Trash Firm Probed Over Alleged Forgery

West Covina police and the California Highway Patrol are investigating a garbage disposal company after allegations surfaced that a CHP officer’s signature was forged on safety records.

Jim Griffith, a CHP commercial enforcement officer, said Tuesday that he noticed in mid-March apparently recurring violations in the same West Covina Disposal Co. trucks heading for the BKK and Spadra landfills.

Officers routinely inspect trucks headed for BKK in West Covina and Spadra in Pomona. The violations included cracked frames, loose steering, broken brakes and faulty equipment, he said. The trucks weigh as much as 25 tons when full.

When investigators checked court records, they discovered more than 60 verifications that the violations had been corrected, all apparently signed by the same CHP officer. Officials obtained a search warrant last week and found that 22 of the company’s trucks had defects, said Gary Kershaw of CHP.

No charges have been filed. A receptionist at West Covina Disposal’s office said company officials were not available for comment.

Kershaw said retired CHP Officer Richard Tingwall confirmed signing six of the tickets while he was an officer. Tingwall could not be reached for comment.

Griffith said the other signatures were analyzed by the Los Angeles Police Department’s handwriting experts, who contended that they were forged.