The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department unveiled its new anti-law-enforcement-gang policy on Wednesday.
The new policy prohibits joining or encouraging others to join a deputy gang or hate group. It also makes clear that LASD employees must participate in investigations into allegations of gang membership and that charges could be filed if warranted.
“Our employees are dedicated professionals who maintain the highest standards of integrity and service,” Sheriff Robert Luna said in a news release. “While I recognize the issue of law enforcement gangs has only involved a small fraction of the Department, I also acknowledge that this long-standing issue must be addressed appropriately to maintain the community’s trust in us. The tireless efforts of our team to move the culture forward, strengthen our reputation, and eliminate any lingering shadows of mistrust are crucial to our public safety mission.”
The existence of such gangs, long denied by Luna’s predecessor Alex Villanueva, has become more and more evident as investigations have progressed.
For instance, a former undersheriff reportedly had a gang tattoo, and a former deputy claimed he was fired for refusing to join a gang.
