Pubdate: Thu, 14 Nov 2013
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Richard Winton

PASTOR, A TOP BACA AIDE, PUT ON LEAVE

Bishop Edward Turner Is Under Review After Officials Learn of a Pot 
Shop on His Property.

A pastor and top civilian aide to L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca was 
relieved of duty and is the subject of an internal affairs 
investigation after officials learned he owns a South Los Angeles 
property that houses a medical marijuana shop, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Bishop Edward R. Turner works as a paid field deputy for Baca and 
oversaw the department's Multi-Faith Clergy Council for more than a 
decade. The bishop, who founded Power of Love Christian Fellowship 
ministries in South L.A., earns at least $105,000 a year working for Baca.

He was notified by Baca on Tuesday evening that he would be relieved 
of duty after the department learned from KABC-TV about the medical 
marijuana shop and that a nonprofit he operates had its tax status 
revoked, said sheriff 's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

"An internal affairs investigation has been launched into Bishop 
Turner," Whitmore said. "This is first the sheriff had heard of these 
allegations."

Turner was placed on paid leave Wednesday and assigned to his home 
during work hours while the internal investigation is ongoing. He had 
to return a countyowned car, three computers and other equipment to 
the department. Turner did not immediately return calls for comment.

According to public records, Turner owns a property at 1425 W. 
Manchester Ave. - across the street from his church - that houses 
Manchester Caregivers, which describes itself as a marijuana 
dispensary that offers cannabis brownies, cookies and smoking 
accessories to those with medical marijuana prescriptions.

"We are looking at what he knew and when he knew it," Whitmore said 
of the department probe.

The dispensary is not among the approximately 130 marijuana outlets 
meeting voter-approved criteria for operation in Los Angeles, 
according to a list from the L.A. City Attorney's office. The City 
Attorney is moving to shut down dozens of clinics operating outside 
the requirements approved by voters in May.

Under the measure, property owners can face prosecution and the same 
penalties as illegal pot shop operators, including a $1,000 fine and 
six months in jail. So far, no operator or landlord has been jailed.

Turner told KABC-TV he never informed the department that a marijuana 
store was operating on his property. Baca has stated he opposes pot 
dispensaries.

"It was not that I was trying to hide it," Turner told the TV 
station. "There it is, right there."

Charity records show Turner served as chairman and founder of the 
Helping Our People Excel for Life Foundation, a nonprofit community 
group. Federal records indicate the organization had its charity 
status revoked after failing to file tax returns for three years.

Its last filing on record with the IRS was for its 2009 taxes, 
according to the Guidestar charity monitoring group. In that year, 
the organization's 990-EZ shows a total revenue of $8,298 and 
expenses of $44,969, according to the August 2010 filing.

Turner has served as a Baca field deputy for 14 years, according to 
Whitmore. Baca previously told The Times that Turner's primary value 
was in bridging the gap between the department and communities 
reluctant to trust police.

One of the events Turner organized is an annual multi-faith 
breakfast. Whitmore said the department is examining why attendees 
were asked for a $25 donation to attend when the food and flatware 
was donated for the event.

The department will also reexamine an investigation into a package 
containing $84,000 delivered to the charity in 2006 that was tracked 
by narcotics officers from L.A. International Airport. The money was 
seized by authorities before anyone at the charity opened it.

Turner's daughter, a deputy in the Sheriff 's Department, has also 
been relieved of duty with pay because she is under investigation in 
a separate matter. According to court records, she was charged with 
misdemeanor battery and felony vandalism in connection with an 
off-duty incident.
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