Report: Murrieta PD Sgt. Baca May Have Helped Friend Get Job With LA Sheriff

Murrieta Police Sgt. David Baca may have had some influence in L.A. County Sheriff's only new recruit hire since 2009, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Baca's father, Lee Baca, is the L.A. County Sheriff.

The rookie deputy, John W. Pace, is the only new recruit the department has hired since 2009, the newspaper reported. Others hired have been lateral moves from other police or sheriff's departments.

David Baca told The Times that Pace called him "looking for help" in becoming a cop. The sergeant said he agreed to put in a good word with his father.

A human resources official with the L.A. Sheriff's Department told the newspaper that Pace, 26, was chosen out of thousands of applicants.

Sheriff Baca imposed a hiring freeze of new recruits in March 2010, the newspaper reported. Pace began working in civilian, administrative duties for the department in February, the report stated.

The Times interviewed the sheriff, during which he confirmed he spoke with Pace but said he did not have any involvement in his hiring.

"He applied like everyone else did," Baca told The Times. "He wanted to be a deputy sheriff. He had been interested for quite a while.… He pretty well knew what needed to be done."

The sheriff's son told The Times he did not know Pace before he called him, asking about how to get in law enforcement. A mutual friend gave Pace his number, he said.

"Anybody wants to call me — 'Hey, want to talk law enforcement?' — I'll talk to him," the sheriff's son told The Times. "We obviously want quality people for this job.… It's not like this person's not qualified. He went through the academy, went through the background check. L.A. County is getting a great thing."