals, festivals (1984 Olympics, Strawberry Festival, HB and NB 4th of July, annual fires, Anaheim Cinco de Mayo, Tet Festival & Parade, etc). In addition, the OC Motorcycle Officers Association has held training scenarios at the OC fairgrounds for crowd control. The first exercise involved all the motor cops from OC. OC LE has been learning “how to be able to staff up a department operations center and train a mobile field force” for many, many years. Although this may have been a curious event to attend, there was nothing there that hasn’t already been studied or could be studied in OC. Perhaps Mr. Hillmann just wanted to visit some old friends and “remember when.”
To : oclawwatch
Is the “she-riff” paying you overtime for your boot licking?
Indsider-The best people to do what you want done…those on the inside who can articulate his deficiencies. The rank and file and your union/association. Unfortunately, not liking him is not enough, but you already know that. I do not envy your position. Best of luck.
“Why OC sheriffs attended Michael Jackson’s funeral”?
Come on. You know why. Tickets were free and it’s a rush to know you have the power to get free tickets to attend an event viewed worldwide. I suspect that these people despised MJ personally. So there is a 90% chance it had nothing to do with honoring the deceased. It’s all about self-absorbtion, self-aggrandizement and conceit. The ‘to view and learn’ reason is completely disingenuous. I don’t buy it.
because you are a cop hater and idiot.
Yes, ongoing training is very important, but seeing as how Mike Hillmann is already an expert in the field of crowd control, was this field trip really necessary? I doubt that public safety was jeopardized by the absence of these officers in the workplace, but is this an appropriate use of funds at a time when the OCSD is making drastic financial cuts, laying employees off, and constantly fighting negative PR?
Star struck rubber neckers and autograph hounds.
Are the Academy Awards next?
blah says: July 9, 2009 at 4:50 pmThink it was good to attent. Can never get too much training. It also gives them a view into how LA County does crowd control and compare it to the way we do things.
DIDN’T THESE GUYS HUTCHENS APPOINT SPEND 25-30 YEARS EACH IN LAPD AND/OR LASO?
HAVEN’T THEY FIGURED IT OUT BY NOW?
Didn’t O.C. just get rid of wasteful spending bureaucrats such as Mike Corona et. al.?
This comes as a slap in the face to teachers and others in the unemployment line.
Get a clue O.C. This type of waste is intolerable.
Go back to doing what you’re paid to do.
ENFORCING THE LAW…….DUH!!!!!!!!
I heard Hillman lost his gun!
Just think this “learning experience” was wrapping paper on the “I want to go” package for Hillman. Lucky for the other officers who were chosen to go to the memorial service. There are a lot of politics involved in law enforcement, and to me, this attendance seems a little political.
…or was it his pencil?
We should all send a box of pencils to Hillman.
If Hillman and his guys had wanted to go up for the event and hang with their LA buddies, I see no harm and no foul. But he wasn’t conducting county business, so therefore they should not be paid on the county dime.
After all, Hillman was in charge of large event things when he was in the LAPD. OJ’s trial, Laker paraded, etc…so he should know all he would need to know.
Hillman and company should not have been paid.
Agreed. But to look on the bright side had they stayed in OC they probably would have spent a couple hours at their desks striking names off the CCW holder list and then called it a day. It would be a hoot to follow these people around on a normal workday. Most of it probably spent around the water cooler talking about the good old days and exaggerated war stories.
I heard Hillman had the SWAT team looking for illegal fireworks on the Fourth.
I didn’t know the OC Sheriff’s did private events.
I wonder if they could send out an officer to house-sit for me while I am on vacation?
Do you live at neverland ranch?
Next junket for Hillmann and his crew will be at Dodger Stadium during a playoff game to see how they handle large scale events too.
What’s next the Kentuck Derby? How about the World Series or the Superbowl? Very valuable training right there too. You can never be too well trained expecially if you get a VIP pass like Hillman.
And a black and white to get there in. Plus VIP parking.
Did they bring tissue and cry?
It is a pity this dillweed did not fall on a pencil while at the event. GO BACK TO LA YOU LOSER. THIS IS ORANGE COUNTY.
Another good reason that the Orange County Sheriff budget should be cut. “”"”What a wast of the tax payers dollar.”"”"
And you can start with Hillman & his lackies that accompanied him to LA. Obviously they aren’t needed here in the OC
I think the next junket ought to be the Gay Parade in San Francisco. Hillmann might fit in. He could go undercover as one of the Village People.
I can’t help but wonder if the same person wrote about 95% of the posts here for this article….under different alias’ of course.
Most of them are rather similar in tone and style!
What next, a strip club so they can see the importance of fighting against public nudity? Waste of money.
I could take the “cops need all the training they can get” line, but I’d be a hypocrite, especially given this guy’s experience. If they had sent a newer Supervisor, to gather information to take home, I’d feel better about it. Even if Hillman took a bunch of front line Supervisors for legitimate training purposes I’d buy it. The high ranking officials won’t be there when the matter hits the fan. Train the guys that need it. These guys just saw a free pass to a mega-show and took advantage of it. They used the training spin which I don’t buy. I’m sure they did a little observation while they were there, but overall he probably went for a bobble head doll to sell on ebay.
I agree with oldcop, for the most part. Observing how others doe things has merit, but it pretty much all being high ranking officials, fairly close to retirement, doesn’t sit well with me.
One lieutenant, one sergeant, one detective, one patrolman, and one academy recruit should have gone so that all perspectives could take it in, along with with the experience not being aged out as quickly.
I agree with OldCop.
Hillmann is supposed to already be an experienced expert on crowd control, and should take officers who have never dealt with large crowds.
I understand the importance of learning thru other successful organizations, but this seems like the wrong event to have picked.
A lot of narrow minded, anti-police comments here! Most people do not have the faintest idea of the amount of police and fire department planning, training, and intelligence necessary/required for a successful and safe major event. Although LAPD may have over deployed in MJ’s memorial, had those 250 thousand expected fans shown up and become unruly as in the Laker’s recent victory night, the planning and deployment would have been effective. Each event is a unique learning experience! The next time you and family attend a memorable sporting event, an Olympics game, Super Bowl, or Presidential appearance, be thankful for the men and women of Mike Hillmann’s caliber and expertise who have your safety in their hands and minds. I speak from experience!
Isn’t “sherriff” an elected position?
If it is, then Hutchins just lost my vote. I don’t care if Charlie Manson runs against her; this kind of corruption and waste of taxpayer dollars should not stand.
This is what happens when we stuck that “woman” in charge. The woman needs to worry more about her employees than my concealed weapons permit.
I bet all 5 of those poofs have Michael Jackson tats…
County car, County gas, County pay, private boondoogle.
Of course Corona let his assistant Jamarillo do whatever he wanted to too and you see where that got him.
OK, this is about as stupid as it gets. What a crock! Hillman and his cohorts need to reimburse the County or charge this junket to their own time. One more reason to vote out Hutchens next year.
$4,000,000 of taxpayer money for Michael Jackson’s memorial? Wake me when the revolution starts!
Hilman has all the experience because he attends these types of events and keeps himself up on current practices. Why do you morons think the Military trains on a continual basis? Gee, maybe to be the best at what they do, DUH. His past and present LAPD contacts got other OCSD personnel in on this invaluable training that can be brought back to the OC to protect you idi0ts. It cost you nothing for their training, read the article, they were back by noon. MORONS!!!!
1. The Board of Supervisors should dock the pay of these free-loading grifters.
2. The Board of Supervisors should fire the incompetent and spiteful “sheriff” who puts all of us to shame, as well as the cronies she brought in from the outside.
3. The Board of Supervisors that refuses to terminate her should be subject to a recall.
I am disappointed in most all of the responses. I for one am very pleased my Sheriffs Department is willing to learn from other departments - even if it was the Jackson Memorial. I’m not sure I want to be among those of you who disagree with everything that is said about the law enforcement activities in Orange County. I expect you all are poor and have broken the law more than once by most of your responses. If you can’t aford to live here and pay the taxes to support our law enforcement then you should move to LA County and live on the welfare of others there.
Riiigghht! Do you really think anyone is going to buy into this story?
Hillman is the Godfather of MFF, the undisputed master of major incident crowd control.
He wants to make OC as professional and prepared as is LA for these types of incidents (I don’t just mean the 2002 Angels World Series celebrations with well-behaved Orange Countians, but full on major crows of gang-member L.A. fans), and part of that is observing how a large agency handles large incidents.
Smart, cheap move. They would have been on the clock in meetings with the aclu or someother self-believed stakeholder group, this cost little in travel, was a sunk cost in salary, and gave a first row seat of world class training.
OC is very lucky to have the L.A. Crew to correct the keystonian antics of Carona et al.
YMMV.
Most organizations I worked for would send one representative to an event if there was something critical to learn about. Then that rep would come back and brief everyone else on what took place. But most of these organizations were privately funded organizations that were actually accountable to a bottom line. The word used to describe such a tactic back in those days was “efficiency”. I guess when taxdollars are involved you can simply shut down the shop for the day and escort all your buddies to have a day of fun on the county’s dime. Pretty ingenious especially when there is an economic crisis going on and budgets are getting chopped. Who authorizes this stuff anyway? Does Hutchen’s sign off on it or is the tail waggin’ the dog at OCSD?
Tail (Hillman) waggin’ the dog…..
Yep. Roger that.
OCOBSERVER, you dislike everyone and everything, how sad it would be to be you on a daily basis or to be around you. I truly feel sorry for you, all you have is your computer and blogging.
I am sorry but Hillman, we don’t need that kind of over crowd control in OC. We don’t have over 3,000 officers and couldn’t afford them.
Besides, we would be shooting those 213 and 310 gangsters on the 405 off ramp, like when we were ready for the riot back in 96′, before they got here. That was before your time.
The Dicks and the Angels fans are tame, they are milder than the NB and HB 909 beach crowd. OC are too intelligent to host that kind of circus like they did in LA.
you sure don’t lie when you say “Dumbguy”
WHAT A JOKE !!!!
THE OC SUPERVISORS SHOULD MAKE THE SHERRIF’S HEAD SPIN ON WASTING TAX PAYER’S TIME AND MONEY IN THIS WAY.
AN ABSOLUTE 100% JOKE. IF THIS IS WHAT SHERRIF SANDRA CALLS A GOOD USE OF RESOURCES THEN IT IS TIME FOR HER TO GET HER WALKING PAPERS BACK TO LOS ANGELES.
OC SHERRIFS DEPT NEEDS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.
Steve, you are a moron. This was nothing more then six people watching a show full of stars.
bob, I am appalled by the lack of common sense that the average person has these days. In a few words you summarized the whole charade. I wish I had your talent for brevity.
Enough anything of Jacko. Now get some more Octomom pics up. She is hot! Nadia, please contact me.
I see no reason why Hillman et al shouldnt go up.
I’m just upset they found their way back.
Exactly. Hillman and the others have plenty of experience. There was no reason for them to attend. What a waste of money. Just like the OCSD spending a several thousands of dollars buying brand new Ford Escapes, Dodge Chargers and GMC Acadias. Why?? No need. No need for so many command staffers. How hard is it to tell a deputy, dispatcher, or any one else for that matter how to do their job. It’s not hard. Does every division or bureau need a captain? Do each of the contract cities need a Chief of Police? Do we need 6 sergeants on one shift at the jails? Do we need an administrative Sergeant or civilian supervisor to remind us how to tie our shoes. NO!! If you need office supplies, just go to the 99 cent stores. Cut a lot off the top of the chain and the county would not be so damn broke.
Although, we desperately need a parking violation and loud party task force in South County. Damn you if you park on my street for over 72 hours!!
It’s like hutchens doesn’t understand that at these economically strained times, with looming sheriff layoffs, the media is just salivating to feed the citizens of these types of wasteful, idioctic, stories.
This Hillman guy really things we are that inept or lost where we actually believe this nonsense.
Sending personnel to Texas during “Hurricane season” makes no sense since we have no hurricanes here. Someone else brought up the point that Angels and the Ducks had chamion season and the local PD did a great job.
This is nothing more than the same garbage that Jamrillo pulled. Getting Helicopter with his rides to go pick up her purse did make sense and neither does seeing the MJ Ceremony/Show.
Hillman is the next Jamarillo and The OC voters are not going to wait till an indictment to get rid of the Sheriff this time. Trust me!
Hutchens needs to stop this types of abuse.
Honestly, I’ m deeply worried that when the Big Earthquake hits the OC, we are going to witness the same numbers of Public safety personell absenteeism and abandonment that was witness during Hurricane Katrina.
We need to make sure that these people will be there when the cities are burning, people are injured and dead, OC citizens are frustrated, and the other effects of the Big one. Something tells me that going to see the MJ ceremony is not going to aid any sheriff officer in dealing with the next big one.
Look at how LAPD handles special events and then do just the opposite. In turn, we will be free of riots, civil unrest and massive law suits. Orange County has different demographics, than L.A. Policies and procedures there, may not be appropriate here. How many people drive up to L.A. unless they have to?
at least they have a job.
That’s true. LOL
more training is good no matter how much you are an expert. the question here is are the individuals that attended the event the same individuasl that would be performing those similar tasks at the ocsd for a major event or crisis. not just a bunch of senior management people who think because of their rank they deserve to go for “training” purposes when people below them or in different departments might benefit a lot more from that type of training.
I once went to a Strip Club and had girls dance on me for the great “Learning Experience”.
Had these guys simply showed up at showtime and watched the event I would not approve. Since they showed up early to watch the setup and they split up to see different areas of preparation it looks like they could have learned something from it. Simply sending one person to the event would not have been wise if they truly wanted to see all aspects of preparation including security, traffic control, crowd control, etc.
Why did OC Sheriffs attend Michael Jackson’s funeral?
To give the whiners on ocregister.com something to moan and cry about.
I’m just a lowly person in the OCSD, but I have seen Hillman heading the Dept Operations Center during an incident. I have talked with him as he strives for excellence in his job. I’m glad he and others took advantage of a situation right in our backyard to learn more about crowd control. Yeah, the County has had incidents over the years, but like athletes who constantly watch videos of their competitors, law enforcement must keep up with how crowds behave, because they aren’t always the same. We want to provide a peaceful setting for the good people, and extract those who attempt to harm them. Being better at spotting the latter is what it’s all about.
I think it was very smart to go up and see this from a training and experience perspective. It’s easy to complain about it but the more experience & knowledge our top cops get in these sorts of things, the more they’re “smarter” when we need them to be here at home. Sometimes so-called “junkets” do help people learn about situations and projects that help the public they serve.
Contrary to “personal” feelings about Hillmann (don’t know the guy), this sounds like a very appropriate training mission. It is not everyday that major law enforcement events such as this happen. There is a tremendous amount of tactical planning that goes into preparing for all contingencies in the event something goes down. It is VERY common for law enforcement agencies from all around to go to such events during the planning and deployment stages to observe first hand the operational deployment, logistical, finance and command post operations. I myself have done the same thing prior to retirement from law enforcement dozens of times, all around the country I may add. I, along with many other law enforcement managers, would respond to air disasters, major haz mat incidents, large scale evacuations, riots, pre-planned major crowd control events, and the like. It is the best way for law enforcement management, supervisors and planners to observe first hand of what works and what does not. Again, this was a completely legitimate endeavor and would be a wasted opportunity if the command staff of the OCSD did NOT go to observe. Even if it was the Michael Jackson event. I can assure you if this event took place in OCSD jurisdiction, LAPD and many other law enforcement agencies would be doing the same thing Hillimann did. This is no big deal, don’t make it so.
Tactical observations on crowd control would take place outside the staples center, not inside the venue. Observations inside the center would be no different than any other event held there. So why was it necessary for Hillman or the others to go inside? And why did Hillman have to drag 5 or 6 others with him? Why couldn’t he simply give a briefing on his observations to the others when he returned? As Bob Holt said earlier in a very succinct manner “Steve, you are a moron. This was nothing more then six people watching a show full of stars”.
More wasted county tax dollars with virtually zero oversight.
The reason he was brought over to the OCSD is cause he is already an expert on crowd control.
So he should already know the proper techniques.
I am disgusted with the comments on here. Hillmann is an expert on crowd control - so let him do his job. The training that the OCSD received is helpful. They were not paid overtime and they were back by noon. SO WHAT’s THE PROBLEM HERE??? You all think you have the answers to decisions that the OSCD makes.
Good thing Hillman didn’t poke himself in the eye with a pencil while on national TV. That would have been embarrasing.
Nah, he was too busy sending BS text messages to his “crew” on his Blackberry. Thankfully his hands were too tied up to hold a pencil…
Rocket says:
Good thing Hillman didn’t poke himself in the eye with a pencil while on national TV. That would have been embarrasing
”Incidentally, Hillmann was in charge of coordinating security for events like this at the LAPD before joining the sheriff’s department under Sandra Hutchens.”
Incidentally? That didn’t happen just by chance. What an abuse of power!
If Hillman wants to hang out with LA Sheriffs, then he should have stayed there instead of coming to OC!
Insider: you are obviously a sheriff. So you say no one likes Hillmann? I tend to disagree. And all you can say is that just because a few sporting events have turned out okay you think that OC does not need anymore training? So Hillmann takes a few supervisors with him to LA to observe and learn more crowd control techniques (which Hillmann in an expert in). There are other major incidents/disasters that could take place in OC, so isn’t it better to be prepared, than not? Isn’t more training better than not enough? If you disagree, then I think you are in the wrong profession, because law enforcement is a special family which you do not belong. Shame on you for bashing the people who care about the department YOU also work for.
How’d they get to LA? Duke I or Duke II ? Surely Hillman utilized the helicopter so he could simulate an air assault, right? Ahhh ! The smell of naplam in the morning.
I think that if ANYONE wanted to attend, including any other agency that is not assisting, should have went on the internet to TRY to obtain a ticket like everyone else! Otherwise, stand 2 miles back in the LAPD’s 2 mile perimeter around the memorial! Plus, those that were assisting were standing outside not sitting inside the Staples at any time! And if per the article, that they were observing.. that’s were they should of stayed.. observing inside those mobile vehicles or outside observing the crowd. (You would think they are fully trained in that already, “you’d hope”, as others that mentioned in the comments, Orange County has had major events to understand what to do and how to handle.
BTW- I thought that all officers are not supposed to obtain, “gratis” for anything, per their policies! WOW!
I can’t believe people are actually defended this action. Some are even stating the duties these guys performed like they were sitting by them.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be a photo appearing in the next couplae days, showing these guys sitting in the premium clubhouse seats, laughing it up with others, eating some fingerfoods and enjoying the ceremony.
This stuff about rotating assignements, note taking, and checking with crowd control is total BS.
When the photos come out…what will the defenders say then…D’OH!
What is the big deal?
Hey…isn’t Hillman the guy who brought out all the troops to the bored of stupidvisors meeting last fall & intimidated those CCW folks that showed up to speak at the meeting?
That was a complete disaster. Takes overkill to a whole new level! Didn’t do his boss any favors on that deal…..
News Flash
I was told they had tickets. Why would you need seat tickets if your going to be outside observing traffic and crowds. Got it from a good source.
well, I’m sure if you gave “iron mike” a 90 minute lead time on that question that he could come back with a creative answer. But if you asked him directly you’d likely get the deer in the headlights look.
BOTTOM LINE:
Law enforcement professionals take many opportunities to train, this being one of those times. I would imagine that Chief Hillman and the others couldn’t give two sh!+5 for Michael Jackson and probably knew that he was nothing but a perverted child molester. However, this was a huge assembly of people and those of you who live in Sheriff’s Department patrol areas, know that we like to prepare. This was one of those times. This administration is new to this department and taxpayers should be proud that they continuously train personnel, starting at the top. This new Mobile Field Force training is a hot topic on the desks of all Law Enforcement administrators and this arena provided a great firsthand look at what to do with such a large gathering of people. A far cry from the old administration, which only cared about weekend excursions and how much money they were laundering from friends.
By the way, no problem asking the questions as to why they went, taxpayers pay the bill and should know why, but once the answer is given, leave them alone.
Now, go judge someone else or another article and stop trying to see money sucking corruption in everything the OCSD does.
OCR: How about you follow up on what this actually cost?
I’m utterly unable to work up any anti-OCSD sentiment over this, and lord knows I read all the comments in this forum and I have tried, tried so hard to be enraged, I just can’t.
Where’s the Birth Certificate?
Teleprompter
Mustard
Mom Jeans
World Government
Did I miss anything else?
This is the biggest load of crap that I have ever heard or seen. The Sheriff is getting ready to lay-off employess of the Sheriff’s Deaprtment and is sending the Asst. Sheriff and other high ranking officials that have a salary of $100,000 or more.
The Sheriff’s Department keeps on making up excuses about everything………..The Sheriff made a comment that she does not allow Employess to have take home cars? That just means that they cannot drive them home. They can leave them at a County Fire Station or any City lot. Lets say……….you work in south county but live in Carona. You drop you car off at the County lot that is off the 91 Fwy at the county line.
Its all lies!