Investigative Reporter

Scott Schwebke

Scott Schwebke is an investigative reporter for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., he was previously a breaking news and multimedia reporter for the Ogden, Utah, Standard-Examiner. Scott has also worked at newspapers in Utah, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia covering everything from methamphetamine trafficking cops to hurricanes. He has also accompanied police on undercover drug buys and also provided an award winning, eyewitness account of the execution of a North Carolina death row inmate. Scott was part of the OC Register’s investigative team that in 2017 produced the year-long, award winning Rehab Riviera series, examining problems in Southern California’s drug rehabilitation industry. He also teamed up with reporter Joe Nelson in 2019 on Bad Apples, an award winning investigation that exposed years of sex abuse cover up in the Redlands Unified School District. Having spent two years living in England including Liverpool, he is an avid Beatles fan and memorabilia collector.

Location: Orange County, California, USA

Language: English

Affiliation: Investigative Reporters and Editors

Awards: First Place-Investigative Reporting, California News Publisher's Association, (2019), First Place Investigative Series, Los Angeles Press Club, (2019), First Place Best News Story Orange County Press Club, (2019), First Place Public Service Journalism California News Publisher's Association, (2019), First Place-Investigative Reporting, California News Publishers Association, (2018)

Expertise: Investigative reporting

Expertise: Public corruption

Expertise: Accountability

Expertise: Criminal justice

Expertise: Legal affairs

Expertise: Narrative writing

Expertise: Los Angeles County

Expertise: Orange County

Expertise: Riverside County

Expertise: San Bernardino County

Lawsuit will seek more than $100 million in damages from Virginia State Police and Washington County Sheriff Office for negligence in hiring Austin Lee Edwards.

Crime and Public Safety |
Family of Riverside victims killed by ‘catfish’ cop to sue Virginia police agencies

May 19, 2023 at 7:19 p.m.

Lawsuit will seek more than $100 million in damages from Virginia State Police and Washington County Sheriff Office for negligence in hiring Austin Lee Edwards.

Grounds supervisor Martin Robles routinely used racial slurs, required employees to shuttle him around and then retaliated against them if they refused, probe finds.

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News |
VA Loma Linda manager promoted after probe recommended firing for creating hostile work culture

May 17, 2023 at 5:23 p.m.

Grounds supervisor Martin Robles routinely used racial slurs, required employees to shuttle him around and then retaliated against them if they refused, probe finds.

From signing bonuses to child-care and rent subsidies, law enforcement agencies are opening their wallets to bolster depleted staffs with new officers.

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News |
Bidding wars: Police agencies dangle incentives to attract new recruits, transfers

May 17, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.

From signing bonuses to child-care and rent subsidies, law enforcement agencies are opening their wallets to bolster depleted staffs with new officers.

Law enforcement officials say the vilification of police has exacerbated recruitment problems that existed before the killing of George Floyd.

News |
Black eye, blue mood: Anatomy of a crisis in police staffing

May 16, 2023 at 7:24 a.m.

Law enforcement officials say the vilification of police has exacerbated recruitment problems that existed before the killing of George Floyd.

Most agencies are experiencing a decline in those who want to be police officers and an acceleration in those retiring early or resigning altogether, says a national expert.

News |
Southern California law enforcement agencies still stuck in a staffing crisis

May 14, 2023 at 6:45 a.m.

Most agencies are experiencing a decline in those who want to be police officers and an acceleration in those retiring early or resigning altogether, says a national expert.

A wrongful death lawsuit alleges the district attorney's 'ill-advised policies' and inaction by a probation officer played a major role in the slayings of two officers.

Crime and Public Safety |
Family of slain El Monte police officer sues DA George Gascón for not following ‘three-strikes’ law

May 4, 2023 at 6:03 p.m.

A wrongful death lawsuit alleges the district attorney's 'ill-advised policies' and inaction by a probation officer played a major role in the slayings of two officers.

The indictment follows a vow from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon to hold police responsible for unlawful shootings.

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Crime and Public Safety |
2 Torrance officers indicted in 2018 fatal shooting of Black man

April 13, 2023 at 7:47 p.m.

The indictment follows a vow from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon to hold police responsible for unlawful shootings.

Sweeping plan needs more work and input from stakeholders, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis says after shelving her proposal, which was opposed by at least two other supervisors.

News |
Plan to ‘depopulate’ LA County jails withdrawn in face of widespread opposition

April 3, 2023 at 12:41 p.m.

Sweeping plan needs more work and input from stakeholders, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis says after shelving her proposal, which was opposed by at least two other supervisors.

A proposal advanced by two progressive supervisors, coming before the full Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, is blasted by prosecutors and police chiefs alike.

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News |
Sweeping plan to ‘depopulate’ LA County jails embraced by supervisors

April 2, 2023 at 7:25 p.m.

A proposal advanced by two progressive supervisors, coming before the full Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, is blasted by prosecutors and police chiefs alike.

Sara Jacqueline King files counterclaim in federal court alleging her husband forced her to play slots in Las Vegas trying to recoup loan proceeds.

News |
Newport Beach attorney claims husband pressured her to gamble millions owed to loan company

March 31, 2023 at 7:06 p.m.

Sara Jacqueline King files counterclaim in federal court alleging her husband forced her to play slots in Las Vegas trying to recoup loan proceeds.

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