Investigation Into Deputy Gangs a ‘Well-Rehearsed Political Stunt’: LA Sheriff
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LOS ANGELES—Witnesses testified May 24 that so-called “deputy gangs” are still active in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) during an LA County Civilian Oversight Commission special hearing May 24. But LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva quickly condemned the proceeding as “wildly unconstitutional and bizarre theatrics.”
The special hearing opened with witness testimony alleging that deputies have formed gangs that set up “work slowdowns,” or interruptions in the workflow, by not answering calls in a timely manner, among other things, to discipline colleagues who fail to fall in line.
The commission announced a full-out investigation of the deputy gangs earlier this year, although there were no judges present during Tuesday’s hearing. Villanueva was invited to the hearing, but he was not in attendance.
One of the witnesses, a current deputy of the East Los Angeles division, spoke by telephone anonymously about one of the internal gangs called “Banditos.” The witness said the work slowdowns occurred as early as last summer which resulted in a slower response time to calls.
Roughly 12 to 15 deputies are tattooed members of the Banditos at the East LA Station, according to witness testimonies, with an additional 10 to 15 considered associates.
Villanueva said the hearing was a “scripted and well-rehearsed political stunt” to “influence the outcome of the election.”
“I was the first and only sheriff in fifty years to take positive action, including firing, disciplining, and transferring employees found responsible for misconduct,” Villanueva wrote on Twitter May 24. “On two separate occasions, claims of deputy gangs have been thrown out of court for lack of evidence.”
Another witness, Sheriff’s Lt. Larry Waldie, admitted to being a member of one of the alleged deputy gangs called “Gladiators” when he was a deputy at the Compton station. He told the panel he had run-ins with another tattooed gang, the “Executioners,” when he became the division’s captain.
Witnesses also said members of these deputy gangs would celebrate deputy shootings.
But Villanueva disputed these claims.
“The term ‘deputy gang’ has become a racist dog whistle, a fact-free straw man argument designed for political purposes and financial gain. If anyone has real evidence of misconduct, please share it so the LASD can take appropriate lawful action,” Villanueva wrote.