California's Department of Justice has just announced a civil investigation into the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for potential civil rights violations.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is the largest in the nation with over 18,000 deputies and staff members. In recent months, the department has come under scrutiny as to whether or not its policing procedures violate civil rights. The state's Attorney General, Xavier Becerra explains, “The investigation will seek to determine whether LASD has engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing.”
The investigation comes after an accumulation of allegations throughout the years that accuse the Sheriff's Department of misconduct including excessive force, retaliation, illegal shootings, and abuse of jail inmates. In 2013, a case involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sheriff's Department resulted in the arrest of 18 Los Angeles County deputies. They were accused of attempting to mislead a federal investigation into the alleged abuse occurring in the jail system. The then-Sheriff Lee Baca was convicted and sentenced to three years in federal prison.
The civil investigation also comes in response to an absence of comprehensive oversight in the department's procedures and operations. Community members have called for an outside investigation into the department's Sherrif, Alex Villanueva. However, Villanueva consistently declined attempts at oversight by the Board of Supervisors.
The Attorney General shared in a statement, “There are serious concerns and reports that accountability and adherence to legitimate policing practices have lapsed at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. We are undertaking this investigation to determine if LASD has violated the law or the rights of the people of Los Angeles County.”
The civil investigation has been seen by many as an attempt to address the systemic failures of the sheriff's department. The Department of Justice explains, “As opposed to a criminal investigation into an individual incident or incidents, a pattern or practice investigation typically works to identify and, as appropriate, ultimately address potentially systemic violations of the constitutional rights of the community at large by a law enforcement agency.”
In response to the investigation, Sheriff Villanueva shared in a statement of his own through Twitter, “I look forward to this non-criminal 'pattern and practice investigation.’ Our department may finally have an impartial objective assessment of our operations and recommendations on any areas we can improve our services to the community.”
Villanueva adds, “During my administration, we have routinely requested the State Office of the Attorney General to monitor our investigations and we will provide immediate access to all information in our possession. We are eager to get this process started in the interest of transparency and accountability.”
The California Attorney General is also in the running as Biden's nominee to be the leader of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The investigation will continue even if there is a new attorney general appointed. California Governor Gavin Newsom will be tasked with appointing the new attorney general.
