One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Judge Blocks Inspector General Investigation Into Deputy Gangs In LA Sheriff’s Department
(At left) An image of the Banditos logo, which is used for tattoos. (At right) Activists packed a 2019 sheriff's town hall at Garfield High School in East L.A. Lisa Vargas (c) is the mother of Anthony Vargas, who was killed by sheriff's deputies on Aug. 12, 2018.
(
Frank Stoltze
/
LAist
)
Topline:
In a blow to efforts by L.A. County’s inspector general to investigate deputy gangs within the sheriff’s department, a judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the IG from asking 35 deputies to reveal any gang tattoos they may have. The deputies union argued it would have been an unreasonable search and would have violated California labor law.
The backstory: In May, Inspector General Max Huntsman demanded the deputies cooperate with his inquiry into the Banditos and Executioners deputy gangs by revealing any tattoos they had and answering a series of questions. He argued a new state law that bans law enforcement gangs required the deputies to cooperate. In addition, Sheriff Robert Luna ordered the deputies to cooperate. Deputy gangs have been a fixture at the L.A. Sheriff’s Department for more than half a century.
The union’s argument: The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs argued the searches would have violated the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable searches and the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination. ALADS also argued the county was required to meet and confer with the labor union before proceeding with what amounted to a new condition of employment for its members. Luna had threatened discipline if the deputies did not cooperate.
The inspector general’s reaction: “I’m disappointed that deputy gangs will remain for now, and I expect the county will appeal,” Huntsman said. “My office will continue to work toward the day when the Sheriff’s Department is no longer above the law.”
The upshot: The judge’s decision to issue a preliminary injunction means he believes ALADS is likely to prevail at trial.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
