Brian S. Bentley
Encyclopedia
Brian S. Bentley is an author and a former Los Angeles Police Department
officer. His first book, One Time: The Story of a South Central Los Angeles Police, graphically depicts his involvement in the cover-up of suspect beatings. "One Time" is an urban slang term for "the Police." In 1997, Bentley was the subject of an extensive Internal Affairs
investigation that included over three hundred allegations of misconduct and seven months of surveillance
, all stemming from his book. To this date, he still holds the record for the most allegations of misconduct in LAPD history.
s advised Bentley that he would be fired and prosecuted if he admitted to witnessing corruption or misconduct by his coworkers. Bentley had no choice but to sign a statement and verbally deny all knowledge of police corruption in the LAPD.
Coincidentally, Bentley was a coworker and friend of convicted bank robber and Rampart police officer David Mack
. Former Officer Mack was sentenced to fourteen years in federal prison for robbing a Bank of America
branch and he was a partner of former Officer Rafael Pérez
of Rampart Division.
Bentley has defended officers accused of corruption in the Rampart Scandal
, claiming they were unfairly targeted by investigator Russell Poole
.
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
officer. His first book, One Time: The Story of a South Central Los Angeles Police, graphically depicts his involvement in the cover-up of suspect beatings. "One Time" is an urban slang term for "the Police." In 1997, Bentley was the subject of an extensive Internal Affairs
Internal affairs (law enforcement)
The internal affairs division of a law enforcement agency investigates incidents and plausible suspicions of lawbreaking and professional misconduct attributed to officers on the force...
investigation that included over three hundred allegations of misconduct and seven months of surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
, all stemming from his book. To this date, he still holds the record for the most allegations of misconduct in LAPD history.
LAPD career
During eleven hours of interviewing, Internal Affairs sergeantSergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
s advised Bentley that he would be fired and prosecuted if he admitted to witnessing corruption or misconduct by his coworkers. Bentley had no choice but to sign a statement and verbally deny all knowledge of police corruption in the LAPD.
Coincidentally, Bentley was a coworker and friend of convicted bank robber and Rampart police officer David Mack
David Mack (police officer)
David Anthony Mack , is a former LAPD Rampart Division Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums officer. He is one of the central figures in the LAPD Rampart police corruption scandal. Mack was arrested for masterminding the November 6, 1997, robbery of $722,000 from a South Central Los...
. Former Officer Mack was sentenced to fourteen years in federal prison for robbing a Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
branch and he was a partner of former Officer Rafael Pérez
Rafael Pérez (police officer)
Rafael Antonio "Ray" Pérez , is a former Los Angeles Police Department C.R.A.S.H officer and the central figure in the LAPD Rampart Scandal. He was involved in the coverup of a $722,000 bank robbery, shot and framed Javier Ovando, and stole and resold at least $800,000 of cocaine from LAPD...
of Rampart Division.
Bentley has defended officers accused of corruption in the Rampart Scandal
Rampart Scandal
The Rampart scandal refers to widespread corruption in the Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department Rampart Division in the late 1990s. More than 70 police officers in the CRASH unit were implicated in misconduct, making it one of the most...
, claiming they were unfairly targeted by investigator Russell Poole
Russell Poole
Russell Poole is a former LAPD detective most noted for taking over the investigation of the slain rapper known as The Notorious B.I.G.. Poole is also known for investigating the March 18, 1997, killing of LAPD Officer Kevin Gaines by LAPD Officer Frank Lyga....
.