Will The Gay Community In Palm Springs Demand Doug Holland Get Fired Over Rod Pacceco

In an eye-opening article, the Desert Sun's Barrett Newkirk disclosed that following the FBI raid last September, the city hired former Riverside County DA Rod Pacheco to help with explaining to city officials, how to deal with the joint federal-county task force. It was recommended by city attorney Doug Holland. Obviously, Holland was in a panic mode when he brought up this idea. And since it is Palm Springs, and city officials have a need to be clever, it was done in private and Pacheco's law firm was paid and his name was kept out of it. Not a huge sum under 20 grand but still crazy.

Pacheco, the Zika virus of ex-DA's, is largely known for a first and only term that was marred by behavior that was eccentric and vicious. Some of the low lights included:

Trying to set up his own SWAT Team

Losing 500 grand in a lawsuit to a former prosecutor of the year who was moved 3 times in 20 months for not supporting him in an election.

Refusing to plea bargain cases which basically closed down Riverside County courts. Judges had to be brought in at great expense to clean up the mess.

Travelling around to news conferences with his own podium and spokesman Michael Jeandron at the ready. Jeandron is the son former PSPD Chief and failed political candidate Gary Jeandron.

Having a jury trial for a man charged with vandalism after cutting a cactus in Corona.

Spending a couple hundred grand tinting windows in his office building.

Wanting to void plea deals for about 80 kids who were caught in an underage drinking sting at Coachella Fest. Yeah, I know none of us ever did that. The judge who did the pleas thought he was nuts and an Appeals Court slapped this nonsense down but not before thousands of dollars was spent.

And finally, after the disastrous Warm Sands sex sting, Pacheco wanted the men who were arrested to plead guilty and become registered sex offenders!!! What a mess!!

The gay community was in an uproar about this event and rightfully so. The sting cost the Palm Springs Police Chief his job. The LBGT community came together and now does numerous outreach with the police.

By hiring Pacheco, the city has slapped members of that community in the face. Now to be clear, the new mayor and council people did not vote on this contract. But they can vote to end it. And they really may want re-think Doug Holland's tenure as well. Decisions made in panic lead to trouble. 

Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com and on Twitter @skellynj on Twitter