As long as an officer remains a loyal member in their fraternity, police-agency management and law-enforcement union bosses religiously shield cops who've screwed up from public scrutiny or accountability. But this Marine scout sniper and karate black belt who ran through enemy fire five times to rescue four seriously wounded American soldiers and an Iraqi civilian during the April 2003 Battle of Baghdad believed his greatest risk of harm wasnt from gangsters, robbers, drug dealers or an armed madman. He is quick to say hes not perfect, but he tries to live by a personal motto learned from his mother: Service before self., Montoya claims Keller, who never joined the military, served as the alpha male leader of the Black Sheep, a gang of cantankerous, rebel deputies in Stanton. No, he was not. To Montoya, Keller mentioned the movie to make a point: They [certain fellow deputies] were not going to back me up., The thought of internal OCSD sabotage alarmed Montoya. He suggested Montoya fabricated his complaints of a hostile work environment for the litigation, though several department supervisors testified theyd been aware of the situation as early as 2004. . Montoya received the award in front of family, friends and the men of his unit. Nevertheless, resentment of Montoyas perceived preferential treatment from the sheriff, whom he met only twice, grew worse after he passed training over the objections of several high-ranking OCSD managers, including Tim Board and Dave Wilson. Longtime OCSD Sergeant Wayne Quint Jr., who also served as the president of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS), says he was the person who intervened on Montoya's behalf. As our local prosecutors learned during several probes into police corruption in the past decade, some cops are readily willing to lie under oath, falsify official documents or hide incriminating evidence for a corrupt colleague. Returning to the front, he spotted a wounded Marine lying in the street. At best, OCSD exasperated his PTSD. His patrol training was progressing, Quint said in court. Documents prove department officials were aware of the problem but didnt take corrective action to remove doubt from Montoyas mind that he would always have reliable backup. In November 2011, President Barack Obama strengthened the World War II-era Uniformed Service-members Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) to resolve any legal doubts that the law bans harassment of military veterans in the workplace. In a glaring sign of consciousness of guilt and a cynical way to declare plausible deniability that they hadnt targeted Montoya, department officials assigned numerous other ex-military employees to prominent roles in bringing down the deputy; many of them received promotions before testifying. During VA counseling, he says, he realized the extent of his PTSD and that I was not crazy.. Returning to the front again, he dashed into the contested street and assisted a Marine to safety who had been dazed by an explosion. Required fields are marked *. As American military forces were attempting to take control of Baghdad from dictator Saddam Hussein two weeks into Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 8, 2003, a U.S. soldier was shot in the leg, bleeding profusely and stuck in the open on Highway 5. . All rights reserved. He has his own definitive explanation for Montoya's situation: OCSD remains unrepentant.. Sergeant Krofcheck enlisted in the state police in 1997 and was promoted to corporal in 2012. Whats obvious is that Montoya didnt exactly fit in with his colleagues. Navigation Menu. Hes not that way. Scott C. Montoya rushed through enemy fire while "repeatedly exposing himself to fire-swept streets," according to his Navy Cross award citation. After about 10 minutes, Montoya walked back into the room with tears in his eyes, and his hands were shaking so uncontrollably he could not write anything on his pad of paper., After Montoya allegedly failed 30 attempts to correctly perform car-stop training in a simulated, stress-free environment, Keller says, his trainee became so angry with himself that he hit himself in the forehead with a microphone, causing a small abrasion on his forehead., Keller's observations about the courageous combat veteran who graduated first in his Camp Pendleton Marine Corps basic-training class and obtained a black belt in karate may have been colored by animus. Their findings, if believed, present a startling portrait of a monumental liar and unquenchable playboy. Instead, explains Rossiter, they just didn't like him, and the law does not protect someone from being disliked., Such a stance disappoints Kyle, an accomplished Marine veteran. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "scottmontoya" Flickr tag. He knew that no routine traffic stop is ever routine. At a cost of $515 per hour to Orange County taxpayers, Haluck retained Dr. David Lechuga, a former president of the California Psychological Association, to opine that its important to be suspicious of PTSD claims. 5 Jun. W o guys like him, Stanton would be like s. Central los Angeles. Sheriff's deputies conducting a secret operation in Southern California believed they had good reason to fear their target, Scott Christopher Montoya. Ramon Montoya is the superintendent of career development in the . He mocked him for weeping after the death of one of his horses, which doesnt seem worthy of ridicule. Haluck tried to rehabilitate the deputys testimony by asking if hed ever mocked Montoyas military service. | | Digg This [Redacted] always has to remind him that she isn't as sexually experienced as he is and that she doesn't enjoy having sex for an extensive period of time as he does., In another curious OCSD report apparently made with the same woman as the source, IA noted that Montoya liked to spit in her mouth just before he ejaculates., Kyle, Montoya's outraged plaintiff's lawyer, called the department's efforts to smear Montoya a witch-hunt., In late 2010, OCSD notified the deputy he was unfit for law-enforcement work and cited several more examples of misconduct. Montoya is citing USERRA in his lawsuit. The OCSD caused or exasperated Mr. Montoyas PTSD, making him unemployable, said Ludwig. He graduated from Dublin High School in 1985. One of the teenagers was so shocked by the remark that she asked Montoya if she knew her uncle, OCSD Deputy Mike Peters. The horrific things experienced in combat were not driving his stress, testified Johnson, who volunteered to work on this case for free and has aided the FBI and American intelligence agencies. It was primarily his feeling he was unsupported, not going to get backup and that his life was in danger. Phone records showed Willis repeatedly in contact with the deputy while Fullerton PD anxiously hunted him. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. Copyright 2014 Mark Mauno. Stephanie Trujillo. How did he manage to continuously receive positive employee evaluations? Though weighed down with 80 pounds of his own gear, he performed the same feat four more times, rescuing three additional Marines, including one badly dazed in a grenade blast, and a non-combatant Iraqi citizen. We decided to let him stay [in scout sniper school] despite my better judgment, Allen snarled from the witness stand. I believe our core must include to take care of our young, our old, and our sick, then to do so for others in the world less fortunate than we are. In the wake of what he called an exhausting, hard fought trial of David vs. Goliath, Montoyaa Los Angeles County residentspends his days with his animals. Both Iraqi civilians and Marines were injured. Never, replied Keller, who then assured the jury hed also never called Montoya stupid and claimed that Montoya had been the aggressor in their relationship. Jewell Scott against officials on the Fort Hood Army Base near Killeen, Texas, reached a. Cesilia Valdovinos was at a chapel at Fort Carson, Colorado, for a suicide prevention briefing on March 6 when she says her command sergeant major grabbed her by the arm, took her outside and . But that stance is belied by substantial evidence. Noticing a disabled civilian vehicle on the road in the line of fire and with complete disregard for his own life, he rushed forward amidst a hail of gunfire and dragged a wounded Iraqi civilian to safety. Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. I believe the U.S.A. is the greatest nation on earth, the greatest in history. To have the Daily News in your inbox when you get up. In fact, officials essentially accommodated Keller and Cullen. [Montoya is] a liar! Keller barked. Menu. Keller doesnt deny the existence of the Black Sheep. He even acknowledges they created their own flag and T-shirt. This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. Check out . He has demonstrated a strong commitment to community-driven, problem-oriented, intelligence-led policing. EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. You never know where hes coming from. I waited and waited [at the front], and he never came, so I had to clear the building by myself, said Montoya, who explained that standard procedures called for Cullen to enter the building with him. Jurors refused to speak to Haluck or his more polite junior counsel, Michael J. Rossiter. Aided by Kellers anger and Halucks callous, one-note style, jurors officially determined that OCSD had violated USERRA with a hostile, anti-military bias against Montoya. Joe is a former Sergeant of Marines, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of California and a member of both the American Institute of CPA's and the California Society of CPA's and holds a master's degree in Taxation. The lawyer claims the meeting was another example of OCSD officials violating USERRA because they used Montoya's veteran status and sniper skills as key assumptions he was dangerous, a declaration used to justify placing secret cameras at his home and GPS trackers on his vehicles, as well as monitoring his phone calls without warrants. Using federal grants, several Orange County entitiesincluding the district attorney's office, school administrators, Anaheim Police Department and the OCSDhelped create a Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (GRIP) in 2007 to address the festering issue of truancy. Command Sergeant Major, 91st Training Division. This link will take you to Store 1 for books, GPS (Garmin), & Cameras: To have the Daily News in your inbox when you get up. An LA prosecutor treated the report as a he-said, she-said incident and declined to file charges citing a lack of evidence. Kellera linebacker-sized deputy who has perfected the stink-eye and is the life of late-night poker partiesliked to drink booze, curse, chew Copenhagen tobacco, visit strip clubs, unnecessarily taunt poor minorities and use racial epithets, according to allegations in court records. The author is an American, Christian, proud father, lucky husband, Irish Scottish heritage and a Texan by choice. He knew it was part. He and his staff arranged dozens of media and public events for the naturally shy Montoya to tell his story. With a career in entertainment that spans over two decades, Scott Montoya's primary focus began producing stand-up comedy shows for broadcast and eventually evolved into managing and producing comedy talent having been involved with the careers of over 25 comedians. When Sergeant Montoya returned from the war, he became a victim of pervasive discrimination and harassment at the hands of other OCSD employees, says the fired deputy's lawyer, John S. Kyle of San Diego. This page was last edited on 17 October 2020, at 05:07. R.I.P. GENERAL INFORMATION 419-245-3246. "He knew the danger. Thats why I assigned him to a scout sniper platoon; otherwise, I wouldnt have. Allan Tuazon, Sgt. "Whether as a Marine or as a law enforcement figure, he is always putting the community or the country above his own personal safety.". Sergeant Montoya returned a fourth time to evacuate an unconscious Marine. . Also, I feel it brings disrespect to the sheriff's department if others outside the department find out how a select few deputies treat their co-workers.. He tried to imply the heroics that earned Montoya the Navy Cross were figments of his wild imagination, though the lawyer couldnt produce any conflicting information. Your email address will not be published. I believe I served this country honorably and do not deserve to be treated in a way that disrespects the nature of the award. He was a certified member of law enforcement and, as with his leery if determined pursuers, a deputy at the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD). That issue simmered at the deputys recent civil trial, in which he accused the department of corruption; permitting a hostile work environment; and violating the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), a federal law that protects soldiers from discrimination in the civilian workplace. Scott has been assigned a female, non-commissioned officer escort who she can access 24/7," III Corps tells 25 News in response to an Army sergeant who alleges that Fort Hood officials . He was a kick ass type of guy. Four Orange County sheriff's deputies have been fired after a two-year audit by the Sheriff's Department found systemic abuses in the handling of evidence, the Southern California News Group has. Main I am the master of my fate, William L. Haluck, a hard-charging, Irvine-based private lawyer who has defended the OCSD for decades, insisted that Montoyas experiences were the result of mere personality conflicts outside the reach of the employment law. Rashun Drayton) The Santa Barbara Police Department . He immediately encouraged Marines to deploy and return fire. . While surreptitiously placing tiny surveillance cameras around Montoya's home and hiding GPS trackers on all of his vehicles, deputies made sure to wear bulletproof vests. After high sc Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. June 24, 2022 . [Redacted] explained that Montoya's aggressiveness affects her birth control (IUD). 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. Join the conversation:In lieu of comments, we encourage readers to engage with us across a variety of mediums. Deputy John Sprague testified he witnessed Keller and Cullen giving each other high fives after hazing Montoya and laughing after someone relocated his locker next to the toilets. Law-enforcement agencies are prohibited from informing the public about dirty or incompetent officers' conduct as well as what, if any, disciplinary actions management imposed. He cannot work because of what OCSD did to him.. But in 2002, a Los Angeles woman accused Montoya of raping her at a Whittier horse stable's parking lot. Dr. Chris Johnson, a clinical neuropsychologist and an internationally recognized expert in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals whove served in elite, special operation forces such as Montoya, says the Serpico and warehouse incidents in Stanton undoubtedly scarred the de-activated Marine. His fitness reports reflected that he was a scout sniper. Sgt. To this day, Keller insists he truly wanted Montoya to pass, claims Montoya wasnt ready for patrol, displayed emotional instability and continues to believe the sheriff rescued him from failure. Concluded Kyle, [The OCSDs Internal Affairs reports] created a Frankenstein, a portrait of a monster. He feared for his life, said Johnson, who extensively interviewed Montoya and is a principal Department of Defense investigator at the Naval Health Research Centers Warfighter Performance Division in San Diego. When the detectives learned of Montoya's connection and contacted him, he allegedly gave non-forthcoming answers. Montoya testified that after his February 2005 assignment to work alone in his own patrol car in heavily gang-infested Stanton, Tim Keller, a deputy with more seniority who worked the same shift, posed a disturbing question. Valor Awards AwardsConflicts Medal of. | Save to del.icio.us Pinned down, with the injured needing assistance, Sgt. I was worried about his safety.. . If true, the lawyers stance raises a multipronged dilemma: Why did OCSD put a disabled deputy on public patrol for five years? His actions on patrol were horrible, horrible and unsafe, Keller testified. According to court records, it's not clear why the agency or IA cared, but here's an example what OCSD noted: [Redacted name of a Montoya girlfrienda 23-year-old Hispanic woman] explained Montoya is only concerned with ejaculating. His honor, the second-highest Marine award for valor in combat, won him an avalanche of local and national media attention, including from CNN, NBC, ABC, FOX, USA Today and The Orange County Register. 08APR2003: Entering the third week of the war, Sgt. Senior Master Sgt. It wasn't a cognitive thing; I just saw the situation and cared for my Marines.". Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. He attaches himself to people in power so he can get ahead, a red-faced Keller continued. He makes up stories. Your email address will not be published. Bonds has served in every leadership position of enlisted personnel,. NON-EMERGENCY DISPATCH 419-255-8443. toledo.police@toledo.oh.gov. ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Illinois (April 30, 2021) - Command Sgt. (free, Privacy Protected), Thor @ The Conservative Cave - A Conservative Political Forum, Arkansas 4th: LtCol (Ret) Marcus Richmond, Operation Gratitude-Support Our Troops-Care Packages for Military, MILNEWS. Montoya and his team moved up to support Fox company just as they were coming under intense enemy small arms fire from a sizeable enemy force. June 5, 2022 Posted by: Category: Uncategorized Montoya received the U.S. military's second-highest award at Camp Pendleton for heroism stemming from his actions on April 8, 2003, two weeks . And to your family and loved ones, I wish yo extend my deepest sympathy. At worse, OCSD caused his PTSD.. 675 views, 30 likes, 8 loves, 6 comments, 5 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Veterans West: Navy Cross Recipient Sgt. Lt. Bryan Jensen, left, Sgt. Just looking at him now irritates me.. Hoch said he directed Acting Chief Michael Ziemba on Monday to put McGowan on leave. Returning to the front, he spotted a wounded Marine struggling to get off the same fire swept street, he risked his life to lead the Marine to safety. Tags: Sergeant Scott Montoya more 49th Annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade 49th Annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade 2008 70-200mm f/2.8G VR Nikkor Nikon D3 Nikon D3 less Sets appears in: 49th Annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade Sgt. Confidential law-enforcement investigatory files labeled Montoya as highly dangerous, emotionally unstable and, inexplicably, a sexual superman with extraordinarily large genitals and Energizer Bunny stamina. When I was done, I saw he was parked in the back. To someday own a martial-arts studio, where he can provide free training to kids. Ludwig told jurors that the cruel jokes mocking the Navy Cross, hazing, ostracism and threats concerning backup were devastating to his 44-year-old client. No deputy took credit for the other acts committed against the Marine at the Stanton station: someone desecrated a city of Buena Park award Montoya received for his war service; someone posted in the deputies' briefing room a note selling Navy Cross hats two for $10implying the honor could be bought cheap; someone took a Private Instructor business card, crossed out the name, replaced it with Montoya's, crossed out the real phone number and replaced that with 1-800-NVY-CROS. And, of course, there was the aforementioned dildo incident. = Afghan Lessons Learned for Soldiers, Afghan Blue III (formerly known as Bill & Bob's Afghan Adventure), Congratulations on Your Individual Augmentee Orders..", David Bellavia For New York - Silver Star Recipient: Fallujah, Magazine | The American Legion | Veterans Serving Veterans, Australian Government, Department of Defence Home Page, Digital Video & Imagery Distribution System-Afghanistan, Digital Video & Imagery Distribution System-Iraq, Fallen Canadians | National Defence and the Canadian Forces, ISAF - International Security Assistance Force - Official Homepage, Official Home of the United States Marine Corps, Official Public Website Home Page - MEB-Afghanistan / TF Leatherneck, The 34th Red Bull Infantry Division : TheRedBulls, U.S. Department of Defense Official Website, UK Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Afghanistan, VOA News - Voice of America - English News Homepage. The department chose Montoya to be its first GRIP officer to regularly visit Latino-dominated elementary schools in Stanton and serve as a role model. CNN-featured investigative reporter R. Scott Moxley has won Journalist of the Year honors at the Los Angeles Press Club; been named Distinguished Journalist of the Year by the LA Society of Professional Journalists; obtained one of the last exclusive prison interviews with Charles Manson disciple Susan Atkins; won inclusion in Jeffrey Toobins The Best American Crime Reportingfor his coverage of a white supremacists senseless murder of a beloved Vietnamese refugee; launched multi-year probes that resulted in the FBI arrests and convictions of the top three ranking members of the Orange County Sheriffs Department; and gained praise fromNew York Times Magazine writers for his herculean job exposing entrenched Southern California law enforcement corruption. Theres no doubt in my mind., An irked Cooper paused and added, I dont even know why this is an issue.. Fellow deputies didn't harass him because he was a war hero or a veteran. Before leaving the courthouse, several jurors thanked Montoya for all his public service, said they sympathized with his ordeal and recounted their fear of Keller. Through it all, Sergeant Montoya's performance was exemplary, as it always had been. He was just a humble person.. Records also show that deputies strenuously tried but failed to undermine Montoya's Navy Cross; raised questions about his Camp Pendleton superiority and sniper skills; speculated that the tragic death of his fiancee in a Colorado River jet-ski/boating collision had been suspicious; and collected an allegation from another deputy (Keller) that the ex-Marine claimed he would, as a favor for an OCSD colleague, kill anyone. "He is a complete warrior," Carona said. If the Marines call Montoya a selfless war hero, there's substantial proof OCSD officials viewed him before, during and after his military heroics as a greatly flawed man. In 2010, department officials told Montoya that investigations revealed that you used your GRIP position as a means to meet various women and your main objective was to solicit, while on duty, as many women as possible, including at Stanton elementary schools. But Dr. Johnson, the Department of Defense clinical neuropsychologist who has spent hours with Montoya, testified research has established that when social support is high for a soldier or a deputy, PTSD risk is less.. He wanted to be a part of that special brotherhood so he joined the Marines.When attacking Iraq, one man called him and said that there were a lot of people hurt. . Tainted or not, the group never included Montoya, whose lawyers, San Diegos John S. Kyle and Frederic G. Ludwig III, say their clients outsider status, coupled with jealousy over the Navy Cross, as well as the alleged Serpico incident, had real-life implications. The officers also knew he was an experienced killer with knowledge of the intricacies of police tactics. Why OCSD officialswho doubted Montoya's characterwould make him the GRIP officer is a mystery. I am the captain of my soul. Instead of siding with him, department officials often backed his tormenters through inaction, and then unfairly terminated him from his dream job, Montoya claims in a pending federal lawsuit. After extensive discovery, [Montoya] still cannot provide any evidence that OCSD deprived him of any employment benefits due to anti-military animus, wrote Rossiter, who is also seeking summary judgment on the county's behalf from Bernal. how to equip shoes in 2k22 myteam / bombas distribution center / sergeant scott montoya. (free, Privacy Protected) Before they are allowed to patrol, they must pass basic patrol training. [Redacted] said Montoya can stay erect for a very long time. In the case of Scott Montoya, he was experiencing something he hadnt in combat: antagonism from his team on patrol [in Stanton]. They spent five years creating a one-sided record against Scott.. TikTok video from Jeremiah (@jeremiah_tiktak): "Thank you Sgt Scott Montoya for your service and bravery #fyp #storytime #military #marines". There were persistent, deputy-spread rumors that he'd exaggerated his Iraqi War bravery because he's a publicity hound. Despite the verdicts, the OCSD legal team indicated to the judge that they wont concede their loss. After midnight during one 2005 shift, Montoya was dispatched to an alarm at a business warehouse in a high-crime area of Katella Avenue. Trending. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Amazingly, these employees harassed him because he had served in the Marine Corps and had received the Navy Cross. Troops, Derek Sholl Singer Supporting Our Troops, Living with the Pearls: Pearls of Honor Author blog *, Soldiers' Angel - Little Drops into the Pool of Life **, War of the Worlds In War and In Peace ***, Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT), STOP MARXISM: The Obama Fail - Lies and Deception, War Movies Military Videos Rare War Footage Films, Wounded Warrior National Resource Directory, Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room Opening July 29th, Overcoming Adversity: MSgt Jonathan White and the Team Semper Fi Fund effort. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! At the time of his discharge, Montoya achieved the rank of Sergeant. The personal attacks befuddled Montoya. They refused even to allow him a transfer to the department's transit police bureau. Scott Montoya's Keynote speech for the Memorial Day finale ceremony at Los. Not everybody at the OCSD was cheering his celebrity. I have been the center of several cruel jokes and rumors at this station but feel this incident [Navy Cross hats sale joke] is out of line and out of the policy of the department, he wrote to Captain Robert Eason, the department's chief of police in the city, while complaining of a hostile work environment that existed for years. Navy Cross Recipient Sgt. Sgt. I wasnt able to go to social gatherings, he said. Ignoring the hailstorm of bullets, Sergeant Montoya rushed into the street for a third time to carry the injured Marine to safety. Never has a nation freed or saved so many. During his career, he has had the privilege of policing some of the most diverse communities in this major city. In contrast, Montoya recites poetry; loves teaching martial arts; gets misty-eyed while talking about family and church; and is fond of spending time with his three horses, four pigs, three dogs, 12 chickens, three goats and a rabbitall of whom he has affectionately named. sergeant scott montoya. Insurance Loss Associates . IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Both Iraqi civilians and Marines were injured. We Got Him! He kept risking his life to save many peoples lives that he didnt even know. Message usvia ourwebsite or staff page. . Taking charge and deploying the Marines, Montoya noticed a vehicle caught in the crossfire with a wounded Iraqi civilian inside.
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