OFFICER'S COMMENTS SPUR PROBE.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

CASTAIC - A captain at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center is under internal investigation after a Castaic Town Council meeting marked by derogatory remarks about Latino visitors to the jail complex, a Los Angeles County sheriff's official said.

The comments by council members Julie Thomas and Greg Ferrier and Capt. John E. Vander Horck came at a May 16 council meeting during discussion of the need for Spanish-language directional signs to the jail.

``They don't have any trouble finding that liquor store over there,'' Vander Horck is heard saying on a tape of the meeting, as the council members and small audience responded with laughter.

After reviewing the transcript of the exchange, Vander Horck's superior, Cmdr. Robert Hoffman from custody operations, called the comments a violation of the Sheriff's Department core values.

``His comments were inappropriate,'' said Hoffman, adding that sheriff's officials will investigate the matter to determine whether disciplinary action is appropriate.

Vander Horck insisted this week that he did not make the comment, noted by a reporter, heard on tape and confirmed by a council member.

``Why would I say something like that? I would be embarrassed,'' he said. ``It's a derogatory comment.''

The comments came after council members said they wanted a sign directing people from the Golden State Freeway's Hasley Canyon Road exit to the jail.

Referring to earlier discussion of the high illiteracy rate among inmates, Councilman Greg Ferrier said, ``I think what we probably need is a pictograph of a guy in a striped shirt and ball and chain and a big arrow.''

Councilman Bob Lewis said later he found the discussion to be improper but did not believe Ferrier or Vander Horck intended to be insensitive to Latinos.

``I think a better choice of words would have been in order,'' Lewis said.

Elizabeth Schroeder, assistant director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, called the banter ``appalling'' and based on false assumptions.

``It's a shocking example of insensitivity. It's truly appalling and shameful that they think this way about Latinos,'' Schroeder said.

Schroeder, after reviewing a transcript of the tape, accused the council members and Vander Horck of falsely assuming that Latinos cannot read or speak English, buy a lot of liquor, and that families of inmates are more likely to commit crimes.

Council members complained that they had asked for several years for signs to director visitors to the jail, noting that people from out of the area frequently exit the I-5 and get lost in nearby Castaic neighborhoods, where they ask for directions.

Ferrier said on Tuesday his requests for signs have been unanswered for about eight years. He and Thomas stand by their statements made at the meeting, saying signs are needed to direct lost jail visitors.

``We don't think it's fair for the visitors to spend half the morning in the south end of Castaic looking for the jail and we don't need the little gangbangers in our neighborhoods,'' Ferrier said. He added that because their community is near a large county jail, residents are sensitive to groups of unfamiliar people driving around neighborhoods.

Ferrier, a former police officer, further stated that Castaic looks like a gold mine to friends of inmates.

``Inmates' cohorts in crime come to visit and start casing the neighborhoods. I think their mouths must be drooling with all the goodies around,'' he said, talking of cars, bicycles and boats.

Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's officials said there have been no crime reports from Castaic neighborhoods that indicate a pattern related to jail visitors.

And the manager at Hasley Liquor Market and Deli on Live Oak Road - the store referred to at the Town Council meeting - agreed that jail visitors frequent his store on weekend mornings - as paying customers who often purchase potato chips and soda for their children.

The market is the only business in the immediate area.

MEETING TRANSCRIPT

The following is a transcript from the official tape recording of the May 16 meeting of the Castaic Town Council:

Councilman Greg Ferrier: ``For years, we've formally and informally requested a sign in a language other than English directing people from the Hasley Canyon Old Road intersection, directing people to the Honor Ranch as opposed to down into the neighborhoods.''

Sheriff's Capt. John E. Vander Horck: ``In Espanol?''

Ferrier: ``Well.''

Vander Horck: ``Say it like it is.''

Ferrier: ``Yeah, that works.'' (Laughter)

Vander Horck: ``We don't have any secrets.''

Ferrier: ``You know, actually, a lot of the folks, like you said, the literacy rates of English speakers is pretty low. I think what we probably need is a pictograph of a guy in a striped shirt and ball and chain and a big arrow (pointing to the facility).'' (Audience laughter).

``We do need something because it's still a problem. We still have people stopping people in the neighborhoods saying, ``How do I get to the jail, yada, yada.''

Vander Horck: ``That's right here at Hasley Canyon and Old Road?''

Ferrier: ``Yeah. Everybody gets off, comes to the intersection, they frankly don't know which way to turn if they can't read or see that sign.''

Vander Horck: ``They don't have any trouble finding that liquor store over there.'' (Audience laughter)

Ferrier: ``No.''

Julie Thomas: ``They should put a sign there, maybe.''

Unidentified voice: ``One in the window.''

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

MEETING TRANSCRIPT (see text)