L.A. county soft on employee discipline

Troy Anderson of the Los Angeles Daily News reviewed records to show that in recent years county employees' firings or suspensions were softened by the Civil Service Commission. The commission overturned or reduced discipline recommended by county departments in nearly half of cases from 2001 to 2004. "Out of 17 sheriff's cases the commission considered in 2003, the panel reversed five discharges and reduced another to a suspension." Of 470 disciplinary appeals filed by county employees in health, probation, sheriff and children's services agencies in 2003 and 2004, 175 were settled or withdrawn. Of the remaining 295, 210 were still in the adjudication process and only had 85 had been considered by the commission.