The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has announced a new policy that places a clear ban on deputies participating in law enforcement gangs and hate groups, an issue that has plagued the department for years. The policy, titled "Prohibition – Law Enforcement Gangs and Hate Groups," sets forth definitions for terms such as "law enforcement gang" and "hate group" based on existing California law, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles. It requires deputies to cooperate with investigations into allegations of participation in such groups and suggests criminal charges could be brought forth if found necessary.
With roots stretching back decades, and more than $54 million in settlement payouts linked to these so-called deputy gangs, the LASD's recent move comes as a redress of persisting systemic issues. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna, according to NBC Los Angeles, acknowledges the existence of such groups and emphasizes the need to maintain community trust. Nonetheless, Max Huntsman, the county's Inspector General, criticized the timing and the efficacy of the new policy, which arrived three years after a Californian law mandated such bans. In a statement obtained by LAist, Huntsman described the policy as "the bare minimum" and articulated concerns over being left out of its development, an allegation that the department denies.
The policy's announcement follows litigation that had stalled earlier investigative efforts. In 2023, a preliminary injunction halted the collection of data on deputies' tattoos potentially associated with gangs inside the department. An LAist report noted the ALDS successfully sued LA County and the OIS, claiming the investigation violated constitutional and privacy rights and California labor laws. There was a notable gathering of community groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, outside a courthouse before a hearing on the lawsuit earlier this month, where allegations of shielding organized crime within the department were leveraged at the deputies' union.
In context, the LASD has faced allegations of deputy gang activity since at least the 1970s. A comprehensive 2021 report, compiled by county investigators and Loyola Law School researchers, highlighted the pervasiveness of gangs like the Banditos and the Executioners within the LASD, as reported by KTLA. Richard Pippin, President of the Association for LA Deputy Sheriffs (ALDS) shared a response to the policy, noting that it allows the department to handle staff misconduct while ensuring all workers' rights. "This policy enables the Sheriff’s Department to address staff who do not meet the expected standard of conduct while safeguarding the rights that are afforded to all workers in this country," Pippin said, dismissing critics as never being satisfied, "shy of the complete end of any kind of effective policing in our society."
The policy's efficacy will ultimately be measured by its enforcement, and Sheriff Luna has outlined a progression from a strong policy to firm understanding through training, and then to accountability. Taking effect on October 18th, the policy stands as a response to a long-standing issue that, as per Sheriff Luna's address, has been acknowledged and actioned upon in pursuit of eliminating "any lingering shadows of mistrust" that could impede public safety efforts.
