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Extra: An unlikely hero

May 28, 2011 8:21 PM

LAPD Lt. Jim Gavin put everything on the line to get to the truth in the Bruce Lisker case. To make things right for Lisker, Gavin had to take on another member of the LAPD. In an exclusive interview with "48 Hours'" Erin Moriarty, Gavin says doing the right thing cost him his career.

Read story: The Whole Truth
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by louis7881 March 10, 2012 3:42 PM EST
I also believed that i was doing the right thing when I testified against follow Deputies that were breaking the law. My name is Louis D. Garcia i was with the Volusia County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Vogel and his SET Team were targeting minority's mostly Blacks and Hispanics on Interstate 95. I was a K-9 officer attached to the team. They were racial profiling and making illegal stops. When i decided to try to put a stop to this by reporting it to the justice Department and the FBI. I was suspended for two years with pay. 90% of there stops were minority's. After two years of in and out of courts and testifing knowing that they were breaking the constitution and freedoms of Americans rights to travel free on our roads i was getting no where. Sheriff Vogel even tried to have me prosecuted for perjury but the state Attorney refused.When you do the correct thing your the one who pay's the price in the Law Enforcement system. I was forced to retire from the the carrer I loved and was very good at.
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by OYP26 July 20, 2011 2:07 PM EDT
This type of story scares me. How many other people sit in jail innocently? And another thing the story pointed out, Lisker was really only able to prove his innocence because of money his father left to him when he died. Imagine all the people who end up incarcerated who don't have that resource? I'm so happy for Bruce but I can't help but feel that money makes this world go 'round. Makes me sick.
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by ebp7769 June 24, 2011 6:03 PM EDT
"acted beyond HIS expertise" , um actually ( and i'll explain this SIMPLY so even the L.A.P.***** can comprehend, sorry 4 the cops that means UNDERSTAND )since he (GAVIN) was RIGHT, and the rest (at least most of them, OBVIOUSLY including his superior officers ) were WRONG (NOT RIGHT)it appears he was "ACTING BEYOND THEIR EXPERTISE" which ONCE AGAIN points out ANOTHER of THEIR ERRORS.MISPHRASING of their "SOUR GRAPES" ACCUSSATION. IT SHOULD READ, "GAVINS SMART WE R NOT HE IS RIGHT WE R SNOT"... do i need 2 simplify MORE so his "SUPERIORS" can understand.. (actually SUPERIORS is incorrect should b "MORONS who SOMEHOW HOLD HIGHER RANK"
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by ll9956 December 12, 2010 4:26 AM EST
There are at least three disturbing aspects to this story. First is that the state still wants to put Lisker in prison after it has been shown that he was convicted on false evidence and that Detective Monsue falsified evidence and that other evidence was never tested. Second is that Lt. Gavin lost his case against the LAPD. The claim that he acted beyond his expertise is beyond ludicrous. He found out the truth and brought it to light. How is that wrong in any way? It's outrageous that he lost his case! It is also outrageous that he and his wife have been ostracized within the LAPD and that his wife endured extreme emotional distress and lost her career. She sure didn't deserve any of that nor did she deserve to lose the respect of her kids. That's very difficult to understand. I sure hope Lisker wins an enormous monetary award in his lawsuit. Bottom line: The LAPD and the California Attorney General should be profoundly ashamed of themselves.
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by proudamerican12 October 26, 2010 7:11 PM EDT
LAPD HAS BEEN THAT CROOKED,EVER SINCE, THEY DONT TOLERATE HONEST POLICE OFFICERS AND HAS IN THE PAST RETALIATED ON GOOD OFFICERS,----

SGT. GAVIN, THANK YOU FOR DOING YOU SHARE AS HUMAN BEING, THAT FOLLOWS THE RIGHT AND MORAL PATH,YOU ARE A HERO TO THE HUMAN RACE,AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT A GOOD POLICE OFFICER SHOULD BE...AS FOR ME,I WILL CALL,WRITE AND SPEND MY TIME,INQUIRING ABOUT YOUR CASE WITH THE LAPD, THEY CANNOT KEEP ON DOING THIS TO PEOPLE...
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by thatguy369 October 21, 2010 11:21 PM EDT
I am proud to work for Lt. Gavin and am pleased to see that he is "a man of integrity". "Good job LT. Integrity in all we say and do"
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by ashmanone October 20, 2010 10:07 PM EDT
I was wondering how the killer left the home. When Mr. lister arrived at the home of his mother, he had to remove the louvered windows to gain entry. That would mean the doors to the home would have been locked.My question is what type of locks were on the doors were they thumb bolts or key locks? The person responsable for this crime would have had to lock the door that he left from, and without a key that would have been impossable if eather of these door locks were present on the home!!
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by SRooks October 17, 2010 8:25 PM EDT
I was so hurt by this story. This kind of stuff happens a lot in Tennessee. I know of 2 cases where this has happened and one where it's currently happening. The first case the man was framed and released after 20 years the state of TN promised him money then failed to pay him. The second case the young man has been locked up 15 years and now folks behind the scenes are negotiating his freedom if he doesn't write a book or pursue movie rights. That sound a little fishy to me. I wish someone would come to Memphis and uncover our judicial system. The cops are corrupt,the lawyers, the judges and correctional facilities, too. I am in PR and involved in community activism and the needs are just too great for this to be happening. I will continue to fall this story. I am proud of all the people who stood up because this could be your family member.
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by justiceatlast October 17, 2010 4:59 PM EDT
"To Protect and To Serve" doesn't mean anything if those who are sworn in to do just that do not follow through. Thank God we have policemen like the Sgt. Gavins who trully uphold the right of the citzens of LA. I have read the LA Times piece on this case and do not understand why there was not more of an outcry from the citizens regarding the information therein.
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by Farver4girls October 17, 2010 1:17 PM EDT
I admire the Gavins for their honesty and integrity. I would like to see Lt. Albert Gavin become the LAPD's next chief of police.
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