Police last week named the City Hall employee who allegedly took cash in return for covering up possible building code violations.
Martin Aguirre, a 29-year old from South Gate, is suspected of soliciting bribes while working as a temporary building inspector during his three-month stint working for the city.
Officials are not releasing the scope or magnitude of Aguirre’s reported misdeeds while the investigation is on-going, but confirmed Monday the allegations were serious.
“It was a significant amount of cash,” said building officer Tim McCormick.
Aguirre could not be reached for comment Monday.
Police refused to comment on the specifics of the case Monday.
His alleged scam worked like this: After being called to a site and finding a violation, Aguirre would solicit cash in exchange for not reporting the violation, according to police.
The suspect was arrested in the middle of February after resident complaints led to a police investigation, according to city officials, who are re-inspecting all the sites Aguirre visited.
Aguirre mainly covered the Sunset Park and Pico neighborhoods on Santa Monica’s eastside as a field inspector, though he may also have ventured into other areas of the city, said Suzanne Frick, who heads the city’s planning department.
The city currently employs seven code compliance inspectors and seven construction inspectors. Three of the 14 workers are temporary employees, though Frick said she aims to have all positions manned by full-time employees.
Aguirre worked as both a code compliance inspector and a construction inspector during December, January and the early part of February of this year, Frick added.
Responsibilities for those positions include investigating building and safety violations, work permits, maintenance complaints, work-related noise complaints, zoning violations, nuisance complaints, sign violations, outdoor merchandising compliance and construction sites, McCormick said.
Santa Monica City Councilmember Herb Katz said he was “upset” by Aguirre’s actions but said the suspect’s behavior shouldn’t reflect on the city.
29F,“Our city is a clean city,” Katz said. “We watch our people. If someone goes out and asks for a bribe, I guarantee he’ll be turned in.
“Here’s one person who allegedly did something (illegal). It’s sad, it’s too bad — but it’s an individual.”
Frick said police were currently working on the investigation and said more information would be available after it was complete.
“We’re cooperating fully with the police department,” she said. “We truly want to get to the bottom of this issue. We’ve got to rebuild the trust and the confidence of the public.”
Any person with information regarding this investigation should call SMPD Detective David Hunscke at (310) 458-8949.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 11, 2003. Read the original PDF.