With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Sheriff Watchdog Wants To Force Villanueva To Provide Access To Records About Alleged Deputy Harassment
Officers from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department guard an intersection outside the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2013. (Christopher Okula/KPCC)
()
L.A. County Inspector General Max Huntsman says obstruction by the Sheriff’s Department has prevented him from investigating complaints that deputies have harassed relatives of people killed by law enforcement. He’s asking county counsel to “initiate legal proceedings” to compel the department to provide access to body cam videos and other records.
In a report to the Board of Supervisors, Huntsman said he couldn’t comply with the board’s May 4 request that he build on an earlier investigation because Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s department repeatedly denied him access to databases that contain the footage and other documents.
Huntsman’s office has spoken with several family members of people who were killed by deputies; they allege harassment that includes deputies repeatedly driving by their homes and following them in patrol cars.
The watchdog is also recommending that all complaints of deputy harassment be forwarded to his office for monitoring and possible investigation.
Support for LAist comes from
In May, the National Lawyers Guild of L.A. released its own report detailing claims of “aggressive and continuous” harassment of two families by deputies.
County counsel and the Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist