Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

It's now called New Beginnings Ministries. Brittany Campbell, head of the NBGA: Proactive Survivors of New Beginnings Girls Academy group on facebook has tracked the changes:

Rebekah Home for Girls -> New Beginnings Rebekah Academy -> New Beginnings Girls Academy -> New Beginnings Ministries (Girls, boys, and - according to their newsletter - mens homes.)

Premiers this Sunday, Nov 6, @ 10pm EST on MSNBC.

Here's a link but it doesn't take you directly to the show.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36735502/#.TrGWCfSXuso

"Teen Mania is a Christian ministry based in Garden Valley, Texas, whose mission statement is 'to provoke a young generation to passionately pursue Jesus Christ and to take His life-giving message to the ends of the earth!' This hour follows former Teen Mania interns who sought out therapy to recover from the mind control they experienced during their time with the Teen Mania."

Pasadena women step forward with more boot camp allegations

By Brian Charles, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/31/2011 06:05:02 PM PDT


PASADENA - At least three Pasadena women say they witnessed what they considered abuse by drill instructors from Family First Growth Camp while the boot camp operated on Pasadena city property.

Pasadena residents Susan Lafferty and Nancy Rose and Sierra Madre resident Julie Unamuno said they forwarded their claims of abuse to the city by email in 2009, but nothing was done.

"I saw (someone) getting in their faces and screaming while the children were sobbing. Some of the (children) were as young as 8 years old," Lafferty said. "And I could not see how any of this could help a child."

"I would never even yell at an animal like that," Rose said.

There was "no formal investigation related to the tactics" but officials will review the 2009 emails, Pasadena spokeswoman Ann Erdman said in a statement Monday.

Erdman acknowledged that city officials were aware that Family First Growth Camp, operated by Kelvin "Sgt. Mac" McFarland, used the Arroyo and Hahamongna Watershed Park, both city properties, to train children. The camp was routinely ushered off city land for failing to have a permit, Erdman said.

"Anytime park safety officers encountered the operation on city-owned property, they ordered them to vacate the premises immediately," Erdman said.

Neither McFarland nor his attorney, Evan Dicker

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of the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender's Office, returned calls seeking comment.
McFarland was arrested on May 27 on suspicion of of child abuse, child endangerment, kidnapping, extortion and unlawful use of a badge stemming from his encounter with a young girl in Pasadena.

His case is still pending.

In July, Judge Stan Blumenfeld decided to hold McFarland over for trial. McFarland remains free on $185,000 bail. He is due back in court Nov. 16.

McFarland's criminal record includes arrests and convictions for driving under the influence in 1991 and 2005, as well as a 2000 conviction for misdemeanor battery and a 2009 conviction for driving with a suspended license.

McFarland can be seen in two videos that provide an inside look at juvenile boot camps.

In one video, McFarland can be seen coaxing children to drink water to the point that several children began vomiting. In the second, he and several other adults can be seen taunting a child who has been forced to wear a tire around his neck.

Those videos were released by this newspaper last week.

The voice of boot camp instructor Keith "Sarge" Gibbs, who operates Sarge's Community Base/Commit II Achieve, can be heard on one of the videos.

Both men deny being present for the videotaping. Gibbs has not been charged with a criminal offense.

Lafferty, Unamuno and Rose all ride horses in the Arroyo and Hahamongna Watershed Park. They said the tactics employed by the Family First Growth Camp during their run-ins with the camp in 2009 bore striking resemblance to the scenes depicted in those videos.

Unamuno, who is a riding instructor in the Arroyo, said she first encountered McFarland in November 2009.

"I saw what appeared to be a drill sergeant was pointing his finger in a young girl's face while she was covered in dirt," Unamuno said. "She had been reduced to tears."

Lafferty, Rose and Unamuno came forward after seeing the videos. Rose, Lafferty and Unamuno said they didn't see any children being forced to drink large volumes of water, but they did see children being forced to carry truck tires around their neck.

During their horse rides, the women said they also saw children forced to scale steep hills during a heat wave in 2010 and also witnessed instructors regularly give obscenity-laced tongue lashings to the children.

"Do you think breaking them down to be nothing and using obscenities is going to make them any better? Rose asked. "They are not adults, they are kids and their minds are not even developed."

After a handful of run-ins with the camp, the women said they decided to report the acts to Pasadena City officials.

"We knew this was at the very least inappropriate behavior if not out-and-out abuse," Lafferty said.

Lafferty contacted the Pasadena Department of Public Works, directing many of her emails to Martin Pastucha, the department's former director, Lafferty said.

The women said they thought to call the Pasadena police, but were unable to make out a license plate on a car and were too afraid to approach the boot camp to ask for names, Rose said.

It remains unclear what happened to the email sent by Lafferty, but Pasadena Police Department officials said they had no knowledge of any of the activities in the Arroyo or Hahamongna Watershed Park.

"We do not have any prior complaints of child abuse against Mr. McFarland and Mr. Gibbs regarding boot camps," Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said. Ibarra runs the Police Department's youth outreach program.

Despite not having a permit, the camps returned in 2010 and were spotted in the Arroyo as recently as last summer, Rose said.

The riding group began to alter its route to avoid the group, since Unamuno often takes her own children on the path.

"It's unnerving to see that type of drill going on in that setting and trying to explain that to young children," Unamuno said.

Meanwhile, no arrests have been made in the case, as investigators said they are still unsure a crime has even occurred, Ibarra said.

"The Pasadena Police Department has had discussions with the District Attorney's Office, but there has not been any cases opened," Ibarra said. "We are still trying to determine whether there has been criminal act with identifiable suspects."

The department has not contacted the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Service since it's unclear whether any laws were broken, Ibarra said.

The video contains episodes recorded during McFarland's time with Gibbs, according to multiple sources familiar with the camps.

Gibbs has not operated free of controversy.

In 2009, he was removed from Pasadena Unified School District campuses when accusations surfaced that his tactics were "too rough," according to district officials.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci ... z1cTVAfT7o

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/2 ... 51216.html

Kelvin 'Sgt. Mac' McFarland: Boot Camp Video Emerges Detailing Abuse Of Teens (Warning: Graphic Video)
Warning: The below video is graphic and might not be appropriate for children.

The Huffington Post   Sasha Bronner First Posted: 10/27/11 05:38 PM ET Updated: 10/28/11 02:47 PM ET
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Two disturbing videos have emerged that show shocking and abusive treatment of kids at a Pasadena teen boot camp. The videos come courtesy of the Pasadena Star-News and further the case against Kelvin "Sgt. Mac" McFarland, who was arrested on May 27, 2011 under charges of "kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment, extortion and unlawful use of a badge," reports the Pasadena Star-News.

In the video above, McFarland and other instructors scream and yell at what looks like a pre-teen boy as he is forced to hold a heavy car tire. The boy is brought to his knees as he cries and is terrorized by the adults around him.

McFarland's May arrest sparked much controversy. CBS has more on what lead to the arrest:

    Officials say he spotted a 14-year-old girl downtown cutting school. Pasadena police say he approached the girl, insinuated he was a police officer and handcuffed the girl. In addition, police say McFarland then demanded money from the parents to provide his boot camp/after school services.

And yet, many clients of McFarland's came to his defense. Friends and supporters rallied to his defense, reports Altadena Patch, speaking out about "how important the program was to their children."

The video below chronicles teen participants at McFarland's boot camp being forced to drink water until they vomit. McFarland has not seen the videos but admits he is aware of their existence. He tries to deflect some blame by calling out a former colleague: "If you look at that video, you will see Keith 'Sarge' Gibbs in the video," Pasadena Star-News reports.

Keith Gibbs and McFarland both served in the military and used to work together at Gibbs' boot camp. Yet in 2009, McFarland left to start a competing boot camp in Pasadena called the Family First Growth Camp. Gibbs tells the Pasadena Star-News that the split occurred when McFarland "failed to pass a background check and allegations emerged of inappropriate training methods."

As for why the boot camp activities were filmed, investigators have yet to find out.

******************************************
COMMENTS (NOTE: There are 77 pages with 2,948 comments. This is the first page.)

juicyazzmarie
6 Fans
 
34 minutes ago (7:04 AM)
Discipline

Since no child's behavior is perfect all of the time, discipline is an important way to teach children self-contr­ol and what is expected of them as a family member, a playmate, or a student in a classroom. The primary goal of discipline is to teach these important lessons to children, not to punish them. When adults need to stop a child's bad behavior, they should to do it with self-contr­ol and without violence.

Whether at home or in the classroom, adults can establish an atmosphere where children can get attention for doing the right thing—not the wrong thing. To do this, they need to take the time to praise and reward. They need to establish a safe environmen­t for playing and sharing. They need to establish simple rules that children understand­. When the rules are broken, adults need to step in, calm the child down, then discuss alternativ­e nonviolent ways to resolve the conflict with appropriat­e sanctions for the behavior.

if YOU as a Parent cannot raise your child right and teach them right from wrong at a young age then you should not even have them anyways! YOU have NOTHING to OFFER!!

if your child is bad then more than likely its YOUR FAULT, NOT that child dont go putting the blame on someone who learned what you taught them!!!
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Rustie Kuntsz
1 Fans
4 hours ago (3:23 AM)
What's the problem? She he have given fatbody a timeout? puuuuleeaz­zz
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dale Birmingham
Conservative and REAL American
893 Fans
5 hours ago (2:21 AM)
I have been to bootcamp not once but twice. And this type of training builds character and will. This is NOT torture in any way shape or form. It's mental discipline to adjust to each and every situation you come across. Its typical the weak minded sees this as what they think it is. That's nothing compared to other bootcamps. Nothing.
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G D
42 Fans
3 hours ago (4:49 AM)
Dude being forced to drink water until you throw up is torture. You can die from drinking too much water. With that said I see the value in these boot camps but let's not act like they should be able to do as they please.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dbrett480
222 Fans
6 hours ago (1:56 AM)
These boot camps need officers with actual training in juvenile correction­s; it seemed like they just hired some knucklehea­ds who could shout.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Longrifle1
?? ?
60 Fans
6 hours ago (1:14 AM)
Nothing wrong here. If you think there is, you may be contributi­ng to the decline of America. Just ask the Chinese. . .
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tuigim
The perils of benefactors...
442 Fans
 
7 hours ago (12:49 AM)
Do not sign up.
No soldiers, no wars.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AG creative
Ba Gawk!
464 Fans
 
7 hours ago (12:33 AM)
That'll be 100k for a lifetime of psychologi­cal bills, thanks.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Azrael1701
69 Fans
7 hours ago (12:21 AM)
Those officers deserve very harsh treatment in a maximum security prison. Anybody who victimizes the helpless deserves nothing but misery.
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Jimmy Smitz
12 Fans
8 hours ago (11:31 PM)
That kid looks a bit...tire­d.
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Jim bob
Be the change you wish to see.
590 Fans
9 hours ago (10:16 PM)
That's more than disturbing and it's more than torture, it's child abuse. Those people should be in jail.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AG creative
Ba Gawk!
464 Fans
 
7 hours ago (12:34 AM)
That's like a military exorcism. Horrible, the kid will be messed up for life.
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Jim bob
Be the change you wish to see.
590 Fans
7 hours ago (12:55 AM)
Imagine the PTSD associated with that, and imagine how he's going to feel about authority figures. Wow. What a delight. And those paid profession­al bullies get to walk away without anyone even saying what it is.
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Sixteenthkid
11 Fans
 
9 hours ago (10:16 PM)
What is wrong with these people? These are adults! And these kids are kids. Not adults who choose to join the military. You can teach a child self discipline and help them change their behavior without being abusive. If it is harmful to the child, physically or psychologi­cally then it is abuse. And what these people are doing is over the line.

And for all of you who keep saying "well then you come up with a solution", all I have to say is that I don't need to come up with a solution to condemn these adults. Do I have a solution, no. But does that make the behavior of these adults acceptable­? NO
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
worldsam
147 Fans
10 hours ago (10:06 PM)
When parents have trouble with their children they tend to turn to any help they can find in the hope these strangers might somehow turn their children around. The trouble is nobody knows how. Troubled children need help which most parents may not be able to find or afford. It is not fault of the parent or the child. The problem is with the opportunis­ts who get in for the money and subject the children and the parents to unimaginab­le levels of pain.
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elsquibbs
Socially liberal, fiscally prudent atheist.
162 Fans
 
10 hours ago (9:53 PM)
That kid is too young for this stuff.
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django707
360 Fans
11 hours ago (8:12 PM)
May I volunteer to give 'Sgt. Mac' a taste of his own medicine?
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mdipary2004
46 Fans
11 hours ago (8:54 PM)
Sgt. Mac has allready done basic training. You cant give him a tatste of anything. You can try but you will lose. He is a highly trained troop..
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oldsilkhat01
11 Fans
10 hours ago (9:22 PM)
Depends on what we find out about why he was trying to force that little boy to be nice and talk love to a strange man. Who were they promoting their little videos to?
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Jim bob
Be the change you wish to see.
590 Fans
9 hours ago (10:17 PM)
You don't seem to know "out of control" when you see it. Not surprised.
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oldsilkhat01
11 Fans
10 hours ago (9:08 PM)
Since the whole gang of them decided they wanted to play Baby Doc Duvalier by necklacing the kid with a tire, I frankly think that the grown up thugs should get the grown up version - light the tires on fire until they tell us how much they love us while we scream at them and tell them how they stink like kerosene. Those bastids!
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django707
360 Fans
6 hours ago (1:18 AM)
I'm down with that.
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oldsilkhat01
11 Fans
10 hours ago (9:23 PM)
Only if you let me help with the interrogat­ion of that piece of garbage.
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django707
360 Fans
11 hours ago (8:12 PM)
Institutio­nalized child abuse is a scourge on any culture.
Putting troubled children into the hands of these twisted psychopath­s only creates more twisted psychopath­s.
Highly discipline­d psychopath­s, but psychopath­s, nonetheles­s.
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mdipary2004
46 Fans
11 hours ago (8:55 PM)
Then you should take the trouble girls and boys in and come up with a program for them. Bet you will give up first

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local ... 63648.html

Youth Boot Camps Under Fire

"It border-lined on humiliation disguised as physical activity."
By Robert Kovacik and Bill French
|  Friday, Oct 28, 2011  |  Updated 6:47 PM PDT
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Lolita Lopez and Sue Monroe

Newly released video seems to show questionable practices at so-called youth "boot camps" in Pasadena. But who was in charge?

Newly released videos from youth "boot camps" show heavy-handed tactics that might go beyond the sort of discipline that could be positive for some at-risk kids.

The Pasadena-Star News obtained the videos.

In one of the videos, a boy can be seen carrying a tire around his neck. He falls to his knees and screams and cries. The instructor screams at him to continue.

The videos depict activities at two Pasadena "boot camps."

"It border-lined on humiliation disguised as physical activity intended to instill discipline," said Pasadena City Councilman Victor Gordo.
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Pasadena Boot Camps Under Fire
Pasadena Boot
Camps Under Fire
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In another video, children are forced to drink water to the point of vomiting.

"Potentially dangerous behavior on the part of the instructors toward the kids," Gordo said.

Gordo has asked the city's police department to investigate the incidents. An officer who viewed the tape was not ready to reach any conclusions.

"It's disturbing to see the video," said Commander John Perez. "But again we have to take the video for the entire content."

The investigation starts with Kelvin McFarland, apparently seen on both videos taken two years ago. McFarland operates Family First Growth Camp in Pasadena.

McFarland was arrested in May for allegedly handcuffing a girl he saw skipping school, then demanded money from her parents to enroll in his boot camp.

Friday, the operator of a second Pasadena boot camp, "Sarge's Community," defended his operation.

"In our camp, we yell," said Keith "Sarge" Gibbs. "But it's a one on one individual. We don't surround and yell all at the same time."

Gibbs and McFarland used to work together. Now police will sort out the timing of the videos, to see who is ultimately responsible, and whether any laws were violated.

So, what do parents think of this?

"It appears that some of the parents have okay-ed it, from discussions with other people, " Perez said. "We're not sure if that's absolutely true. And did the parents know what the format was?"

****************************************
COMMENTS

Sara Aguilar Figueroa · West Covina, California
Yes, parents are willing to take their children to SCB Inc...I am one of those parents. My son, age 13 has been attending SCB since June 2011. Despite the generalization, my son is not a 'troubled child' (whatever that may mean) my son is a GATE student w/ a 3.8 GPA attending 8th grade at a local Arts Academy w/ accepted enrollment to IPoli (Cal Poly Pomona High School). There are no words to describe his improvement; exceeding confidence, high level of respect towards himself, peers & superiors, empowered & controlled expression & communication. I have received nothing but praise from his teacher as to the level of maturity he displays. There is value w/in the yelling. Discipline is the foundation of all success. During quiet time the kids and sargeants do bond. And quiet the contrary, there is a level of respect and 'love' for one another. I highly recommend SCB Inc. to any parent seeking a higher level of order in their child's life.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · about an hour ago

Margarita Gamero
Given, these examples are extreme, but life itself has worse ways to humilliate and torture some at-risk kids in the future. We have to agree that some kids need more 'strict' education (note I did not say "extreme") to help them in their futures.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 12 hours ago

Donnie Trent · CSUN, Northridge, CA
As a 54 year old man, I wish to volunteer as a participant in this program. If these sadistic people touch me, I would respond with an awesome explosion. Then I would teach the children to explode also--especially to the man getting the money!
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 9 hours ago

Jerry Cohen · Santa Monica College
UN-REGULATED places that are in it for the money only. Sadistic employees that get off on the power. This kind of program needs to be closely watched.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 13 hours ago

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pasa ... s-14835462

Pasadena Police Probe Possible Boot Camp Abuses

PASADENA, Calif. October 28, 2011 (AP)

Police will investigate whether a crime occurred at a youth boot camp after videos surfaced showing instructors shouting at a boy wearing a tire around his neck and children being told to drink water until some vomited.

Investigators will question boot camp operator Kelvin "Sgt. Mac" McFarland, police Cmdr. Darryl Qualls told the Pasadena Star-News ( http://bit.ly/vtQb7Q ) on Thursday.

"Looking at the video we can only see McFarland, so we will start the investigation with McFarland," Qualls said.

McFarland earlier denied to the newspaper that he appeared in the videos. A call left for him Friday was not immediately returned.

McFarland was charged earlier this year with child abuse, extortion and other crimes.

Prosecutors contend that he handcuffed a truant 14-year-old girl in May and told her family that she would be sent to juvenile detention unless she was enrolled in his camp. She was never enrolled.

The Star-News this week released short video clips it said were made in 2009.

On one, several instructors in military-style fatigues surround and shout at a boy who is wearing a heavy auto tire. At one point, the boy falls down crying but is ordered to stand again.

In the other, several girls and boys are repeatedly ordered to drink water from colored plastic bottles. Several youngsters vomit.

"I would certainly not subject my son or daughter or any child I know to this type of activity," City Council member Victor Gordo told the newspaper.

"The short clips that I reviewed appeared to be more of a situation of intimidation and humiliation appearing to be employed under the guise of physical activity and discipline," Gordo said.

The Star-News said the videos appear to have been made in Pasadena but did not indicate how it obtained them.

McFarland runs Family First Growth Camp in Pasadena, which like other boot camps uses military-style discipline and exercises with a goal of instilling character and keeping at-risk youngsters away from drugs, alcohol and crime.

The camp "doesn't believe in corporal punishment, nor will it be tolerated," according to a camp website.

"The young men/women who come to us are good kids who have begun to make some poor choices with friends, school, drugs, alcohol, attitude with peers and family members," the website said, adding that through the camp, "these kids seek out, find, then learn to love themselves so they can love their families and start to move in a positive direction."

The camp is funded through a combination of fees and charitable donations. Enrollment is through parents, although in some states juvenile justice systems send some offenders to boot camps.

However, some studies have shown that juvenile offenders sent to boot camps were no less likely to commit new crimes than those who were placed in juvenile detention or given probation.

The Star-News did not specify whether the videos were taken at a Family First training session and noted that some children seemed to be wearing T-shirts from another camp.

Keith "Sarge" Gibbs, who runs Sarge's Community Base/Commit II Achieve Boot Camp, said that some of the children appear to be wearing his camp T-shirts.

McFarland worked for him in 2009 but left to form his own camp after Gibbs learned that he had lied about taking a required background check, Gibbs said.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pasa ... 462?page=2

Pasadena Police Probe Possible Boot Camp Abuses

Page 2 of 2
PASADENA, Calif. October 28, 2011 (AP)

"He left and took 28 families and kids with him, with my shirts and some paperwork," Gibbs told The Associated Press on Friday.

Gibbs said he doubted that the video was shot during one of his camps.

"Those individuals (in the videos) belong to Sgt. McFarland's team. Those are his teammates," he said.

Although Gibbs uses some tire drills for strength training and does make youngsters drink a lot of water after long hikes, parents are always involved in the instruction and Gibbs said he has a policy against certain actions.

"You can't demean or haze the kid ... your goal is to motivate these kids, to inspire them, empower them," he said. "If that was the entire program, I don't see where the kids are learning anything."

"Do they need to be forced to drink water until they vomit? I don't think so," he said.

A bill introduced earlier this month by Rep. George Miller, D-Richmond, would require training for boot camp staff. It also would require boot camp instructors to report child abuse and create a federal database where parents can check the credentials of boot camp operators.

"This legislation will help put an end to these horrific abuses that put the lives of too many children in jeopardy," Miller said in a statement.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_19212486

Pasadena cops open boot camp probe
By Brian Charles, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/27/2011 11:17:32 PM PDT

PASADENA - The Police Department launched a criminal investigation Thursday into a pair of videos depicting children being taunted and forced to throw up while participating in a Pasadena-based boot camp.

The 2009 videos, obtained by this newspaper and shared on its website, have been viewed by officials at the Police Department. Cmdr. Darryl Qualls said detectives will question Kelvin "Sgt. Mac" McFarland, one of the adults participating in the camp.

McFarland already faces charges of kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment, extortion and unlawful use of a badge stemming from a separate incident.

"Looking at the video we can only see McFarland, so we will start the investigation with McFarland," Qualls said. "Based on what the newspaper published and what we saw, that's where the investigation starts."

Victor Gordo, who represents District 5 on the City Council, said he was highly disturbed by the videos.

"I would certainly not subject my son or daughter or any child I know to this type of activity," he said.

Gordo described the videos as the degradation of children being masked as discipline.

"The short clips that I reviewed appeared to be more of a situation of intimidation and humiliation appearing to be employed under the guise of physical activity and discipline," Gordo said.

Sources close to both boot camps said at least one of the adult instructors seen on video was an active member
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of the Marine Corps. Several calls to the Marine Corps' San Diego press office were not returned.

McFarland, who operates Family First Growth Camp in Pasadena, can be seen in both videos.

In one, he is seen screaming at a boy who was carrying a tire around his neck. The boy falls to ground in tears.

In the other video, McFarland encourages children to drink water to the point of vomiting.

Keith "Sarge" Gibbs, who operated Sarge's Community Base/Commit II Achieve Boot Camp, can be heard on one of the videos.

In 2009, McFarland worked for Gibbs. He was later fired when, Gibbs said, McFarland failed a background check and questions arose about his tactics.

Both men deny being at the camp during the filming of either video.

Qualls said police cannot be sure that Gibbs was present during the taping.

"I can't tell whose voice that is on the video," Qualls said. "It's best to do the investigation and ask the questions."

The videos appear to have been shot at the Firestone Boy Scout Reservation, a popular retreat for Boy Scout troops.

Firestone Camp Ranger Matt Halsig said he is familiar with both Gibbs' and McFarland's boot camps.

McFarland's camp was banned from Firestone before Halsig's arrival for reasons the ranger said he was not familiar with.

But as critics pounce on boot camps for what they see as extreme tactics, Halsig defended the instructors urging the children to gorge themselves on water.

"Unfortunately, if you are not familiar with first-aid tactics, you should be not making assumptions," Halsig said. "Unfortunately, if that person is dehydrated, you have to pump fluids in them and sometimes they throw up."

Halsig said he knows Gibbs personally. He defended the actions he has seen at Gibbs' camp.

"From Firestone's perspective, we have not witnessed anything that is not consistent with tough love," Halsig said.

The videos prompted reactions from City Hall to the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.

"The behavior described in reports of these videos is appalling, and if accurate, those responsible should never again be entrusted with the care of young people," Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, said in a statement.

"It also reinforces the need for greater oversight of so-called `boot camps,' which have all too often been the subject of unsafe and unscrupulous conduct."

McFarland was arrested on May 27 and charged with kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment, extortion and unlawful use of a badge. The charges stem from a May 16 incident during which police say McFarland handcuffed a truant Pasadena Unified School District high school student and extorted money from her family.

Gibbs was kicked off Pasadena Unified campuses when questions were raised about the harshness of the tactics employed at his boot camp.

An expert in the field of juvenile development questioned the effectiveness of such tactics and pointed to a recent study to support her claim.

"We did a research study with 1,300 serious felony offenders. These were kids who committed aggravated assault and in some cases murder. We followed them for seven years and conducted interviews every six months," said Elizabeth Cauffman, a professor of psychology and social behavior at UC Irvine. "We did not find any support for the notion that incarceration in harsh setting promotes the development of self-control or responsibility. And those are the things that are asserted by the proponents of boot camps."

Rep. George Miller, D-Richmond, a longtime boot-camp critic, introduced a bill earlier this month that calls for closer oversight of the camps.

This marks the third time in four years that Miller has introduced such a bill. This version calls for staff training, makes boot-camp instructors mandatory reporters of child abuse and creates a federal database parents can use to check operators' credentials.

"Without regulations and enforcement, this profitable industry will continue to have actors that present unacceptable risks to the children they serve. It is unacceptable that as each year passes without adequate oversight, more children suffer," Miller said in a statement.

"This legislation will help put an end to these horrific abuses that put the lives of too many children in jeopardy. It has passed with bipartisan support in previous Congresses, and I hope my Republican colleagues will take swift action for congressional consideration soon."

While such regulations are outside of the purview of the City Council, Gordo said he supports ramped up oversight of the camps and the tactics used by instructors.

"What should be regulated is whether tactics such as these are appropriate when applied to young people," Gordo said.

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