Force Makes Progress in Replacing Lost Officers

SIMI VALLEY —  Moving quickly to replace a slain officer and four others who quit under a cloud, the Simi Valley Police Department has rehired one of its own former cops and is considering taking on another.

Chief Randy Adams on Monday swore in Officer Jay Carrott--who served on the force from May, 1987, to January, 1993--as the department’s newest patrolman.

Another former Simi Valley officer, who serves with the Rialto Police Department, must undergo final screening before being given a firm job offer, Adams said. He declined to identify the candidate.

“Both of them left [here] with very good recommendations, and we’re excited to get them back,” Adams said.

The chief has assigned an additional Simi Valley officer to temporary personnel duty to speed background checks on four or five more applicants the department may bring in to fill the remaining slots as quickly as possible.

The 144-member department, including 109 sworn personnel members, has lost five officers since Aug. 4. That was the day newly recruited Officer Michael Clark--formerly with the Los Angeles Police Department--was shot to death in a gunfight after he was sent to calm the suicidal Daniel Allan Tuffree.

Tuffree pleaded not guilty on Thursday to murder charges that could send him to Death Row if convicted.

Barely six weeks after Clark’s death, the department lost another officer. Commanders accepted the resignation of five-year veteran Raymond Madden, who was under investigation for his alleged role in a pyramid scheme.

This month, the department lost three more officers who prosecutors said were also being investigated for allegedly joining in the scheme, dubbed the Money Tree.

Officers Matt McCord and Matt Hopkins resigned last week, and Officer Michael Cratch--the only officer charged so far--quit Wednesday. Cratch was indicted and faces trial Nov. 20 on a felony charge of operating an illegal pyramid scheme.

Participants in the scheme made an initial $1,000 “investment,” then went out to recruit others, prosecutors said. Their money was used to pay off the initial investors, but when no new investors could be found, the remaining players lost their money.

Adams, who was hired just days after Clark’s death, said the department is recovering from the tragedy and the resignations as best it can.

“Certainly, nobody likes to lose officers from the department,” he said. “And we’re looking forward to getting our strength back to what was authorized.”

He added, “Although there have been some internal problems in the department, we’re talking about a very small percentage of officers. In the little over a month that I’ve been here, [it’s clear that] the caliber of the officers in this department is outstanding.”

Carrott left the Simi Valley department in 1993 for the police department in Lacey, Wash. He was named Officer of the Year there in 1994--an honor he earned in 1992 with the Simi Valley force.

Carrott could not be reached for comment on his decision to return to Simi Valley.

But Detective Randy Foushee, Simi Valley’s police recruiter, said Carrott moved to Washington in search of a better life for his family, then returned to Simi Valley because he was unhappy with the 35-officer department there.

“He’s a good guy, a real sharp cop, tactically and personally,” Foushee said. “He’s everything you’d want in a cop.”

The 40-year-old Carrott started as a rookie in Simi Valley in 1987 and moved through several special duties, including the SWAT team, the Special Enforcement Detail and work as a field training officer, Foushee said.

He will earn a salary of about $3,900 a month, plus benefits and bonuses for prior training, Foushee said.