CommentsSOUTH OF THE TEN-Was Inglewood Mayor James Butts involved in covering up a crime committed by an LAXPD officer? Department insiders say that’s affirmative.
In May 2006 Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) named Mayor Butts to the position of Deputy Executive Director of Airport Law Enforcement & Protection Services. Butts was in command of the sworn and civilian staff who oversaw the then four airports under LAWA control. Insiders say he was due to remain in the position for 10 years.
During his tenure it was alleged he engaged in personal relationships with subordinates, including one he promoted to Senior Officer.
The officer in question is alleged to have been involved in a major auto collision while driving at nearly 100 mph on Lincoln Blvd. They crashed into a car driven by a woman who was severely injured, resulting in the amputation of her leg and the death of her dog.
Insiders say Mayor Butts was directly involved in the officer not facing charges and/or being reprimanded by the department. It was also alleged he did the same involving a citation being issued to a family member in Inglewood and a recent accident he had driving an Inglewood Police Department (IPD) issued vehicle. Regular individuals would be jailed for interfering in police investigations.
City Hall employees share that Mayor Butts still operates as if he is the Chief of Police. He has taken control of an IPD vehicle even though there is no documentation authorizing him to use it for personal excursions.
According to the City Clerk’s office, there are no records of non IPD officers being allowed 24/7 access to police issued vehicles and Mayor Butts has not taken the auto allowance budgeted for him in many years.
Butts enjoys this comfort as rumors are running rampant that Chief Mark Fronterotta will be forced into a medical retirement after losing full mobility of his right arm and hand following neck surgery. Former IPD Personnel share that Fronterotta has not passed gun qualifications in years yet is one of the highest paid Police Chiefs in the State of California, earning a salary and benefits package in excess of $500,000. It is also well-known that Fronterotta is a horrible public speaker and isn’t allowed to speak to the press regarding police and safety issues; Mayor Butts does that in his place. Fronterotta has been relegated to photo ops only and never makes any statements during City Council meetings to tout safety issues and the decline in crime against residents -- despite receiving a $20,000 bonus for allegedly doing so.
After Mayor Butts’ abrupt departure from LAWA, the Senior Officer was let go after an internal investigation found them falsifying police reports. Mayor Butts has since helped them secure employment at the NFL stadium project in Inglewood as a consolation.
Mayor Butts has leveraged the relationship with many of his campaign donors (Republic Services, Marvin Engineering and the Rams) to secure jobs for friends, family and for homeless residents, which he proudly boasts about in his Facebook group Eye on Inglewood.
LAXPD insiders share with 2UrbanGirls that since his departure the “good old boy” atmosphere is non-existent, morale is up, favoritism has been removed and the department has returned to running in an ethical and upstanding manner.
Should someone else be elected Mayor of Inglewood in November, the city would be free of the same negligent behavior that Butts brought with him.
(2 Urban Girls are Urban Girl Media and post at 2urbangirls.com.Views expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of CityWatch.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
