Randy Adams, City of Bell's Former Police Chief, Still Not in Jail

By Gene Maddaus Mon., Dec. 19 2011 at 7:50 PM

Categories: Bell

Steve Cooley presents the 2008 Peace Officers Association of L.A. County "President's Award" to Bell P.D. Chief Randy Adams

The case of corruption in the city of Bell is that rare story in journalism that actually ends like an episode of "Law & Order."

The bad guys wound up in handcuffs, justice prevailed and ... wait a sec. What ever happened to Randy Adams?

Bell's former police chief earned an astonishing $457,000 a year, and seems to have gone to some trouble to conceal that fact. (Of course, that made him only the second-highest paid person in the city, behind this guy.) Plus, there was his pre-approved disability pension. So: surely he's been locked up by now?

Turns out, no. And as the L.A. Times reports, even the judge in the case is wondering why.

Could it have anything to do with the fact that Adams ran in the same law enforcement circles as D.A. Steve Cooley?

Cooley has said that he knew Adams professionally, but did not socialize with him. He has resisted calls to turn the case over to the Attorney General.

The prosecutor handling the case, Max Huntsman, told the Times that Adams' conduct may look bad, but they have some secret evidence that would make it hard to get a conviction.

"If you just look at the transcript of the indictment, it sure looks like, gosh, we could have indicted Randy Adams," he said. "The answer is we know more than that, and we're not sure we'd win at trial."

Who knows what that secret exculpatory evidence might be, but perhaps it's contained in Adams' account of the affair, a 1 1/2-page document entitled "The Police Chief's Side of the Story on Bell."

How about giving the Attorney General a look at it?

Tags:

Bell, Randy Adams, Steve Cooley

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Frank Savage

I hope the LA Times and the Weekley do not let this die. Governor Brown should ask the Attorney General to take a look at this case...I know it would be awkward for her to do it on her own since Cooley was her opponent in the AG race. Add to the mix that Adams must have had a physical before his appointment. If he passed that, he knowingly committed fraud by pre-signing for a medical retirement. If he fail it, he knowingly committed fraud by taking this high paying job that he wasn't physically qualified for. What "dirt" does he have to make prosecutors steer clear of finding justice in this case???

KMA966

The "SECRET" is that "Honest" Steve Cooley is BFF with Randy "Mr. Ethics" Adams.

Tomdefense

Type your comment here.

L. A. District Attorney’s Office: No Charges against Randy Adams- really Grand theft under California Penal Code 487 PC is defined as the unlawful taking of another's property valued above $950. In California grand theft can very straightforward, or it can be something else such as when money, labor or personal propertytaken from your employer. This would include money from the City of Bell, California. A person can be charged with California grand theft if the amount totals more than $950 during any 12-month period. Deputy Dist. Atty. Max Huntsman reported Randy was paid $200,000 a year as police chief and earned $257,000 more as special police counsel. The $ 257,000 was concealed from the people of Bell. Angela concealed this money with the full knowledge and consent of Randy. The questions should be: a. Did Randy receive, endorsed and cashed checks from the $ 257,000 line item budget as Special Police Counsel? b. Show us the work he performed as Special Police Counsel. There must be time cards and a work product.

Evidence: The absence of time cards and a work product while taking money from Bell under the Special Police Counsel is the evidence of Grand Theft. The word, “Counsel” is for attorneys, at the very least this corrupt cop seems to be practicing law without a license. If so, should he at least return the money? Just another low life 99% er

anonymous

Must be nice to be friends with the DA.

H2oratscott

I'm actually very close to this case and I can tell you that Randy Adams did in fact commit crimes by signing illegal backdated contracts. Also, he was purposefully not called into a Grand Jury, which ironically was about his illegal backdated contracts. Let their be no illusion, Randy Adams is being protected by is buddy Steve Cooley.