INGLEWOOD – A criminal search warrant was served on Inglewood City Hall early last month according to multiple sources within the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.
The search warrant was executed July 7 in relation to a controversial ordinance that awards elected officials with lifetime medical benefits upon their retirement.
In 2020, the DA’s office confirmed they were reviewing the ordinance after treasurer Wanda Brown alleged the City misappropriated public funds in the amount $195,983 for medical benefits for past elected officials.
Related: D.A. Reviewing lifetime medical for retired Inglewood elected officials
In 2003, the city council passed ordinance 03-02 which provided lifetime medical benefits to retiring members of the city council who have up to 120 days to declare if they wish to take the benefit, in exchange for a lump sum payment.
Brown cited the following figures related to lifetime medical expenses paid out under Fernandez’s ordinance which passed 3-2 with Fernandez, Curren Price and Judy Dunlap voting in favor:
- $92,270.56 for Jose Fernandez who hasn’t been a councilman in over 15 years;
- $4,649.16 for Judy Dunlap who was voted out in 2013;
- $65,680.40 for Roosevelt Dorn who hasn’t been on the council since 2010;
- $33,383.82 for former city clerk Hermanita Harris;
“See attachment of Treasurer report for 5/26/20 council meeting. Mayor Butts had city attorney speak that the city paying medical expenses of former council members who were on the council more than 15 years ago is legal,” said Wanda Brown. “He knows it is not. The city charter forbids it which is why former mayor Roosevelt Dorn was prosecuted and convicted by the DA’s office.”
“The big question is why aren’t the medical bills for former council members Daniel Tabor and Garland Hardeman, who also served multiple council terms not receiving lifetime medical,” explained Brown. “Mayor Butts was not expecting this exposure although I warned him, Artie Fields and Ken Campos previously.”
