The family of murdered Palmdale deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer filed a government claim, on Monday, November 27th against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the County of Los Angeles citing forced overtime creating chronic exhaustion which created a known safety hazard with Ryan unable to be cognizant to properly protect himself. The family is seeking $20 million in damages. The claim is the first step before a lawsuit can be filed in state court.
The Current Report broke the story on social media.
The claim was hand delivered to the Palmdale station and the County of Los Angeles stating the following:
“On or about September 16, 2023, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer exited Palmdale Sheriff Station’s parking lot, drove west on E. Ave. Q, in a marked patrol vehicle. While stopped at a stoplight, Suspect Kevin Salazar, drove alongside Ryan’s driver’s side of the car and through his open window, Salazar shot Deputy Clinkunbroomer in the head, killing him. But the murder could have been prevented, but for the intentional actions of the LACSD and Sheriff Luna’s intentional actions in forcing LASD employees to work such massive overtime (in violation of past MOU’s) that created a known safety hazard, making such a tragedy foreseeable, and preventable but for the defendants actions.
Due to consistent, historic executive mismanagement by the LASD, deputy vacancies average 20% (2,000 deputies). LASD supervisors have mandated Palmdale Station patrol deputies to work overtime. Ryan was forced to work 100 + hours of overtime each month. As a direct and legal result of the intentional actions of the defendants, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer (like other Palmdale Deputies) was physically and chronically exhausted, suffering from fatigue each month.
Sheriff Luna and the Board of Supervisors knew of the dangers to their employees as a result of intentionally forcing overtime, but intentionally pursued such actions in conscious disregard of the rights and safety of deputies. The result is that the Sheriff’s Department knew or should have known that deputies would be targeted for execution and needed sufficient rest in order to avoid foreseeable tragedies of death. Disregarding the safety of his troops, Sheriff Luna continues to force his deputies work mind-numbing overtime resulting in Ryan’s death and the likely death of other deputies. This Government Claim and subsequent lawsuit seeks justice for the family and to save lives of other deputies.
Other claims include: The Bane Act, and related civil rights claims under 42 USC section 1983. Wrongful death Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.”
Sheriff Robert Luna was named in the government claim as a “Public employee causing the injury, damage or loss…”.
SUSTAINED IMPACT
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was shaken to its core with the tragic loss of four LASD past and present personnel in a 24-hour period.
An unprecedented event in the department’s over 150 year history bringing the suicide total at the Sheriff’s Department to nine this year.
The wife of the fourth victim, found on Tuesday, November 7th, allegedly confronted Luna and Chief of Custody Division, Sergio Aloma, at the hospital blaming the demands of an under supported and understaffed department for her husband’s death.
The Department is currently down approximately 1400 officers forcing current personnel to work mandatory overtime shifts.
Two of the four suicide victims worked custody where personnel is mandated 8 overtime spots per month which amounts to two shifts per week, per person on top of their 40 hour shifts and commute time.
Besides being dangerous for line personnel, it is also a sizable waste of county funds, in that personnel are required to be paid time and a half for the overtime worked. In custody alone, the annual overtime cost is in the millions of dollars.
Under former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, overtime restriction was lifted from 96 to 120 hours per calendar month and has not changed under the new administration.
Current department policy states personnel shall not work more than 12 days straight. However, sources say even that restriction is cast aside due to current suffocating requirements for personnel to work more overtime than what is practical.
A department member sent this eye-opening letter to The Current Report detailing the mental health crisis that exists at the LASD and the lack of support for the rank and file:
“In the wake of three tragic suicides within a mere 24 hours, the silence from Sheriff Luna and his team has been deafening. Instead of taking swift action to address the underlying issues contributing to this devastating epidemic within law enforcement, Luna has been preoccupied with media tours and empty rhetoric, attempting to salvage his public image. This lack of genuine concern and failure to advocate for meaningful change is both disheartening and concerning.
One would expect a leader in Sheriff Luna’s position to prioritize the well-being of their deputies and take immediate steps to address the mental health challenges they face, considering that was a mantra of his campaign. However, his actions suggest a troubling pattern of prioritizing optics over tangible solutions. Rather than engaging in substantive dialogue and implementing necessary reforms, Luna’s efforts have been focused on managing damage control and maintaining a facade of competence.
Even more disconcerting is the lack of action from Dr. Seetal, the head of the Psychological Services Bureau. As a key figure responsible for addressing mental health concerns within the department, Dr. Seetal’s inaction speaks volumes. Advocacy and meaningful change should be at the forefront of his agenda, yet he has fallen into the same trap of superficial gestures and empty promises.
It is time for Sheriff Luna to acknowledge the gravity of the situation at hand. Behind the smoke and mirrors lies a serious epidemic of mental health issues and suicide within law enforcement. Deputies, who put their lives on the line every day, deserve more than lip service and photo ops. They are in desperate need of real relief and a leader who will advocate tirelessly on their behalf. In a crisis of this magnitude, their combined failure to act is not just a missed opportunity but a dereliction of duty!
The lack of mental health and suicide awareness within law enforcement is a pressing issue that cannot be swept under the rug. It demands immediate attention, comprehensive reforms, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of those who serve and protect our communities. It is time for Sheriff Luna and Dr. Seetal to stop the charade and demonstrate true leadership by taking concrete steps to address this crisis.
The deputies are waiting. They are waiting for relief, waiting for a leader, and waiting for someone who will stand up and advocate for them. It is time for Sheriff Luna and Dr. Seetal to step up, prioritize the mental health of their deputies, and work towards creating a supportive and resilient law enforcement community. Only then can we begin to address the underlying issues and move towards a future where mental health is taken seriously within the ranks of law enforcement.”
The lasting effects of a crumbling infrastructure at LASD are being felt on many levels, resulting in a significant loss of personnel via early retirement, voluntary transfers to other agencies, suicide – and now with the litigation filed by Clinkunbroomer’s family – even murder.
City, county and state officials, representatives from local law enforcement, CalTrans and stakeholders, met on November 14th at Malibu City Hall for the Emergency PCH Task Force Meeting to discuss the implementation of immediate emergency safety strategies on PCH after the October 17th crash that killed four Pepperdine students.
While the meeting started with positive, forward momentum, the result of the meeting was a cautionary message of the many roadblocks in the pursuit of PCH safety driven by incompetence and ego-driven political maneuvering.
The meeting follows an emergency ordinance designed to expedite safety on PCH, passed by Malibu City Council on November 13th.
“SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY”
State Assembly woman Jacqui Irwin opened the meeting with a moment of silence for Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams, who attended Seaver College at Pepperdine. The young women perished as a result of a speeding vehicle driven by Fraser Bohm, 22, of Malibu, that crashed into multiple vehicles, one of which flipped and crushed the four young women.
Senator Ben Allen discussed the tragic deaths and a recent crash involving Malibu resident Lance Simmens who was recently injured, and expected to recover, while cycling on PCH.
Allen also spoke of the horrific crash that killed Emily Shane in 2010, while he was a member of the school board.
Thirteen year old Emily Rose Shane was struck and killed walking home along the right shoulder of PCH near Heathercliff Drive. Sina Khankhanian, then 26, was driving a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer erratically for several miles on PCH prompting numerous 911 calls detailing near misses due to his reckless driving before killing Shane at 5:11 p.m.
Since Shane’s tragic death, 58 others have been killed on PCH.
Senator Allen explained the potential for the portion PCH that runs through Malibu, to benefit from legislation AB43 passed in 2021, allowing for the lowering of speed limits on state highways.
According to Allen, CalTrans is currently revising its vehicle code to comply with AB43 by which local jurisdictions can apply for “Safety Corridor Designation” under the bill.
“At Caltrans, safety is our top priority” Caltrans Director Tony Tavares posted on Twitter on November 7th from the California Traffic Safety Summit hosted by the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the American Automobile Association (AAA).
“Gathering with our safety partners is a big part of how we keep that message front and center. Each of us has the same goal – to make sure all CA travelers get to where they need to go – safely.” Tavares said.
However, CalTrans has consistently pushed back the progress of numerous projects designed to improve PCH safety.
For example, the Signal Synchronization Project, which is designed to control the flow of traffic and mitigate speeding on PCH, took seven years to get CalTrans approval and will likely take two years or more to complete.
During the PCH Task Force meeting, Deputy district director Rafael Molina cautioned the possibility of AB43’s lowering of speed limits on PCH would be accomplished only “if there is an opportunity.”
If being the operative word and a disappointing one when discussing the urgency of implementing safety measures, specifically the reduction in speed on PCH, to prevent tragedies like the one that took four lives last month.
POLITICS PLAYS A ROLE IN PILOT PROGRAM
On October 13, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill AB645 into effect, a new state law allowing a pilot program in six cities, including Los Angeles, Glendale and Long Beach, to install speed cameras.
While PCH is considered one of the most dangerous stretches of highways in the country, it was excluded from being considered for the pilot program due to political reasons according to Senator Allen, prompting he and Assemblywoman Irwin to co-author a similar bill “narrowly tailored” to PCH. Allen and Irwin plan to introduce it to the state legislature sometime in January.
Allen promised he and Irwin would use “saavy and tactics” to push the bill through and potentially secure an emergency proclamation if the bill is passed.
Malibu City Council declared a Local Emergency on Nov. 13, 2023, aimed at addressing the risks to public safety of dangerous, illegal, reckless, and/or distracted driving on Pacific Coast Highway in the City.
The city is currently working on strengthening the ordinance legally to have more control over implementing the additional safety measures on PCH without having to rely on CalTrans, who has impeded – even stonewalled – projects in the past.
The City allocates 28.2% of its General Fund, or $16.4 million, to public safety.
To date, the City has invested about $39 million in traffic safety projects on PCH, including safety measures to prevent vehicle crashes and intersection improvements.
An additional $8 million has been set aside for future safety projects.
PRIORITY IS HIGHWAY PATROL
The most reassuring takeaway from the meeting was the city negotiations with CHP to secure an additional three patrol cars beginning in January, with a goal of six total by July of 2024, bolstering much needed additional law enforcement presence on PCH.
Securing CHP services will guarantee additional paid coverage with a primary focus on traffic safety. Something the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department/Lost Hills Station has been unable to do previously under the questionable and unreliable command of Captain Jennifer Seetoo.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Addressing Captain Seetoo at the meeting, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath commended her “We know you are working closely with the city”.
Unfortunately, Horvath didn’t get the memo detailing the intentional communication breakdown between the station and the city regarding the press conference being held at the Lost Hills Station to update the media and the community regarding the details of the quadruple fatal crash.
Captain Seetoo purposely excluded city officials from Malibu where the devastating crash occurred, showing her level of respect for a contract city that pays LASD for services within the city limits to the tune of $15 million dollars a year.
Malibu Mayor Steve Uhring was outraged City officials were not invited to address the monumental tragedy occurring within their city limits missing an opportunity to address members of the press and the communities affected by the tragedy.
“I was not getting information from the city staff or the Sheriff…we have some communication issues that we need to learn how to deal with with the Sheriff” Mayor Steve Uhring told Malibu Daily News.
Email communication was sent from the Lost Hills Station to the City of Malibu approximately seven minutes before the press conference was to occur at the Lost Hills Station, 19 miles away from Malibu City Hall.
Capt. Seetoo however did manage to give ample notice to multiple PCH safety activists she has aligned with to attend the high profile press conference.
Malibu Daily News was notified by sources at LASD HQ at 9 a.m. that morning a press conference would be occurring at noon.
Captain Seetoo shamelessly plugged (her words verbatim) the Lost Hills Station social media who had been posting relentlessly the speeders cited by deputies, with many of the cars being impounded.
This 180 degree turnaround in enforcement was met with criticism by many residents on social media with the general consensus “Where was the Sheriff’s Department before these young women were killed?”
In 2019, communication was a critical component Captain Seetoo, then a lieutenant at Lost Hills, was in charge of at the station during the first fire season after the devastating Woolsey Fire.
On Thursday, October 10th, 2019, the Wendy Fire, was reported on social media.
Unbeknownst to locals, the efforts to stop the blaze were successful upon its approach to Point Mugu State Park. However, with flames visible in the distance by Decker Canyon residents before 10 p.m., and no guidance from authorities – specifically the Lost Hills Station, or the City of Malibu, as to wind direction and preparation for residents, those living in the canyon with large animals were not taking any chances and making plans to voluntary evacuate on their own.
The Wendy Fire, October, 2019.
Anxiety reached a fever pitch with residents posting on social media their concerns over the flames visible from the Wendy Fire, and smoke filling the canyons from different directions. The City of Malibu sent out only one alert at 8:23 p.m., and no further updates as flames became more visible from canyons looking down the coastline.
Lt. Seetoo was contacted multiple times regarding updates as there was no information from the station posted on social media. She stated there were no fires in the canyon and that the smoke was coming from fires burning in the San Fernando Valley. Malibu Daily News strongly suggested to Lt. Seetoo that the station needs to post updates to calm residents who were anticipating evacuations based on the smoke filling the air in the canyons.
After three solid days of failing to update the community, photos of the station’s Twitter account was sent directly to then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva. The posts clearly showed the blatant failure to communicate with residents during a critical time and the first fire season after Woolsey. Shortly after, Lt. Seetoo was transferred to the West Hollywood station.
Even more startling is that Captain Seetoo was Acting Captain of the station during the Woolsey Fire and had full knowledge and hands-on experience witnessing the magnitude and the destructions these wildfires cause, and yet she still failed to take control of the situation during the first fire season after Woolsey.
Villanueva took the issue very seriously and mandated station personnel to go through social media training. In 2020, Lt. Chuck Becerra was promoted to Captain taking command of the Lost Hills station. Becerra contacted Malibu Daily News to help facilitate introductions with key members in the community who could help with emergency preparedness and assistance developing a better overall messaging strategy to reach more residents during a disaster or critical incident.
A comprehensive social media plan was devised including tagging all local media at the end of every emergency post to ensure the messaging was reached as many residents as possible (the same strategy was also suggested to Villanueva for LASD HQ social media. An internal power struggle stopped it dead in its dead tracks, which is unfortunate as it would have been viewed as an olive branch to the press which was much needed at the time).
The strategy was successfully implemented at the station level and continued until The Current Report and Malibu Daily News articles exposed Sheriff Luna’s failures at the department and Captain Seetoo’s failures under command of the Lost Hills station. Shortly after the articles were published, The Local Malibu and Malibu Daily News social media accounts were excluded from all Lost Hills Station emergency posts.
Including the post notifying the community of the October 17th crash that killed the four young women.
BEFORE
AFTER
A purposeful (and retaliatory) act, not in the best interests of the safety of the community and contrary to the statement Captain Seetoo made at the PCH Task Force meeting:
“We must do this together as a community. We must do this together to save lives.” she said
ARRIVE ALIVE
During the meeting, Captain Seetoo talked about the social media campaign addressing speeders and reckless drivers which includes the hashtags #ArriveAlive and #SlowDown
A few days after the crash on PCH, Malibu Daily News was notified about a post on social media for a Malibu Search and Rescue fundraiser. The post showed the canning process of a special edition beer with the Malibu Search and Rescue logo and custom artwork of LASD Rescue 5 helicopter promoting the collaboration between Malibu Search & Rescue and a local alcohol company.
Malibu Search and Rescue is under the command of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and reports directly to Captain Seetoo at the Lost Hills Station. One of their primary functions is to rescue victims from rural or difficult areas to access. Most rescues are performed in the Santa Monica Mountains as a result of vehicles over the side of the canyons – many of the incidents are alcohol related.
This collaboration should have stopped at the station level, by the Captain. Instead it made its way to the canning process and all over social media. An embarrassment for the law enforcement agency tasked with arresting drivers under the influence.
Upon learning of the inappropriate collaboration and timing of this collaboration, Malibu Daily News reached out to Sheriff Luna, Division Chief Dennis Kneer and copied Captain Seetoo.
The Malibu Search and Rescue fundraiser was planned for the weekend just days after the crash that killed the Pepperdine students, at Malibu Creek State Park located on Malibu Canyon/Las Virgenes Road. The fundraiser was to include a beer garden, serving the beer with Malibu Search and Rescue insignia on the cans effectively allowing people to consume alcohol and leave the event traveling on the canyon road intoxicated, potentially get into an accident or worse.
A complaint was filed and the beer garden was effectively cancelled.
SAFETY AND SUPPORT
Even more concerning is the line staff at the Lost Hills station who are overburdened and feeling under supported by Captain Seetoo.
This makes it very very difficult to get the quality of service the city pays for, let alone additional resources to improve safety on PCH. While Captain Seetoo boasted about the increase in citations and impounds since the crash, residents are weary the enforcement will be sustainable… and rightly so.
In a recent review by the union that represents LASD deputies, these were some of the comments made about Captain’s Seetoo’s leadership at the station:
“Too busy trying to please the cities and get promoted. Doesn’t know or care about her deputies.”
“The Captain caters to contract cities which causes a strain on the line. We are running short, yet people are constantly being pulled for other details/teams.”
The recommendation: “Support your line deputies doing their job and don’t play downtown politics. Captain Seetoo is good for morale but not all of her Lieutenants are. Good morale breeds good policing!”
Unfortunately, the Lieutenants have more interaction with deputies than than the Captain does, and failing to address that means she is failing the line staff. They are the ones tasked with protecting the community day in and day out.
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME
Given the monumental hurdles presented at the meeting, including potential political hurdles passing a bill in order to get the speed cameras, the non-committal attitude and roadblocks (literally) from CalTrans including lowering speed limits, and the lack of resources and leadership at LASD both at the station and LASD HQ under Sheriff Luna, there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, only smoke and mirrors.
Unless City council can get some serious legal teeth behind the emergency ordinance passed on November 13th which will allow the city more control over implementing safety strategies on PCH, expect more of the same.
In 1997, the LA METRO Board decided to eliminate their own police force in favor of contracting law enforcement services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department. The personnel from the disbanded force were split between the two agencies, with 60% going to LAPD, and the remaining 40% to the Sheriff’s Department.
Since then, the contract has been expanded to include the Long Beach Police Department, which patrols sections of the METRO line that traverses their jurisdiction.
I thought the agreement was a bad idea back then, and think it is an even greater boondoggle today.
As written, the contract called for the LASD to absorb a multitude of administrative and other costs, which to my mind were too high a price to pay. As I recall, then-sheriff Lee Baca was a proponent of the move, apparently more as a way to expand the Sheriff’s Department than to add any meaningful value to public transportation.
Over the ensuing years, the METRO line has come under increasingly harsh criticism for the dramatic rise in crime and the public perception that the system is patently unsafe for riders. To their credit, the staff of the LASD Transit Services Bureau (the bureau responsible for manning and patrolling the system) has done what it can to make the system safer.
Unfortunately, management directives from the METRO Board have made it increasingly difficult for law enforcement to do their jobs properly.
Back in March of this year, the METRO Board made it crystal clear they are angling to once again re-create their own police agency. As part of this plan, they voted to allow METRO CEO Stephanie Wiggins the authority to renew the law enforcement contract on an annual basis for up to a 3-year period. It is during this period that METRO will evaluate how to plan and fund their new agency. As such, the already tenuous relationship between METRO and the LASD has become even more strained.
It is with this in mind that I believe it is high time that the LASD take the steps necessary to terminate their involvement in the METRO contract as soon as humanly possible. I believe that under the contract requirements, the LASD needs to give METRO 6 months’ notice of their intent to terminate. I say do it now. There is absolutely no reason not to make this preemptive move.
What will this do for the LASD? Other than to get out of an untenable, abusive relationship, the immediate benefit would be that the department would be able to transfer 330 personnel, 290 being sworn peace officers, to other patrol stations throughout the county. Imagine, having the ability to infuse high quality, patrol trained personnel directly into line spots to help alleviate the suffocating shortages of personnel in patrol stations, countywide. There would be no need to recruit and train these 290 sworn personnel. With recruitment costs averaging $125K per deputy, it is a huge up-front savings.
This is one of those situations where the LASD needs to just rip off the band aid and move on. It has become increasingly clear that members of the METRO Board are anti-cop and anti-LASD. Dump them now and leave them to their own devices. There is no reason for the department to hang around and wait for the inevitable.
On Black Friday, as shoppers are taking advantage of the holiday weekend sales at retailers nationwide, a large group of Pro-Palestinian protesters maneuvered through The Grove Shopping Center displaying a banner that read “No Business As Usual”.
Organizers of the “Shut it Down for Palestine” effort say the message behind the march is to “Make it clear that there will be no business as usual until Palestine is free,” according to the ANSWER Coalition.
The group issued the international call to action to boycott, disrupt and rally at commercial centers on Black Friday, Nov. 24.
Protesters at The Grove in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert in response to the protests:
“The LAPD’s objective is to ensure public safety for all, while facilitating the First Amendment rights of those peacefully demonstrating,” the department wrote on social media. “Equally the department will enforce the law when individuals engage in acts of violence.”
On Thanksgiving Day, The People’s City Council claimed responsibility for a protest which included igniting smoke bombs and splattering fake blood at the home of Michael Tuchin, a Los Angeles attorney and president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.
The group is now under investigation by LAPD for hate crimes.
The Peoples City Council, of whom DA George Gascon is aligned with, considering them “partners”, lists the group as official supporters on his anti-recall website “Stand With Gascon”.
DA Gascón has not made any statement regarding the attacks or the nature of his relationship with the group connected to the hate crimes.
Jonathan Hatami was the first candidate for District Attorney to come out with a statement denouncing the attacks and highlighting the relationship between Gascon and The People’s City Council.
Social media posts also highlighted the connection between The People’s City Council founder Ricci Sergienko and LA times owner Soon-Shiong’s daughter Nika.
*UPDATE 11/25/23, 7:39 AM
After much pressure from DA candidates and mayor Karen Bass releasing statements denouncing the hate crime against Turchin’s at his home in Brentwood, DA George Gascon made an official statement regarding the alleged hate crime:
“I am aware of the alleged hate crime that occurred yesterday in Brentwood. I’ve spoken with LAPD Chief Michel Moore and directed prosecutors in our Hate Crimes Unit to work with LAPD as they investigate this event. Hate will not be tolerated in LA County and anyone who engages in hate motivated criminal conduct will be aggressively prosecuted.”
Gascon did not address his current affiliation with the openly anti-semitic group.
A second Captain position has been implemented as part of a new command structure at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and is part of Sheriff Luna’s strategy to combat deputy gangs at “problem” stations.
In May, as part of a public hearing on Los Angeles County’s proposed $43 billion budget, Sheriff Robert Luna asked for funding to double up on captains at stations with issues related to department subgroups and cliques.
The first of a wave of assignments began in late October, which indicates Luna was reportedly given the green light to proceed with the new command structure.
“A NEW DAY”
On his 103rd day in office, Sheriff Luna appeared at his first Citizen’s Oversight Commission hearing after the Commission’s report on Deputy Gangs was released.
During his appearance Luna’s focus was to clear; appease the Board of Supervisors who adopted the commission’s recommendations to eradicate deputy gangs, sub groups or cliques from the department. The Board of Supervisors proclaimed “a new day” for the department by adopting the recommendations.
At no time during this hearing did Luna or the commission address the debilitating work conditions the rank and file were subjected to due to three previous years of George Floyd related anti-law enforcement environment and the defunding of the department under former Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The commission’s only concern was to be rid of the “cancer” that needed “to be excised” from the department (as written in the commission’s scathing report) focusing on a small percentage of personnel from a handful of stations rather than address the more critical needs of approximately 9000 overburdened, overworked deputies patrolling the streets on a daily basis. Overall safety was not a concern.
“PROBLEM” STATIONS
The beleaguered Palmdale and Lancaster stations were two of the first stations to initiate the new two-Captain station model.
In April, shortly after Sheriff Luna promised to “peel back the onion” with respect to deputy gangs at the first COC hearing he attended as Sheriff of L.A. County, one of the first moves made shortly after was the transfer of Palmdale Captain Ron Schaffer, who was quietly relocated to Pitchess Detention Center, widely known throughout the department as a less desirable assignment.
In his farewell email to station personnel, outgoing Palmdale Captain Ronald Shaffer informed them their new captain would be Acting Captain Joseph Fender. However, Fender’s promotion to Acting Captain at Palmdale Station never came to fruition. The command of Palmdale Station was placed in the hands of the station Operations Lieutenant, until Josh Bardon was promoted to Captain in September of this year.
The Palmdale and Lancaster stations have been under the watchful eye of the Department of Justice after a two-year investigation which led to a DOJ Consent Decree in 2015 for the unfair treatment of people of color, particularly those living in low-income subsidized housing.
In July, the Palmdale station came under fire after the resurrection of over an over year-old Use e incident, investigated under former Sheriff Alex Villanueva (who was running for re-election at the time) and current division Chief Dennis Kneer, who was also in the same position under the previous administration at the time the incident occurred. The incident followed a separate Use of Force incident involving Lancaster deputies at WinCo Foods which had gone viral on social media.
In September, after the Palmdale station had been without a permanent Captain for approximately four months and with a high profile UOF incident unearthed from the archives (a seemingly intentional move to prove the “holding deputies accountable” narrative Luna promised the Board of Supervisors and the COC), a seemingly controversial pick for Captain was promoted to command the station.
In 2021, Josh Bardon, a Detective Lieutenant at the time, was engaged in a widely known extramarital affair with a patrol deputy. Sources say Bardon was allegedly working multiple shifts per week as watch commander, effectively putting the patrol deputy he was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with, directly under his direct command.
Ultimately Bardon’s wife became aware of the relationship, ending their marriage, which she announced in her bio on her social media account.
Sources say Bardon took time off from the department on IOD (Injured on Duty) in 2022 and moved to Tennessee with his paramour. He returned this year to the station where the indiscretion occurred – and with a promotion – despite the clear violation of department policy, which continues as, according to sources, the deputy continues to be assigned to the station under Bardon’s command.
Bardon went through the selection process which included Chief Kneer, who allegedly had full knowledge of the inappropriate relationship. It is unknown whether the Palmdale City Manager was aware of the situation and has been contacted for comment.
On October 31st, the L.A. County Human Resources Department sent out the following memorandum to all county employees, including 18000 the sworn and civilian personnel at LASD regarding policy relating to nepotism and personal relationship decorum for county employees.
THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE?
The original two-captain model was instituted under then-Assistant Sheriff Terri McDonald, who had been brought in to oversee Custody Division (jails) and inmate programming.
The concept was to have an “operations” captain and “administrative” captain at the facilities although there were no issues to support the new command structure or the astronomical costs associated with it.
The first wave of two-captain assignments under McDonald went to Men’s Central Jail and other custody facilities.
The average cost of each captain, with salary and employee benefits, runs about $500,000 per year and typically requires their own operations staff, which includes secretaries, clerk typists, Operations Lieutenants, Operations Sergeants, and an Operations Deputy.
“Regarding the implementation of the two-Captain policy for what the Sheriff considers to be ‘problem stations’, how about addressing the real issue instead? Here’s a unique thought, how about replacing the underperforming Captain with one with better leadership skills? It’s a win-win. Not only does the facility/station get a stronger leader, the county save millions of dollars in the process.” said retired Captain Mike Bornman.
With each Captain running approximately $500,000 a year, plus support staff, and a total of 10 Captains either currently in mix or reported to be coming in the near future, the cost could easily add up to$10 million dollars.
Luna asked for funding for 1100 deputies in May, however, according to sources, the department is down more than 1400 deputies and counting with many retiring or leaving early under the crippling conditions existing currently.
Retired and active personnel have made more solid suggestions to alleviate some of the burdens of the rank and file than the top heavy two-Captain command structure.
For instance, adding field sergeants would be more productive helping with issues out in the field where most of the issues occur and provide more support at the rank and file level.
On a similar note, as with any organization, it’s all in who you know. Many promotions are made for reasons other than the actual qualifications of a candidate, rather than their ability to be an effective leader.
For instance, one newly promoted Captain, her first week in, recently told her staff going forward her schedule would be a four 10-hour day schedule effectively giving her Friday, Saturday and Sunday off, with full knowledge of the exhaustive demands of her line staff, the rank and file patrolling the streets of LA County.
Where is the Commander to re-direct and supervise the Captain on her being available for her constituents and her staff Monday through Friday? As a new Captain she should be embracing what it means to be in command of the station, especially with no previous experience. Allowing her to make her own schedule as a probationary Captain leads to lazy and self-serving leadership which ultimately will not be effective at any station, let alone the “problem stations” and it sends an inconsistent message to the rank and file deputies.
Ultimately, doubling down on Captains is costly and counterproductive and exacerbates longstanding issues plaguing the department.
Nas realidades modernas, os estabelecimentos de jogos virtuais estão ganhando cada vez mais popularidade, oferecendo aos usuários um método inovador e aceitável de diversão em jogos. Com o aumento da inovação electrónica e das comunicações sem fios, os casinos electrónicos tornaram-se disponíveis para uma vasta gama de consumidores, proporcionando uma experiência de jogo equivalente a visitar verdadeiros clubes de jogo. Isto abre perspectivas para jogos de azar a qualquer hora e em qualquer lugar, tornando-o muito atraente para novos participantes. um grande número de artigos sobre casinos online confiáveis em Portugal https://znaki.fm/pt/casinos/ fornecidos no Znaki portal de informações .FM. Com uma vasta gama de jogos, desde slot machines tradicionais a jogos de mesa e agentes reais, e a capacidade de utilizar uma variedade de estruturas financeiras, os casinos online oferecem uma experiência de jogo diversificada para atender a diferentes gostos e preferências.
Do ponto de vista económico, os casinos online têm um impacto significativo no dinheiro do estado. Criam vastas receitas através de uma cobrança fiável e fiscal, o que traz investimento para as finanças de muitos países. Além disso, o nicho de jogos de azar na Internet estimula o desenvolvimento técnico, inclusive no segmento de software e segurança de dados. Porém, vale ressaltar que o reconhecimento dos cassinos virtuais também cria questões específicas relacionadas ao jogo responsável e à regulamentação desta área, o que estabelece para os governos a ideia de equilíbrio entre vantagens financeiras e responsabilidades coletivas. É necessário conceber e implementar ações eficazes para proteger os utilizadores e prevenir a dependência do jogo, especificamente entre grupos vulneráveis de residentes. No geral, os jogos de azar online representam um segmento em rápido crescimento do nicho de jogos de azar que tem um impacto significativo no ambiente económico global e na compreensão do público, proporcionando oportunidades de ganhos de ponta e potenciais benefícios financeiros para países e indivíduos.
Critério
Cassino On-line
Casinos reais
Aspecto social
Interação social limitada, embora haja chats e jogos ao vivo
Comunicação direta com jogadores e equipe, ambiente social
Disponibilidade
Disponível 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana, você pode jogar em qualquer lugar do mundo
Horário de funcionamento limitado, presença física necessária
Apostas mínimas
Muitas vezes abaixo, jogos com depósitos mínimos estão disponíveis
Normalmente mais alto devido a custos operacionais mais elevados
Recursos do jogo
Grande variedade de jogos, incluindo variantes raras e exclusivas
Seleção limitada, depende do tamanho do cassino
Códigos promocionais e promoções
Vários bônus e promoções para jogadores
Os bônus geralmente são limitados a programas de fidelidade
Sistemas de pagamento
Variedade de sistemas de pagamento eletrônico e criptomoedas
O blackjack online nos casinos online em Portugal ocupa uma das posições de liderança entre os jogos de casino devido ao seu carácter estratégico e relativa clareza das regras. Este jogo, também conhecido como “vinte e um”, é muito famoso entre os jogadores portugueses. Fascina tanto jogadores iniciantes quanto jogadores experientes com sua beleza e a capacidade de usar diferentes abordagens. Os casinos online em Portugal oferecem muitos tipos de blackjack online, incluindo versões standard e modernas, tornando o jogo interessante para uma vasta gama de entusiastas do jogo. Além disso, o blackjack é conhecido pelas suas grandes probabilidades de ganhar em comparação com outros jogos de casino, o que o torna especialmente lucrativo para os entusiastas do jogo.
A aba Live Dealer Blackjack é uma característica importante dos casinos online portugueses, oferecendo aos entusiastas do jogo a oportunidade de mergulhar no espírito de um casino progressivo. O entretenimento ao vivo com apresentadores ao vivo proporciona uma experiência de jogo mais animada e envolvente. O blackjack ao vivo é famoso pelos seus excelentes gráficos, bom som e pela capacidade de falar com dealers e outros concorrentes através da linha de chat. Esta versão do jogo atrai quem procura mais envolvimento e singularidade na jogabilidade, sendo uma das indústrias mais populares a nível mundial no jogo online em Portugal.
Video poker nos casinos online em Portugal
O vídeo póquer nos casinos online em Portugal é considerado um dos entretenimentos de jogo mais famosos, oferecendo aos utilizadores não só a oportunidade de testar as suas próprias capacidades e raciocínio matemático, mas também uma excelente forma de relaxar e descontrair após um dia difícil de trabalho. . Para garantir que os utilizadores do território de Portugal tenham a oportunidade de não se perderem na grande variedade de entretenimento de jogo, os jogadores dispõem de publicações da plataforma digital, Znaki.FM em português. Com um grande número de versões, incluindo Texas Hold’em e outros tipos populares, o pôquer online atrai um amplo público – o pôquer online atrai um grande público. de iniciantes a jogadores regulares. A simplicidade do entretenimento online permite aos jogadores desfrutar dos melhores jogos no conforto das suas casas, criando a atmosfera de um casino real graças aos gráficos avançados e à música realista. Assim, o póquer online em Portugal é também uma forma de testar a sua sorte e capacidades, mas também uma excelente forma de relaxar e ganhar dinheiro.
Roleta num casino online em Portugal
A roleta online nos casinos online ocupa uma posição importante entre o entretenimento de jogo, graças à sua clareza, design e possibilidade de grandes ganhos. Este jogo, que tem uma longa história e regras, transitou perfeitamente para o ambiente digital, mantendo a sua individualidade e dinamismo. A Roleta Online oferece muitas categorias: desde roletas francesas clássicas até os formatos mais modernos e inovadores. A modalidade online permite que os jogadores se divirtam com o jogo em qualquer momento conveniente, sem sair de casa, e oferece uma grande variedade de variações de jogo, o que torna a roleta acessível tanto para iniciantes quanto para jogadores experientes.
Ao longo dos anos, a roleta na Internet cativou a atenção de muitos milhares de utilizadores em todo o mundo, sendo um dos jogos mais famosos dos casinos online. A sua popularidade deve-se não só à sua simplicidade e acessibilidade, mas também à excelente qualidade gráfica, animação e som realistas, bem como à probabilidade de jogar com apresentadores ao vivo, o que dá ao jogo o clima de um casino ao vivo. A Roleta da Internet oferece uma experiência de entretenimento única que combina emoção, estratégia e uma pitada de sorte, tornando o jogo um dos jogos mais emocionantes e populares do mundo dos jogos de azar online.
A que prestam atenção quando compilam o top dos melhores estabelecimentos de jogo em Portugal?
Permissão. Licença – o principal documento que permite a um estabelecimento de jogo exercer atividades no território de qualquer território. Tal documento garante que o clube de jogo funciona de acordo com a lei e será totalmente confiável para os seus participantes. Em primeiro lugar, a equipa verifica sempre a presença de um certificado de licença no site do próprio clube de jogo, após o que analisa os dados sobre a presença de uma licença no portal da agência na Internet. O facto é que determinados estabelecimentos de jogo podem manipular e fornecer informações falsas sobre a presença de acreditação, mas a equipa não irá em caso algum adicionar tais casas de jogo à lista dos casinos mais certificados.
Variedade de mecanismos de jogo. Além de uma grande variedade, a presença de uma grande variedade de jogos de azar em um cassino é extremamente importante. Além das habituais máquinas de jogos, devem existir modos de dealer em tempo real, jogos de mesa e apostas desportivas. Além disso, a própria escolha das máquinas de jogo é importante para a equipe; é muito bom que a instituição consiga classificar os mecanismos de jogo por áreas e acréscimos.
Garantir a proteção dos jogadores. Uma das maneiras mais eficazes de garantir a segurança dos materiais dos participantes — uso de codificação. Os dados do jogador podem ser criptografados usando criptografia, o que permite que sejam ocultados de estranhos. Além disso, pode ser fornecida verificação de identidade em duas etapas por meio de mensagens móveis ou login por meio de plataformas sociais. Além disso, um estabelecimento de jogo confiável usa uma conexão segura HTTP Secure para transferir informações entre o jogador no jogo e o servidor do cassino. Isso garante que os dados e informações transmitidos on-line sejam protegidos contra interceptação e divulgação.
Seleção de métodos financeiros. É importante que nos estabelecimentos de jogo, além dos cartões plásticos bancários, existam outros métodos de depósito e levantamento de fundos de pagamento. Por exemplo, contas digitais, criptoativos, celulares ou até dinheiro.
Período de processamento destes pedidos de pagamento. É importante que o casino online forneça levantamentos imediatos. Normalmente isto ocorre no prazo de três dias, mas é aconselhável ter em conta que ocorrem detenções e esta não é da responsabilidade do casino. Alguns métodos exigirão tempos de processamento mais longos.
cobertura do programa de privilégios e política de recompensas no clube de jogos.
Registro imediato: por e-mail, telefone ou até mesmo imediatamente.
É aconselhável fazer apostas em casinos online portugueses de confiança e, antes de apostar, analisar diferentes listas de classificação, por exemplo, na plataforma online znaki. Pedimos que você siga as normas do jogo consciente e acompanhe as novidades em nossa plataforma online znaki fm. Autor relatou aos nossos correspondentes: “Só faz sentido fazer apostas em clubes de jogos de confiança, e você pode encontrá-las nos tops do portal znaki.fm. Neste contexto, no jogo, vale a pena focar no conceito de jogo consciente.
The gloves were off last night in the first debate George Gascon attended since announcing his bid for re-election last month.
Seven candidates, all Democrats, attended the forum hosted by the Santa Monica Democratic Club who endorsed Gascon for DA in 2020, Los Angeles Superior Court judges Craig Mitchell and Debra Archuleta, Deputy District Attorneys Maria Ramirez, John McKinney, Jonathan Hatami, and Eric Siddall, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Chemerinsky.
Right out of the gate, when veteran Deputy DA Hatami challenged Gascon with the current statistics, all memorized, on the catastrophic rise in crime since he took office, Gascon barked back in response “It almost seems like were at a Republican debate”. The irony of which since Gascon himself was a Republican for 40 years switching parties in 2010.
DA George Gascon and Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami.
Another term Gascon used to deflect attention from his disastrous tenure was DA was to call it “fake news”, attempting to gaslight those who highlighted his failures. Gascon’s pro-criminal directives and zero-cash bail have amounted to an extremely unsafe environment for the citizen’s of LA County as the candidates pointed out.
The embattled Soros-backed DA maintains that violent crime is slightly down in the last year to which candidate Debra Archuleta suggested that might be due to the fact that there are “over 13000 cases sitting on his desk that have not yet been filed.”
The DA race has seen three debates so far, two of which were pro-law enforcement. Gascon chose not to attend the first two, a wise choice, as he has made it abundantly clear one of the main focuses of his campaign is “holding law enforcement accountable”.
No where in his announcement that he is running for re-election did he mention he was focused on holding criminals accountable.
Last week Gascon failed to secure the San Pedro Democratic Club endorsement with only 36% of the vote. The club endorsed the incumbent DA in 2020. Jonathan Hatami came in second at 28%.
Candidate Nathan Hochman who is running as a registered Independent, was not invited to the Santa Monica Democratic Club’s debate and took to Twitter to participate live while watching the debate from the Santa Monica Library where he made himself available to voters and press.
Observation of the audience’s reaction to the candidates interactions which each other and Gascon, showed the majority of support for Hatami and Siddall who appeared to be the front-runners of the night’s debate.
A noticeably different crowd from those who supported Gascon in 2020.
Since 2021, Gascon has been the subject of two-voter led recalls, the second attempt failing in July of last year by 46,000 signatures to make the ballot.
In April, a poll taken by UCLA found that just 27% of LA County residents viewed Gascon favorably, and 40% viewed him unfavorably.
While many have been campaigning for the coveted spot throughout this year, the official filing period which started November 13th, will flush out which candidates who will make the final ballot for the March 2024 primary.
“It was a great debate in Gascons’s own backyard organized by a group who actually endorsed him in 2020. Well, this isn’t 2020. I’m a dad, a husband, a child abuse prosecutor and an Infantry soldier. Gascón better buckle up. He’s got a serious challenger he’s got to deal with now.” said Jonathan Hatami.
By December 8th, when the filing period ends, voters will know which candidates will go the distance to put and end to Gascon’s reign of terror and destruction of a once proud Los Angeles County.
LA voters will have their say in the spring 2024 primary as to who will advance to the November run-off should George Gascon not meet the 51% threshold.
The filing period to be on the March 2024 ballot for Los Angeles District Attorney officially starts today, ending on December 8th.
Many have announced their candidacy, including four deputy district attorneys — prosecutors who currently serve under Gascon: Jonathan Hatami, Maria Ramirez, John McKinney, and Eric Siddall.
Additionally, two federal prosecutors are also running: Jeff Chemerinsky and Nathan Hochman and two LA Superior Court Judges are running: Debra Archuleta and Craig Mitchell, who also made a name for himself by founding the “Skid Row Running Club.”
A retired judge, David Milton, is also running and now begins the time for these candidates to make it official.
LA voters will have their say on the next district attorney to make it to the November ballot in March 2024 primary should George Gascon not meet the 51% threshold.
A potential reality as evidenced by polling earlier this year and recent votes by at least two Southern California Democratic clubs (so far), failing to endorse Gascon as they did in 2020.
THE POWER OF THE SUPER PAC
To add to the political heat Gascon is facing, in the last few days, a PAC (Political Action Committee) has emerged to support Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami who announced his candidacy earlier this year. A much needed shot in the arm to potentially unseat the incumbent Soros-backed DA.
The Super PAC known as “Hatami for Los Angeles County DA to Protect Our Children; Independent Committee in Support of Jonathan” can raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to advocate for specifically for Hatami for DA.
Hatami was the first, and has been an on-going vocal opponent of his boss, George Gascon, since the Soros-backed DA announced his pro-criminal directives in December of 2020 shortly after his swearing in.
Since 2021, Gascon has been the subject of two-voter led recalls, the second attempt failing in July of last year by 46,000 signatures to make the ballot.
According to Mike Netter, who helped spearhead the effort to recall Gavin Newsom, the largest volunteer effort in U.S. History, the money was there.
The group raised less than a third of both doomed Gascon recall efforts to get the 1.6 million signatures collected from 58 cities needed to get the Newsom recall to ballot.
In April, a poll taken by UCLA found that just 27% of LA County residents viewed Gascon favorably, and 40% viewed him unfavorably.
ARE DEMOCRATS DUMPING GASCON?
Last week, The Current Report posted the results of the San Pedro Democratic Club’s vote failing to endorse Gascon, who was only able to get 36% of the vote, which speaks volumes as to where the Democratic party may be headed, after supporting the pro-criminal DA in 2020.
In 2020, after the George Floyd protests sparked the Defund the Police movement, Gascon drove the pro-criminal anti-police bandwagon and pledged to reduce prison sentences and prosecute more police officers for misconduct.
Once Gascon officially took office, he ordered his staff to no longer seek sentencing enhancements, the death penalty, or prosecute juveniles as adults. These reforms sparked a revolt from his rank-and-file, including being sued by the union representing his own prosecutors.
Shortly afterward, the presiding judge, James Chalfant, granted an injunction against Gascon for refusing to prosecute Three Strikes Law and special circumstances.
Just days after the ruling, on February 10th, 2021 in front of the Hall of Justice, Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami and his attorney Brian Claypool, announced Hatami was filing suit against DA Gascon, his then-spokesperson Max Szabo, and the County for; hostile work environment, discrimination, harassment, infliction of emotional distress and statutory employment violations.
Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami outside the Hall of Justice in 2021 announcing his lawsuit against his boss George Gascon.
Since then, a domino effect ensued, leading to unprecedented twenty-two deputy district attorneys filing suit (to date) against their boss, George Gascon.
It is safe to assume more is coming in what sources say is an “extremely hostile” work environment at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
One of the largest payouts occurred in March of this year, when veteran L.A. County prosecutor Shawn Randolf, won a sum of $1.5 million after she sued, accusing District Attorney George Gascón of retaliation for complaining about Gascón’s directives.
According to sources, most of the current cases against Gascon, including Hatami’s case, are on hold, as Gascon and the county secured new legal counsel for what looks to be a costly battle ultimately being paid for by L.A. County taxpayers.
A SERIOUS CONFLICT FOR COPS
Last month, The Current Report revealed an even more alarming component to the degradation of LA County public safety with DA Gascon’s influence over LA County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Earlier this year, Gascon’s office promoted a video proudly announcing in detail the true nature of Gascon and Luna’s relationship, a long-standing “mentorship” that spans over 20 years.
Sheriff Robert Luna thanks DA Gascon in the video for his mentorship, which he believes was an integral part of his journey to becoming LA County Sheriff.
It also explains many of the decisions Luna has made, to the detriment of his rank and file and the protections of the citizens of LA County.
The gross conflict of interest that was never revealed to voters during Luna’s 2022 campaign for Sheriff and with DA Gascon’s intentional destruction of law and order since he took office could have reasonably lost him the election.
The race to save LA County from a Mad Max criminals-take-all reality takes center stage with the official filing period beginning today.
While many have been campaigning for the coveted spot throughout this year, the filing period will flush out which candidates who will make the final ballot for the March 2024 primary.
By December 8th, voters will know which candidates will go the distance to put and end to Gascon’s reign of terror and destruction of a once proud Los Angeles County.
This week, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was shaken to its core with the tragic loss of four LASD past and present personnel in a 24-hour period.
An unprecedented event in the department’s over 150 year history bringing the suicide total at the Sheriff’s Department to nine this year.
The first suicide of 2023 was deputy Jonathan Buchan, 33, who died of a self inflicted gun shot wound shortly before 2:00 a..m. on January 20th, a little over a month after Robert Luna was sworn in as the 34th Sheriff of LA County.
Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Buchan committed suicide at Mabel’s Roadhouse on January 20th, 2023
The news of the deaths by suicide began to trickle out Monday afternoon, November 6th. Homicide investigators were dispatched earlier that morning to the Santa Clarita home of Commander Darren Harris who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Harris, 56 years old, was formerly the spokesman for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, promoted to lieutenant at the Sheriff’s Information Bureau, and then Captain at Transportation Services.
According to sources, Harris was Commander of Court Services and was on Injured on Duty leave from the department. Sources say Harris had retirement plans in progress at the time of death.
The second suicide, Retired Sgt. Greg Hovland, occurred at 12:53 p.m. in Lancaster. Hovland, a long time Sargent who patrolled Antelope Valley, died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
The third suicide was at 5:40 p.m. in Stevenson Ranch. Corina Thompson, 60, a custody assistant at North County Correctional Facility Pitchess Detention Center, also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.
The fourth victim was found on Tuesday morning at around 7:30 a.m. in Duarte and worked in custody at the North County Correctional Facility in the maximum-security portion of the Pitchess jail.
The wife of the fourth victim allegedly confronted Luna and Chief of Custody Division, Sergio Aloma, at the hospital blaming the demands of an under supported and understaffed department for her husband’s death.
As expected, strong reactions and a slew of emotions began to surface on social media by department personnel feeling the effects of the suicides and what has been a very long, dark year at LASD.
A recent social media post by an LASD deputy shortly after the suicides.
According to sources, Luna was “visibly shaken” at the news of the suicides and was called a “phony” by multiple members of the department, even openly admitting himself “I know everyone thinks I am”.
Some personnel even confronting him directly, one-on-one, regarding his actions – and more importantly his inactions – this week regarding the suicides.
Luna has stated to personnel he wants to make changes but sources say a “restructuring” is currently taking place with (former) Sheriff Jim McDonnell loyalists creating an intense power struggle among the executive staff.
Luna is no stranger to suicides occurring under his watch according to one retired Long Beach Police Department member who posted on social media shortly after the LASD suicides this week.
Social media post by a retired LBPD member.
Luna released a statement addressing the department suicides; “During trying times like these it’s important for personnel regardless of rank or position to check on the well-being of other colleagues and friends. I have the deepest concern for our employee’s well-being, and we are urgently exploring avenues to reduce work stress factors to support our employees work and personal lives,”
The compounding stress factors for law enforcement personnel hit an alarming level nationally in 2020 with the George Floyd riots leading to the defund the police movement.
LA County saw additional pushback with a hiring freeze placed on the department by the Board of Supervisors which many attribute to the contentious relationship between the Board and then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The Department is currently down approximately 1400 officers forcing current personnel to work mandatory overtime shifts.
One source says Century Regional Detention Facility, is mandated 8 overtime spots per month. That’s two per week, per person on top of their 40 hour shifts and commute time.
Under former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, overtime restriction was lifted from 96 to 120 hours per calendar month. Current department policy states personnel shall not work more than 12 days straight. However, sources say even that restriction is cast aside due to current suffocating requirements for personnel to work more overtime than what is practical.
Besides being dangerous for line personnel, it is also a sizable waste of county funds, in that personnel are required to be paid time and a half for the overtime worked. In custody alone, the annual overtime cost is in the millions of dollars.
This year department morale has taken a devastating blow under Luna’s leadership. Compounded with the recent revelation of the true nature of Luna’s relationship with DA George Gascon, a mentorship that goes back 20 years which was relatively unknown to LASD personnel until recently.
This critical information which significantly impacts public safety in Los Angeles county, was also kept from voters during Luna’s campaign for Sheriff and most certainly could have impacted the outcome of the election. In 2022, Gascon was already two years into his strategic destruction of law and order with his pro-criminal directives and was in the midst of a second voter recall.
The Current Report broke the story of the mentorship relationship between Luna and Soros-backed DA Gascon shortly after Gascon announced he would not be seeking the death penalty for the murder of Palmdale deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, who was ambushed while waiting at a red light on September 16th.
George Gascon at the press conference on September 20th announcing he would not bee seeking the death penalty for the murder of deputy Clinkunbroomer. The family was not briefed by Sheriff Luna of Gascon’s decision prior to the press conference. Luna to date has not made an official statement regarding Gascon’s decision not to seek the maximum punishment allowed by law
Sources say Luna stood by silently knowing full well Gascon’s intent to not seek the death penalty of one of his own deputies, failing to tell the family beforehand of Gascon’s intentions, leaving them to be stunned, on camera, at the nationally televised press conference.
The revelation of the Luna-Gascon mentorship also explains many of the decisions Luna has made in his first year as Sheriff.
The “prosecute first, investigate later” approach, as evidenced of his handling of the Lancaster and Palmdale Use of Force incidents this summer, led to outrage among the rank and file who confronted Luna multiple times during his visits to the Antelope Valley stations.
It also led to a series of anonymous “Just a Deputy” letters circulating throughout the department and on social media highlighting the facts in the Use of Force incidents that were being kept from the public and truth behind how the department is operating, which has greatly impacted deputies ability to effectively protect citizens, as well as public safety as a whole in LA County.
A third “Just a Deputy” letter surfaced yesterday as a result of the LASD department suicides:
3rd Letter to the Citizens of the Antelope Valley and Beyond
Hello,
Recent events have once again compelled me to write about serious issues within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Things can not continue the way they are. We work multiple overtime shifts a week, often only getting a couple hours of sleep between continuous double shifts. We are frequently required to work overtime on our days off, and requests for time off to be with family are denied due to lack of staffing and straining relationships. We frequently see violence and horrors beyond comprehension, like a Lancaster man who recently beat his own children to death.
The workload and stress alone would be enough to dishearten people, but there is more. Sheriff Luna, his command staff, and DA Gascon push for leniency toward criminals. But when it comes to us, they seek maximum punishment toward Deputies, potentially including termination and criminal charges, for even the smallest violations of department policy. This has created hesitancy for many to perform their duties.
The fact that our leadership sides with criminals and their advocates, while condemning its own understaffed and overworked Deputies, has come into painful focus in the last few months. On September 16th, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was murdered right outside his station. Luna didn’t attempt to argue with the mercenary DA Gascon for maximum punishment. He didn’t even bother to learn how to pronounce his last name correctly for the funeral. His uninspired words at the funeral brought no solace to us, and many of Clink’s partners weren’t even granted adequate time off to grieve. Additionally, certain members of Luna’s command staff were visibly too proud and stiff necked to even bow their heads to show respect for our fallen partner during the funeral. If only the sense of loss and disrespect ended there.
On October 10th, a mobile range trailer outside of North County Correctional Facility exploded, trapping two Deputies inside a hellish inferno. They are still clinging to life but will be irrevocably scarred with massive burns and lung damage. Next to that old trailer sat a new unused range trailer. Unused because it required the installation of a different power outlet for the new equipment. The cost estimate of $25,000 to install a new outlet for the updated trailer was deemed an unnecessary expense until it was too late.
Most recently, on November 6th, two current department members and one retired Lancaster Deputy took their own lives. The very next day, another Deputy took his own life as well, bringing the total number of LASD suicides this year to nine. The law enforcement suicide awareness group “Blue H.E.L.P.” reports that 86 officers across the country have taken their own lives this year. This means LASD suicides alone account for 10% of known law enforcement suicides in the United States for 2023 so far!
For the most part, the Sheriff’s Department response to all of these tragedies and travesties has been generic emails with bromides about seeking help and listing a few hotline phone numbers. Luna did stop at Lancaster Station on November 6th and very briefly spoke about the three suicides that day. However, Deputies knew the actual reason he stopped at the station was because he landed at the station helipad on his way to meet with a group that encourages anti-Deputy sentiment in our community. Another slap in the face in the wake of more loss.
The lack of awareness in the upper echelon of LASD is truly astounding. They seemingly don’t understand or care that their actions, and in-actions, are causing people to leave the department in droves; or worse, pushing people past their breaking point. The department itself is exhausting its Deputies in body, mind, and even soul.
Changes must be made. As your first responders, we tend to shy away from showing our vulnerabilities to the people we’re supposed to help, but I’m asking on behalf of my partners. I believe a show of public support for LASD Deputies can help us now. We need your voices. If you’re concerned about any or all of these issues: Contact your local city councils. Call the L.A. County Board of Supervisors at 213-974-1411 Call Sheriff’s Information Bureau at 213-229-1850 Call Assemblyman Tom Lackey’s office at 661-267-7636 Call Representative Mike Garcia’s office at 661-568-4855
Please copy and share this message with others.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and God bless,
Just a Deputy
With an overworked, under appreciated and extremely unhappy rank and file patrolling LA County, the majority of which have little, if any, respect for their elected leader, it seems the Sheriff is an extremely compromised position.
Similarly, there is no refuge for Luna on the 8th Floor at the Hall of Justice as the vultures vying for power are circling and to ready swoop in on their vulnerable prey.
