Los Angeles inspectors charged with accepting bribes
It’s always sad to read about building inspectors who get caught up in the criminal justice system because they commit criminal acts. Los Angeles has a scandal going on because 2 building inspectors were arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes. The Los Angeles Times reports that 2 inspectors accepted $9,000 and $6,000 each from an undercover informant. The informant said that in some cases payment was the only way to avoid delays and to pass inspections. According to court documents, inspectors never even looked at the properties many times. More developments are expected because the informant said that the corruption was systemic.
When an inspector accepts a bribe, it raises the issue as to whether these properties contain dangerous conditions due to this type of corruption. Unfortunately, honest inspectors suffer a loss of respect in the eyes of the public due to this criminal activity.
One of the difficulties with being an inspector is that we are one rung above the IRS in popularity, meaning right off the bat people are not happy to see us. If you hold the line set up by the code you’re called heartless. If you weaken your stance and something goes wrong you’re the first person everyone blames including the contractor that did the work.
If you’re an honest inspector there are nights when it’s hard to get asleep, especially in the busy summer season, because you’re wondering if you missed anything during your inspections that is going to get someone hurt. If what was written in the newspaper is true I can’t imagine how these two men could sleep at all. I just hope that no one has or will get hurt because of them.
“It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only 15 minutes to destroy it.” – Warren Buffett.
@Jerry
bravo!!