Member of Sheriff’s Celebrity Reserve Unit Suspended

Less than a month after Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca swore in his first new “celebrity” reserve deputies, one of his recruits--a member of the Zacky Farms chicken dynasty--has been relieved of duty for allegedly drawing a gun during a confrontation outside his Bel-Air home.

According to Los Angeles police, Scott Zacky allegedly mistook a couple out on a date for auto burglars when they were trying to fix a window on their car. A witness told investigators that Zacky, 35, ran out of his house in his boxer shorts, waved a gun and yelled: “Stop! Police!,” authorities said.

“He allegedly was pointing the gun at [the couple] as they drove away in fear,” said LAPD Det. Paul Bishop. The couple contacted the LAPD, which launched an investigation. No charges have been filed against Zacky, but the city attorney’s office will review the matter for potential violations next month.

Meanwhile, sheriff’s officials said Zacky--who was sworn in to Baca’s elite reserve unit Aug. 29--has been relieved of duty, which is routine in cases of this nature. After the LAPD concludes its investigation, sheriff’s officials say they will conduct their own investigation of the incident, which allegedly occurred Aug. 31.

Although the Sheriff’s Department issued guns to members of the elite group of reserves, LAPD investigators believe Zacky may have used another weapon during the alleged confrontation. When contacted at his home, Zacky said the incident amounts to nothing more than a misunderstanding. “It’s a non-incident,” he said.

He said one of his neighbors called to tell him that a man wearing gloves and a ski cap appeared to be breaking into cars. He said he armed himself and went out to investigate. “I was crossing the street and a car came at me,” he said. “I spun around and pointed the gun at them and yelled, ‘Stop!’ ”

Zacky said he never yelled “police” and that he was wearing shorts--not boxers. He said the car stopped for a moment, and then sped off.

His attorney, David Ogden, said his client will appear before a hearing officer with the city attorney’s office next month to explain his side of the story. City prosecutors will then decide whether to file misdemeanor charges against Zacky.

Ogden said he believes the matter will be resolved once “everyone understands what happened.”

“I don’t really see this as a crime,” he said.

Nevertheless, the incident has renewed criticism of Baca’s reserve unit. When the sheriff proposed the plan several months ago, department members expressed concern over the wisdom of issuing badges and guns to civilians who are provided with 64 hours of training.

“My understanding is that they were not hired to perform line law enforcement functions,” said Dennis Slocumb, president of the Professional Peace Officers Assn. “This just provides an example of what can go wrong when you put such a strong symbol of authority and a gun in the hands of someone who had 64 hours of training. It requires more training to do manicures in the state of California.”

Sheriff’s officials set up the unit in an effort to get high-profile members of the community involved in department events, such as helping with anti-drug programs or the youth activity league. Those who complete the training are issued a department uniform, along with the gun and badge.

Department leaders had asked Jay Leno and Steven Seagal to join the elite corps. Although the men said they would be interested in assisting the department, they declined to sign up for the unit, officials said.

In all, 20 people were sworn in at a ceremony last month. In addition to Zacky, the group includes a number of business executives and two grandchildren of the late Sheriff Peter Pitchess.

Sheriff’s Capt. Doyle Campbell, who oversees the reserve program, said the unit was formed to “bring influential people in the community together to benefit the department in a number of different ways.”

“They’re very interested in giving back to the community,” he said.

He also defended the decision to issue uniforms, guns and badges to the executive reserves, saying that sheriff’s officials decided to treat the elite group as they would any other reserve unit in the department.

“They weren’t just given guns,” Campbell said. “They went through 24 hours of training with the guns and had to qualify for the right to carry them.”