Category: Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueava

Sheriff Condemns Effort to Defund LA Transit Police

The Los Angeles County sheriff called the effort by the Los Angeles-area Metro Board’s police advisory committee to remove law enforcement from public transit a “scary proposition” Nov. 17. The committee unanimously recommended canceling Metro’s policing contracts at a meeting Nov. 3. The agency contracts with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County…


Judge Throws Out Deputy’s Retaliation Suit Against Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES—A judge dismissed on Nov. 5 a lawsuit originally filed by a deputy in September 2020 alleging the Compton Sheriff’s Station’s life-threatening retaliation against him when he reported the criminal activities of a deputy subgroup known as the Executioners. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William F. Fahey had previously tossed Austreberto “Art” Gonzalez’s lawsuit on Feb….


LA Sheriff: ‘Something’s Rotten and We Need to Fix It’

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva challenged the county’s leaders Nov. 2 to open public debate over vaccine mandates, citing a possible loss of up to one-third of the department by the end of the year. Typically, the department loses 500 employees to retirement and another 300 to injuries each year. This year, the department…


LA Sheriff on Vaccine Mandates: ‘Something’s Rotten and We Need to Fix It’

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva challenged the county’s leaders Nov. 2 to open public debate over vaccine mandates, citing a possible loss of up to one-third of sworn personnel by the end of the year. Typically, the department loses 500 to retirement and another 300 to injuries each year. So far, 655 employees have…


LA Sheriff Warns of Mass Exodus, Imminent Safety Threat From Vaccine Mandate

The Los Angeles County sheriff slammed the county’s “absolutely absurd” vaccine mandate Oct. 29 for causing a mass exodus of deputies and an imminent public safety threat. A COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees has caused 20–30 percent of the department to leave, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a letter to the Board of Supervisors. Under…


Los Angeles County Sherriff Wants to Declare Local State of Emergency to Address Homelessness

Los Angeles County Sherriff Alex Villanueva said the county should declare a local state of emergency to address homelessness.   Villanueva held a public community meeting in Granada Hills on Aug. 12, where he and others from the department’s Homeless Outreach and Mental Evaluation teams and the Narcotics Bureau spoke about homelessness and public safety.   Currently, there are more than…


Los Angeles County Sheriff Again Calls for State of Emergency to Address Homelessness

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has again called for the county to declare a local state of emergency to address homelessness.   Villanueva held a public community meeting in Granada Hills on Aug. 12, where he and others from the department’s Homeless Outreach and Mental Evaluation teams and the Narcotics Bureau spoke about homelessness and public safety.   Currently, there…


Why Housing the Homeless Is Failing in California | Andy Bales

Los Angeles County is becoming ground zero for the homeless problem in America. Experts say the number of homeless has doubled in the last 10 years to 80,000. The problem is so bad that LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is asking the Board of Supervisors to declare a local state of emergency. My guest is Andy Bales, who’s been…


Effort Begins to Offer All Boardwalk Campers a Pathway to Permanent Housing

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Councilman Mike Bonin’s initiative began June 28 to offer a voluntary path to permanent housing for all people living in encampments along Ocean Front Walk in Venice. St. Joseph Center outreach teams were scheduled to offer housing, shelter and services to the people who live in the boardwalk encampments, which have grown amid…