LOS ANGELES (KNX) - Just days after Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna ordered his staff to comply with a probe into deputy gangs in the department, a deputy union is suing to prevent deputies who don’t cooperate from being disciplined.
On May 12, L.A. County Inspector General Max Huntsman sent letters to 35 deputies suspected of belonging to the Banditos and Executioners deputy gangs, ordering them to submit to questioning about their knowledge of the gangs and show photos of their alleged gang tattoos.
Luna told staff in a department-wide email Thursday that any employees who refuse to cooperate with the investigation could be disciplined or fired.
The L.A. Times reports that the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs and Professional Peace Officers Association filed a 19-page complaint Friday against Luna’s threat to discipline deputies who don’t cooperate.
Then on Monday, ALADS filed a lawsuit alleging that the order violates deputies’ 4th and 5th amendment rights against unreasonable searches and self-incrimination.
A recent California law requires local agencies to “proactively root out” and terminate employees who participate in law enforcement gangs. Luna has long pledged to work with oversight groups to investigate deputy gangs, which have recruited hundreds of members county-wide, according to a RAND study.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
Related
