Read the County Counsel’s 2021 opinion on regulating gang-like groups of deputies In a new opinion, county attorneys advised the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission that the Sheriff has broad authority to crack down legally on the gang-like groups of deputies. Read the County Counsel’s 2014 opinion on regulating deputies’ tattoos To justify not taking a more aggressive stance on banning gang-like groups of deputies, Villanueva has relied on this legal opinion that attorneys for the county wrote in 2014. Department policy requires deputies to cover their tattoos, though it’s unclear when that rule went into effect. AdvertisementIn the recent memo, county lawyers advised the commission that the sheriff had the legal authority to put an end to the gang-like clubs. L.A. County has paid out at least $55 million in settlements in cases in which sheriff’s deputies have been alleged to belong to a secret society.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 16, 2021 20:36 UTC