April 3, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Board of Supervisors Unanimously Decides to Review Authority to Fire or Reassign Perjuring Deputies

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to review its authority to fire or reassign sheriff’s deputies who have lied or misrepresented material facts in internal investigations.

Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl recommended reevaluating civil service rules and said any changes might also extend to social workers, paramedics, psychiatrics and other county employees with jobs that impact public safety.

“Civil service rules must reinforce the primary importance of public safety,” the supervisors’ motion stated.

Ridley-Thomas said the question was whether the county’s disciplinary systems were effective enough.

“We have an obligation to address any gaps in a manner that is fair and transparent while, at the same time, honoring and respecting employee rights,” Ridley-Thomas said.

Inspector General Max Huntsman told the board, “Discipline can never be a substitute for training and supervision,” but added that firing dishonest deputies is essential to maintaining department morale and public trust.

Huntsman mentioned the recent conviction of former Sheriff Lee Baca for lying to federal investigators and cited failures by prior civil service commissions to fire deputies for cause.

“A deputy was not fired even after admitting to filing hundreds of false police reports,” Huntsman said.

Sheriff Jim McDonnell ran on a platform of reform, but Huntsman said the department’s system of discipline remains “dysfunctional on multiple levels,” and pointed to a shortage of internal investigators.

“The overwhelming majority of persons who work for the LASD are fair, honest and credible,” said Brian Williams, who oversees the civilian oversight commission, a watchdog for the department. “The overwhelming majority of deputies work hard under very difficult circumstances.”

Williams acknowledged that a few bad actors have the ability to “poison the entire system.”

The District Attorney’s Office keeps a “Brady list” of police officers and sheriff’s deputies who have a record of lying or acting dishonestly, according to the motion.

The list is named for the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brady v. Maryland which requires prosecutors to turn over exculpatory evidence to criminal defendants.

Changes to civil service rules could include a clarification of the county’s right to fire someone named on the Brady list.

The county might also create similar lists for employees outside the LASD.

Two social workers and two supervisors from the child welfare department are facing criminal charges of child abuse and falsifying records in the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez of Palmdale. And three probation officers are charged with assaulting teens at a Sylmar juvenile hall.

The board directed the county’s Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai to consult with employee unions before recommending which positions should be subject to an amended civil service rule.

The board also voted to increase pay and training for hearing officers on the county’s civil service commission.

A report is expected back in 60 days.

Los Angeles

Related Posts

LAX Airport Server Finds Hate-Filled Message From Unidentified Diners

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Waiter Says He Was Stunned by the Message Left by Customers Guillermo Ortiz, who works at Planet Hollywood inside the...

Sunset Strip Staple Le Petit Four Shuts Down After Landlord Pulls the Plug

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

End of an Era: Le Petit Four Forced to Close in West Hollywood In a stunning reversal to the upbeat...

Metro LA Pushes Back Sepulveda Transit Community Meetings

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Environmental Review Delay Prompts Metro to Reschedule  Metro announced that community meetings scheduled for early April to discuss the Sepulveda...

WeHo Unveils ‘WeHappy Wednesdays’ to Support Shops and Restaurants

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

New West Hollywood Plan Makes Midweek Outings Easier and Cheaper In a bid to boost foot traffic and economic recovery...

County Board Approves New Homeless Agency, Redirecting Millions from Existing System

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

With Billions on the Line, LA County Moves to Centralize Homeless Response Los Angeles County is making a dramatic shift...

Put the Phone Down: LAPD and CHP Targets Distracted Drivers in April Crackdown

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Hands-Free Law Violations Could Now Cost You More Than Just a Fine Throughout April, the Los Angeles Police Department will...

Kim Delaney, Partner Cleared After Weekend Arrest in Marina del Rey

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Emmy-Winning Actress and Partner James Morgan Released Kim Delaney, the Emmy-winning actress recognized for her roles in NYPD Blue and...

(Video) Spending an Afternoon at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Go To Pacpark.com For Tickets and More Information. Go To https://t.co/HneRcysYh5 For Tickets and More Information. #amusementpark #rides #rollercoaster #summer...

Matū Kai to Debut in Brentwood With Grass Fed Wagyu and Global Flair This Week

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Farm-To-Fork Beef, Wood-Fired Flavors, and Sustainability Meet on San Vicente The team behind Beverly Hills’ acclaimed steakhouse Matū will soon...

Mid-City Freeway Death Under Investigation After Caltrans Workers Find Blanket-Covered Body

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Woman Discovered on 10 Freeway Shoulder Identified; CHP Launches Probe Caltrans workers discovered a woman’s dead body around 9:00 a.m....

Community Support Saves Beloved West Hollywood Café from Closure

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Packed Tables and Emotional Messages Helped Keep the Doors Open Le Petit Four, the popular Sunset Boulevard café known for...

Egg Beaters Recalled Over Possible Chemical Contamination

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Massive Liquid Egg Recall Includes California Shipments Cargill Kitchen Solutions is recalling approximately 212,268 pounds of liquid egg products after...

Los Angeles County’s Measure A Raises Sales Tax On April 1, And It’s No Joke

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Culver City, and Malibu Will See Higher Increases Starting April 1, Los Angeles County residents will...

Robbery Boast on Instagram Helps Send Beverly Hills Heist Suspect to Prison

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Flashy Post, Federal Time: Smash-and-Grab Mastermind Sentenced Ladell Tharpe, 39, received an 84-month sentence from U.S. District Judge George H....

Actress Kim Delaney Arrested After Domestic Dispute; Partner Also Charged

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Marina del Rey Police Arrest “NYPD Blue” Actress After Alleged Altercation Actress Kim Delaney, known for her Emmy-winning role on...