Sheriff Villanueva deploys deputies to Venice encampments, but is he overstepping his authority? "This is not about us as individuals. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images). Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva talks with media, homeless advocates and local residents in Venice on June 7. I plan to restore these collaborative relationships, which have deteriorated.. "We spoke truth to power.". Market data provided by Factset. Were recognizing that the threat to the residents is increasing. L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is facing yet another whistleblower lawsuit accusing him and the department of corruption and retaliation. But he didn't do that. CALIFORNIA ELECTION RESULTS: LA SHERIFF VILLANUEVA, WHO DEFIED DEFUNDERS, HEADS TO NOVEMBER RUNOFF, "You can negotiate on practices, but you cant negotiate on principles," Villanueva said. Villanueva showed up in plainclothes and took the microphone to rail against Gascns decision not to seek sentencing enhancements that lengthen a criminal defendants time behind bars. It all has left the countys Democratic Party machine, which helped put Villanueva in office, awash in feelings of betrayal and buyers remorse that culminated last month with a demand that the sheriff resign. [2] Before becoming Sheriff, he was a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The Texas Republican party was proud to announce that Dwayne Villanueva, Sheriff of Karnes County, is leaving the Democrats. "[17], Villanueva inherited a department that was understaffed by at least 1,300 personnel. He's also at war with the Oversight Commission and the county's inspector general what Villanueva calls the supervisors' attack dogs over their attempts to keep him in check. Vera has also been critical of Villanuevas handling of the East Los Angeles Sheriffs Station, home to the deputies accused of operating as a gang. Luna, who headed the Long Beach Police Department for seven years before retiring last year, positioned himself during the campaign as the level-headed alternative to Villanueva and vowed he would work with the county elected officials Villanueva has vilified. There is, for example, an ongoing investigation by the state attorney generals office into potential civil rights abuses by sheriffs deputies and another by the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission into gang-like groups of deputies that operate in the department. The ban was successfully implemented in 1990.[10][11]. Were running against the woke left, and were going to win, said Javier Gonzalez, a campaign consultant for Villanueva. We have to sit down with our elected officials, he said. [8], Villanueva served in the United States military for 10 years. [34], From 2005 to 2018, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Board of Supervisors accepted $122,189,627 from the United States Government in exchange for a database of inmates without proof of valid immigration status. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva accepted defeat in his pursuit for a second four-year term in the top law enforcement spot to Robert Luna on Tuesday. Lunas status as a former police chief for Long Beach one of the regions marquee cities, with 274,000 registered voters likely makes him one of the frontrunners in the race. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who defied police defunders and vaccine mandates, survived Tuesday's primary but will have to head to a runoff in November to defend his. Strong has also pledged to increase transparency in the department by providing data about stops, arrests, in-custody deaths and more. Instead, he has gone to war with the liberal forces that played a major hand in electing him. In 2012, the ACLU exposed widespread abuses in the Sheriff's Department, prompting an FBI investigation. Vivian Villanueva, left, in Californias primary election at The Park in La Habra Heights Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Come December this year, theres going to be a new majority in the Board of Supervisors, Villanueva said, and Im confident it will be one of law and order that will invest in public safety and not divest from it.. It wasnt until the pandemic that he banned inmate transfers to ICE altogether, unless federal agents have a warrant. The rest had no opinion or hadnt heard of him. SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif., April 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The campaign to re-elect Sheriff Alex Villanueva today released an official campaign video "Bring Back the California Dream" which can . After years of stability at the top of the department L.A. County had two sheriffs from 1982 to 2014 voters saw former Sheriff Lee Baca forgo a run at a fifth term as his department faced allegations of mistreating inmates and corruption charges. His department also previously faced criticism for using a texting app that permanently erases messages and for having a low COVID-19 vaccination rate. "Robert brings a good history of that type of oversight already, he said. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. During a short speech, he reminded the downbeat crowd how on election night four years ago he had initially trailed but surged into the lead when the vote tally was updated the next morning. Wed 8 Jun 2022 02.56 EDT Last modified on Wed 8 Jun 2022 02.57 EDT Alex Villanueva, the Los Angeles county sheriff embroiled in multiple scandals, appears headed for a runoff election in. After he pulled off an upset victory most had thought was impossible, Villanueva took some steps to make good on his promises. The approach included transferring the bulk of the people working at the station to other areas, including supervisors and training officers, and bringing new people in to change the entire culture of the station. They both cited an allegation made in another lawsuit by a former top-ranking official, retired Chief LaJuana Haselrig, who is also Black. Thank goodness! SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The campaign to re-elect Sheriff Alex Villanueva announces the launch of its new campaign video airing across local Los Angeles TV stations and online. Still, Luna said, he would demote or fire those found to violate his zero-tolerance for gangs. Alex Villanueva: LA County Sheriff Candidate 04:40 Vandalism, looting and flames were all tearing through Long Beach six days after the death of George Floyd. or redistributed. "[14] He competed against incumbent Sheriff McDonnell and retired Commander Bob Lindsey. As a Black and Asian man, Rhambo said, he understands what its like to walk along the street as a person of color. But he has very much proven to be someone who will immediately retaliate against someone who dares to have a different opinion.. Also last week, the Board of Supervisors agreed to pay $47.6 million to settle several lawsuits alleging misconduct by sheriffs deputies. Sheriff Lee Baca, Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, and numerous other department employees were caught in the scandal and were later convicted of various federal charges. He finished first in the primary in June, but won only 31% of the vote an underwhelming performance for an incumbent and not nearly enough to avoid a runoff against Luna, who finished second with 26% of the vote. The pandemic nixed last years count and results from the January survey have not yet been released. He and Villanueva had worked closely together in the past, Vera said, even consulting on his boss 2018 campaign. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Sheriff Villanueva has just under $1M on hand and raised over $900k in 2021. [30], In his first week in office, Villanueva followed through on another campaign promise[31] to direct the removal of federal immigration agents from Los Angeles County jails, court facilities, and patrol stations. Saying those before him kept the bar to receive them too high, Villanueva says more people carrying concealed handguns will be an effective countermeasure to rising crime and efforts on the left to reduce police funding. "This has had sort of a character of almost a recall election, where you don't really know the replacement candidates all that well but you decide whether to keep the incumbent in office," said Raphe Sonenshein, head of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State L.A. "If he loses, then I think that's a pretty stunning rebuke of his period as sheriff. We see the problem getting bigger every single year like clockwork. The years of fighting with Villanueva were so contentious that the supervisors took the extraordinary step of putting the measure on Tuesday's ballot that asked voters for the power to remove a sitting sheriff from office if at least four out of the five supervisors agree he or she is unfit for office. The sheriffs race is particularly difficult to handicap, given the recent scrutiny the department has faced. Being a reformer or a progressive in 2018 vintage is not the same as 2020, Villanueva said during a recent interview on a podcast hosted by an announcer for the Ultimate Fighting Championship league. He would also implement policies to protect deputies who come forward to report misconduct, Strong said. Polls showed Villanueva lagging behind Luna in the head-to-head race and battling against high disapproval ratings. Villanueva has been consistently trailing former Long Beach police Chief Robert Luna as results from last week's election continued to be tallied. End of an era: Alex Villanueva concedes to Robert . Zechman has been employed with the county sheriff's office since 2010 as deputy sheriff before his election to a four-year term as sheriff in 2016. Election season has also not been kind to the incumbent over the last three cycles. He would be its fourth sheriff since former Sheriff Lee Baca resigned eight years ago amid a federal corruption probe that ultimately sent him to prison. [4], Villanueva was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1963 to a Puerto Rican father and Polish-American mother. Various studies, he said, show that treating mental health issues among law-enforcement officers reduces misconduct. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Running on a campaign platform of "reform, rebuild. Subscribers get early access to this story. When I went out to patrol in 1989, thats how I was trained to patrol. Market data provided by Factset. We have to problem-solve and at the end of the day, what kind of person fights and calls people names to the same individuals who control your budget?". I know theres some woke person saying, Oh, my God, the sheriff is threatening violence. They are that dumb.. Im speaking hypothetically, obviously, not really. Supporters grew increasingly disillusioned as Villanueva resisted calls for greater transparency in the department and pursued controversial hires, including his reinstatement of a campaign volunteer who was fired as a deputy over allegations of domestic abuse and stalking. Karla Yesenia Carranza, who did not respond to requests for comment; April Saucedo Hood, a parole agent, who also did not respond to requests for comment; and. Villanueva, a first-term incumbent who clashed frequently with the media and county officials, was defeated by . Duration: 00:55 11/16/2022. The sheriffs lieutenant also said he would address deputy gangs if elected, by disciplining those found to have participated in the cliques, as well as deputies who witness misconduct but fail to report it. We have a problem, Villanueva told the group. [16] He describes himself as "a Democrat of the party of JFK and FDR. Villanueva announced his campaign for sheriff of Los Angeles County on June 28, 2017,[15] promising to "reform, rebuild and restore" the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department by "reforming the organization around the principles of community policing and ethical standards of conduct. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And thats exactly what I will do. Rodriguez, a retired sheriffs captain, said he is the only conservative Republican in the officially nonpartisan race. Listen. After his time at East Los Angeles Sheriff Station, Villanueva transferred to the Training Bureau where he served as a Drill Instructor at the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Academy. Janet Green, an 84-year-old Ladera Heights resident, said she voted for Villanueva because he "makes the best decisions" and "fights the bulls." Villanueva was a little-known lieutenant when he was elected in 2018, becoming the first candidate to unseat an incumbent LA sheriff in more than a century. I didnt know any other way and since then, theres been no investment in community policing.. LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 7, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced today that his campaign for his reelection has raised over $1.25 million. Villanueva ran for re-election for Los Angeles County Sheriff in California. A sergeant claims in the lawsuit she was targeted by . He would accomplish these goals, Luna said, by forging stronger relationships with other community players. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. But as homicides and other crimes in the county have continued to climb along with some communities frustration over homeless encampments, Villanueva appears to be banking on the idea that voters, regardless of party allegiance, will be looking for a tough, no-nonsense sheriff. A weak election showing now makes him vulnerable June 8, 2022 The new poll numbers generally reflect what was widely seen as Villanueva's poor showing. However, Villanueva, then close to retirement, stated that he decided McDonnell had failed to restore trust, saying "everyone expected Jim McDonnell to clean house. And several sheriff's employees, including some at top ranks, have filed lawsuits against him and the department. He has repeatedly challenged subpoenas calling on him to testify under oath about various problems and issues in the department and has been accused by critics of targeting political opponents with criminal investigations. Ultimately, 22 deputies were suspended for misconduct and four were terminated. He was never who we thought he was, is what I think now.. OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - After losing his re-election bid in 2020, former Osceola County sheriff Russ Gibson wants his old job back. LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva shares his insight on hundreds of CA criminal cases being dismissed on Fox News @ Night.. [8], Villanueva joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1986 and eventually settled in La Habra Heights, California. Though the election is non-partisan, he was also the first Democrat to win the sheriff's seat in 138 years. The race has gotten slightly closer since Tuesday night, with Luna's lead down nearly a percentage point. Sheriff Villanueva launches reelection campaign amid deputy gang scandal. Here's Why He's Known As A Maverick", "Meet new LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva", "Sheriff Alex Villanueva talks to students pursuing law enforcement careers at Cal State Long Beach", "Former No. One day after the LA County Board of Supervisors made public a proposal that could give them the power to remove an elected sheriff from office for cause, Sheriff Alex Villanueva's re-election . He also headed the Asian Crime Task Force, commanding a group of investigators and multilingual deputies to investigate crimes committed against Asian people. [35][36], In January 2020, former Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. ((Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)), ((Photo by Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images)), ((Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)), firing of 4,000 of his deputies amid a crime wave, usurped the sheriffs power to enforce the COVID-19 mandate, 'You have failed': Texas lawmakers call on Biden's DHS secretary to abandon 'misguided liberal policies', George Santos denies scamming disabled veteran by raising money for their dog's cancer treatment, As historic numbers of migrants cross the border, their dogs are often left behind, Elites in Davos strategize on how to fight right-wing' groups: Hit back. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva meets with supporters at an election night gathering in East L.A. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva's. Rhambo, raised in Compton and South Los Angeles after being adopted from Korea, said his experience in law enforcement includes an assignment in the internal affairs bureau, where he helped form the Shooting and Force Response Team in the wake of the Rodney King beating. He defeated incumbent sheriff Jim McDonnell in the 2018 L.A. County Sheriff's race, making him the first to unseat an incumbent in over 100 years. It comes down to treating people with respect, dignity and compassion.. With your vote, you have entrusted me with a clear mandate to bring new leadership and accountability to the Sheriffs Department. If elected, Vera said, he would stay away from the types of political clashes that have marred the current administration. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. L.A. County voters will decide their next sheriff on Nov. 8, an election that pits Sheriff Alex Villaneuva against Robert Luna, ex-chief of police for Long Beach. Villanueva received 33% of the vote, to McDonnell's 47%, and Lindsey's 19%. In a speech to supporters around 11 p.m., Luna struck a triumphant tone, despite the incomplete results. Nov 16, 2022. His policy ideas include a plan to address post-traumatic stress disorder among deputies and other employees, something he said contributes to misconduct, including deputy gangs. CALIFORNIA ELECTION RESULTS: LA SHERIFF VILLANUEVA, WHO DEFIED DEFUNDERS, HEADS TO NOVEMBER RUNOFF "You can negotiate on practices, but you can't negotiate on principles," Villanueva said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The close of polls on a rainy Tuesday night brought an end to a campaign widely viewed as a referendum on Villanueva, a highly controversial figure who battled endlessly with elected officials and others with the authority to oversee him and the department. The fact that were talking about gangs and police or deputies in the same sentence is crazy, he said. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is behind in polls, and his disapproval numbers are high. 2 in L.A. Sheriff's office surrenders to prison to serve 5-year sentence", "THE CHALLENGERS WHO WOULD BE LA COUNTY SHERIFF: An Interview With Alex Villanueva |", "A veteran lieutenant announces candidacy for L.A. County sheriff, the first to challenge Jim McDonnell", "Alex Villanueva declares win in LA County sheriff race despite no concession from Jim McDonnell", "Villanueva's beef with firefighters, the L.A. Times, Gascn, 'Latinx' and more", "Shortage of deputies could threaten L.A. County sheriff's reform agenda", "Marking a shift, the race for Los Angeles County sheriff may be up for grabs", "Sheriff Alex Villanueva OP/ED: The Truth About LASD", "Oversight Panel Calls For Resignation Of LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva", "Attorney General Becerra Launches Civil Rights Investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department", "Claim alleges Sheriff Villanueva directed cover-up of deputy kneeling on inmate", "Los Angeles sheriff appears to back down after signaling he was investigating reporter", "LA County Board Funds Body-Worn Cameras for Sheriff's Deputies", "L.A. County sheriff's deputies test 4 types of body cameras", "Oversight Commission Asks Inspector General to Review Deputy Cliques", "Villanueva to fire or suspend 26 people involved in off-duty Banditos fight", "Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy describes attack by Banditos clique", "In an apparent historic upset, LA Sheriff unseated due to close ties w/ ICE", "LA Sheriff To Kick ICE Agents Out Of County Jails By Year's End", "Sheriff Announces Permanent Ban on ICE Transfers", "L.A. County sheriff says he's permanently banning transfers of inmates to ICE custody", "Villanueva Makes Temporary Ban on ICE Transfers Permanent", "Deputies Shared Graphic Images From Scene Of Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Bryant, Source Confirms", "Bill Text - AB-2655 Invasion of privacy: first responders", "Villanueva Supports Bill to Criminalize Sharing Active Crime Scene Photos", "Los Angeles sheriff says he will not enforce vaccine mandate", "Audit finds Sheriff's Department didn't get approval for helipad at Villanueva's home, contradicting his claims", "Alex Villanueva vows to 'turn pyramid upside down' as new LA County Sheriff", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex_Villanueva&oldid=1134314822, This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 02:01.