Former Cop Allegedly Gave Promotions For Sex

(CBS) LOS ANGELES A former Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief is under investigation for allegedly giving favorable treatment and even promotions to female officers in exchange for sexual favors, officials said Thursday.

The allegations against former Internal Affairs Deputy Chief Michael Berkow were raised in a harassment lawsuit filed in May in Los Angeles Superior Court by Sgt. Ya-May Christle of Arcadia. Berkow is now the police chief in Savannah, Ga.

"We are aware of it and yes, we are investigating," Lt. Paul Vernon of the LAPD's Media Relations Section said. "The allegations alleged in the lawsuit are under investigation. Actually, they have been under investigation for quite some time, but there is really nothing further we can comment on as this is pending litigation.

Asked if there was a relationship between Berkow's leaving the department, Vernon replied, "I don't think so."

Berkow could not be reached for comment.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, LAPD Chief William Bratton confirmed the investigation was being conducted, but he called Berkow "an outstanding police officer, hardworking, dedicated."

Christle was hired by the LAPD in February 1989 and was assigned to Internal Affairs in 2003, which was headed by Berkow, according to her lawsuit.

For the next three years, Christle was advised that some female officers who transferred into her unit were Berkow's "special friends" and to "take care of them," the lawsuit stated.

According to the lawsuit, Berkow's office in the Bradbury Building had an air mattress inside and Christle saw several female officers leave there, followed by Berkow wearing a T-shirt and pajamas.

After one female officer who was trained by Christle had sex with Berkow, she was given a pay raise and a coveted position that made her Christle's boss, the lawsuit states.

Berkow also had sexual affairs with a female sergeant and a female captain, also rewarding them with enhanced or extended positions within the department, the lawsuit alleges.

The suit claims that Berkow told Christle to stop pursuing the most serious internal charges against yet another female officer who was arrested
along with her husband for making criminal threats, resisting arrest and providing false information to a police officer.

Berkow also had an affair with the officer, whom he met while she was posing as a prostitute during an undercover police detail, the lawsuit stated.

Christle eventually filed an internal complaint stating Berkow was trying to influence the investigation involving the troubled female officer, according to the lawsuit.

In August 2005, Christle saw a note on a male officer's desk which read, "If you can get Ya-May's computer off her desk, I will give you a week of free lunches," the suit claims.

She later found her computer missing and learned that information was taken from it regarding her investigation into the 1997 fatal shooting of
rapper Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, the lawsuit states.

Wallace's family members have alleged two Los Angeles police officers conspired to kill him and Christle was unable to provide them with crucial information they needed because her computer was tampered with, according to the lawsuit.

Christle did not have sex with Berkow and so she did not receive the advancements given the other female officers, the lawsuit stated.

Christle also maintains she was discriminated against because she is Asian-American, the lawsuit stated.

Jessica Alba plays football in her bikini

There will be a day when Jessica Alba playing football in her bikini will not bring a single tear of happiness to my eye. But that day is not today. Nor is it tomorrow. Nor is it any other day where Jessica Alba looks as good as she does and the word 'bikini' hasn't been changed to mean 'a swarm of disgusting spiders.'

A gazillion more pictures of Jessica Alba at Miami beach in her bikini after the jump. And when I say gazillion I'm not even rounding. I think it's actually a gazillion.

Staff sergeant relieved from duty after posing for Playboy

SAN ANTONIO — “Drop and give me 20!” is something you might hear Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Manhart yell to airmen trainees at Lackland Air Force Base.

Drop her trousers is what Manhart did for Playboy magazine, and now it’s landed her in trouble with the military.

“Of what I did, nothing is wrong so I didn’t anticipate anything of course,” Manhart said Thursday of the pictorial. “I didn’t do anything wrong so I didn’t think it would be a major issue.”

In a six-page spread in February’s issue, hitting newsstands this week, Manhart is photographed in uniform yelling and holding weapons under the headline “Tough Love.” The following pages show her partially clothed wearing her dog tags while working out, as well as completely nude.

Manhart, 30, who is married with two children, has been relieved of her duties pending an investigation, according to Lackland AFB spokesman Oscar Balladares.

“This staff sergeant’s alleged action does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen, nor does it comply with the Air Force’s core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do. It is not representative of the many thousands of outstanding airmen who serve in the U.S. Air Force today,” Balladares said, reading a statement.


Michelle Manhart


Manhart has modeled since she was younger and joined the Air Force in 1994, spending time in Kuwait in 2002. The California native said she hopes the Playboy photo shoot will pave a way into an acting or modeling career.

The pictorial’s accompanying article mentioned the possibility of trouble for the brunette drill instructor. But when asked in the article whether it might get her in “hot water with Uncle Sam,” Manhart replied: “I’ve been serving for 13 years, fighting for everyone’s rights. Why wouldn’t I be able to stand up for my own rights and participate in the freedoms that make this country what it is?”

Manhart said she didn’t see the magazine as an escape from the military. She also said she is completely committed to her job.

“I’ve proven myself. ... They picked me to train our future airmen of the world,” she said. “They picked me to train these individuals so if they elect to say I don’t have (integrity) then that’s their opinion.”

Playboy magazine spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey said two active-duty women have posed nude in Playboy in the past. Both were in the Navy, she said.

One, Sherry Lynne White, was discharged in July 2000 after posing nude for the magazine. She had been scheduled to be released from duty that October.

Another, Frederica Spilman, received an honorable discharge, which she had sought before posing, and a letter expressing the Navy’s dismay less than a week after the June 1998 issue hit newsstands.

Spilman appeared in the magazine wearing opened flight jackets, camouflage lingerie and dog tags. The six-page pictorial, under the heading “Fly Girl,” also included pictures of Spilman in her Navy uniform and flight suit.

Hennessey added that seven women also were featured in a “Women of the Armed Forces” spread in April 1980.

Manhart said the shoot came about after she went on a casting call and kept getting called back for test shots. The February pictorial was shot last spring, she said.

“The Air Force says go do something amazing, and I think I pretty much did it,” she said.

Tara Conner the Naughtiest Miss USA

Reigning Miss USA Tara Conner’s recent actions at a New York City Club prompted rumors that she may be dethroned. Citing “inappropriate behavior”, the Miss USA organization recently met with NBC to discuss the matter.

Sources tell TMZ that executives from the Miss USA organization and NBC (which broadcasts the pageant) met Tuesday to discuss Conner and alleged incidents of her inappropriate behavior, including her conduct at New York City bars. While no one from the pageant would comment on the rumored troubles, several sources tell TMZ that a big announcement is expected some time Thursday. (TMZ)

However. Donald Trump, who for some reason owns the pageant, has all the deets on this story.

“Reports that Miss USA is being ‘dethroned’ are absolutely not true.” He then said that Conner is “going through some personal problems and difficulties right now which could affect her ability to reign. We are right now looking into what we can do to work with her and what we will do about her reign going forward.” (NL)

If the personal problems are anything like persistently drunk whore and the difficulties are a weakness for jello shooters, then I think I just fell in love. God Bless America.

Brandy Caught Up in New Year Car Crash Fatality

R&B star Brandy started 2007 off with memories of a terrible car crash that left another motorist dead. According to new police reports, obtained by website TMZ.com, the singer was driving her Land Rover on California's 405 freeway on December 30 when she failed to notice cars in front of her were slowing down. Brandy braked late and collided with a Toyota, which in turn hit another car before striking the central divider. The Toyota was then hit by another car. The driver of the Toyota was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in critical condition and later died, according to the website.

Brandy was not injured in the accident and was not arrested. She was not deemed to be speeding. After news of the car crash was published on the internet yesterday morning, the singer's representatives released a short statement acknowledging the accident and the deceased. They wrote, "Brandy was involved in a car accident December 30, 2006 in Los Angeles, where there was a fatality. She wishes to publicly express her condolences to the family of the deceased. Brandy asks that you respect the privacy of everyone involved at this time."

MARIAH POSING FOR PLAYBOY?

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