Family members seek help for Estephan hernandezhttps://sheriff33.lasd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_4905-1024x743.jpg1024743SIB StaffSIB Staffhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/179d7335802e3daded4330485a5562ec1de93760eb3e7e694ec84645300a95c0?s=96&d=blank&r=g
On the 4th Anniversary of the Murder of honor student, Estephan Hernandez, Homicide detectives and family members seek public’s help
On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Homicide Bureau detectives held a press conference in front of a makeshift memorial where Estephan Hernandez was murdered exactly four years ago. Lieutenant Brandon Dean announced a $10,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for taking the life of Estephan. The reward is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Four years ago today, on Thursday evening, September 28, 2017, Estephan sat in his car, chatting with a female friend. The car was parked in a residential neighborhood in the 1100 block of East 148th Street, Compton, and as the pair talked, unknown assailants in a passing black sedan shot several rounds at their car. The suspect vehicle fled the scene and drove westbound on East 148th Street, away from the victims and out of view.
“We’re now in his fourth anniversary. We do this every year to remember our son. Please, if anyone knows something, speak up. Don’t stay quiet so that no mother endures what I’ve been suffering every day of my life,” said Estephan’s mom, Lydia Gonzales, in Spanish.
At the time of his death, Estephan was a 21-year-old honor roll student at Cal State University, Long Beach, pursuing a degree in Sociology. He was a compassionate person who wanted to see his contemporaries succeed, and devoted much of his time to mentor other minority students. With great ambition and a passion to help others, Estephan would undoubtedly have made a difference in his community and in people’s lives but his life was senselessly cut short.
It is unknown if Estephan was targeted or if it was a random act, but what is known is that he had no ties to any gang. “He was a great individual, good student. He wanted to be a counselor. Another thing he did was, he was a group mentor for incoming students in the college,” said Lieutenant Dean. If you have information about this senseless murder, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.
Sheriff Villanueva Responds to the RAND Report and Discusses Reforms in the Sheriff’s Departmenthttps://sheriff33.lasd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/i-tqWFJLs-X3-1024x683.jpg1024683SIB StaffSIB Staffhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/179d7335802e3daded4330485a5562ec1de93760eb3e7e694ec84645300a95c0?s=96&d=blank&r=g
On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference at the Hall of Justice to respond to the recent RAND Report. Sheriff Villanueva read 188 pages of the report and under his “Rebuild, Reform, and Restore” campaign, out of the 37 recommendations that were identified, LASD had 30 of those recommendations actively in place prior to the release of the report. The remaining 7 are under review and some of them involve training which requires funding. It is important to note that the cost of providing 8 hours of training to the Department is approximately $7.2 million, and the current budget does not allow it.
Sheriff Villanueva noted that implementing significant reforms does not happen overnight and correcting 50 years of failed leadership will take time. He focused on reforms that have taken place under his leadership such as the Deputy Cliques Policy (MPP3-01/50.83). It is a policy that did not exist before and it took effect on February of the year 2020.
As a result of the George Floyd murder, the Duty to Intervene Policy (MPP 3-01/030.14) was implemented. The Department had a policy that was subject to interpretation but this new policy leaves no doubt that Department members shall intervene and report an incident when they observe a serious violation of any Department policy. Failure to intervene may result in criminal prosecution.
Other important policies that have been initiated are:
Protections Against Retaliation for Reporting Misconduct Policy – (MPP3-01/030.22)
Threat Assessment of Department Personnel Following Involvement in Significant Incidents (Detective Division Order 21-2)
Transparency Promise (all information the Department can lawfully share is on the website)
Body Worn Cameras (20 out of 23 stations are now using body worn cameras and in two more months, all stations will have them.)
Sheriff Villanueva announced that a total of 874 personnel have been disciplined from December 3, 2018 to September 13, 2021, and out of that number, 120 have been given Letters of Intent to Discharge. He emphasized that he has held employees accountable, but one thing he does not do is prosecute, as that is the job of the District Attorney. LASD is responsible for criminal investigations and those are turned over to the D.A. and those investigations sometimes sit with the D.A. for years.
He also noted the report contradicted itself, stating at one point deputy cliques were still actively adding members (p.xi), while later saying they did not seem to be actively adding members (p.97). Print news media widely used the first statement while completely ignoring the latter.
“With all the negative press associated with the deputy subgroups, with the efforts that I’ve done, my administration has done, putting the policy, enforcing the policy, creating a video that every single member of the department had to see, they had to sign an attestation form, and it goes into each individual’s personnel jacket. None of this was mentioned in the RAND study. Why? Because they were not interested in the truth, that’s the sad reality,” said Sheriff Villanueva.
Sheriff Villanueva pointed out a statement he found troubling: “Community leaders and members were mostly critical of current department leadership, expressing concerns about a lack of transparency, a lack of trust, and a culture of aggressive policing” (p.161, p.xii). “I read through the entire report and did not find a single reference comparing current Department leadership and past Department leadership, not one, So, how did they come up with one?” asked Sheriff Villanueva.
It was later discovered that the Civilian Oversight Commission, which is appointed by the Board of Supervisors, provided people who had participated in focus groups in the process of gathering information. If the information had been drawn from the public at large, it would have been a rather fair report but the information came from people that were biased against the Department.
The RAND Report is the first of its kind entirely devoted to LASD sub-groups. The actual cost of the report was over $1 million and there was also a $1.5 million in property tax forgiveness that the County bequeathed to the Santa Monica-based RAND Institute.
PUBLIC CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONShttps://sheriff33.lasd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Sheriff_Statment_Header_2021-1024x249.jpg1024249SIB StaffSIB Staffhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/179d7335802e3daded4330485a5562ec1de93760eb3e7e694ec84645300a95c0?s=96&d=blank&r=g
Tomorrow, a local newspaper will release a story about the department’s long overdue creation of a Public Corruption Unit. The Sheriff’s Department has been conducting public corruption investigations for decades under every single sheriff, but it has never been formalized until recently. The department has been investigating multiple complaints of public malfeasance since I took office in December of 2018, which is well within the authority of the department consistent with California Government Code Section 25303 and 26600. As a matter of fact, the California Constitution bestows investigative authority to the Office of the Sheriff as an independently elected official, and who is not subordinate to any other elected official in the county. This is of particular significance when the community is demanding transparency and accountability from all elected and appointed officials. No one is above the rule of law.
In the article, the reporter will push the narrative that I created this team to attack my political opponents and their appointees. This is false. The sole responsibility of the Sheriff’s Department is to investigate allegations of criminal conduct as they are discovered, regardless of how inconvenient it may be to the subject of the investigation. The unit is supervised by the Undersheriff, and I have recused myself from all decision making to avoid any potential conflict of interest. The department routinely seeks out the opinion of the District Attorney, the State Attorney General’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to decide jurisdictional issues and appropriate prosecutorial venues on all cases.
LASD Remembers and honors the 20th anniversary of 9/11https://sheriff33.lasd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Post_911.jpg900900SIB StaffSIB Staffhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/179d7335802e3daded4330485a5562ec1de93760eb3e7e694ec84645300a95c0?s=96&d=blank&r=g
RELEASE OF RAND CORPORATION REPORT ON DEPUTY SUBGROUPS
September 10, 2021
Today the Board of Supervisors released a study performed by the RAND Corporation titled “Understanding Subgroups Within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: Community and Department Perceptions with Recommendations for Change.” I received the 230-page study the same time everyone else did today, so I have not had an opportunity to read it. I look forward to learning about their study, methodologies used, limitations, and seeing how their recommendations can inform the massive reform efforts already underway. This is part of leading a learning organization devoted to serving the public safety needs of our community.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Policy Regarding Immigration Inquiries and Notification
This policy is intended to reassure immigrant communities that there is no need to fear contact with the Sheriff’s Department. Policy Section 05-09/271.00 “Immigration Inquires and Notifications.”
Department members shall investigate criminal activity without regard for an individual’s legal status.
Department members shall not initiate police action with the objective of discovering the individual’s immigration status.
Deputies shall not arrest an individual on suspicion of violating a federal immigration law relating to illegal entry, being unlawfully present, or overstaying a visa.
Department members shall not inquire about an individual’s immigration status.
If a victim’s, witness’ or offender’s immigration status is discovered during an investigation, deputies shall not forward that information to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Department members shall not use an immigration authority as an interpreter.
For additional policy information visit www.sheriff33.lasd.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be deported by LASD during a routine traffic stop or call for help? Answer: No. The Sheriff’s Department does not enforce federal immigration laws. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are prohibited from asking about a person’s immigration status during routine traffic stops or calls for service.
If a deputy discovers I’m an undocumented immigrant, will the deputy arrest me for a violation of a federal immigration law? Answer: No. Sheriff’s Department policy prohibits deputies from arresting or booking an individual on suspicion of violating federal immigration laws.
Can I be deported by LASD if I report a crime or call for help? Answer: No. The mission of the Sheriff’s Department is to investigate crimes that have occurred, regardless of a victim’s or offender’s immigration status. When receiving a call for service, the focus of the Sheriff’s Department is helping victims and witnesses, not enforcing federal immigration laws. If a victim’s or a witness’ immigration status is discovered during an investigation, Department personnel are prohibited by policy from notifying ICE of the person’s immigration status.
What happens to a Deputy who asks about my immigration status? Answer: A deputy sheriff who inappropriately inquiries about immigration status is subject to administrative discipline.
Does the Sheriff’s Department assist ICE with immigration enforcement operations? Answer: No. The Sheriff’s Department does not participate in or assist ICE with immigration enforcement operations. We may participate in joint federal task force operations with federal immigration authorities only where the purpose of the task force is to investigate violations of local, state, or federal criminal laws.
Guía Informativo Sobre Inmigración
Preguntas Frecuentes ¿Seré deportado por ICE después de haber sido encarcelado por un delito? Respuesta: Depende. El gobierno federal tiene acceso a las huellas dactilares de todos los que están encarcelados por todo el país y puede comenzar procedimientos de deportación. Sin embargo, el LASD solo permite el acceso de ICE a reclusos que han sido condenados por ciertos crímenes, tal como son enumerados en el Proyecto de la Ley 54 del Senado de California (Consulte la sección 7282.5 del Código del Gobierno de Cal.).
¿Cuál es el procedimiento para que una víctima de un delito solicite una “Visa U”? Respuesta: La persona debe ser víctima de un crimen calificado. En algunos casos, los testigos y / o miembros de familia pueden ser elegibles en solicitar una Visa U. El solicitante o el detective de la estación pueden iniciar la solicitud de la Visa U (Formulario I-918 de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS)). El formulario debe ser llenado y presentado al detective manejando el caso. El detective revisará el expediente y determinará si el solicitante fue víctima de un cargo calificado y fue útil en la investigación. La presentación de cargos penales y un enjuiciamiento criminal no son requisitos para nuestra certificación en la solicitud de una Visa U. Si se cumplen todos los requisitos en la solicitud, la estación o el capitán de la unidad certificarán la solicitud, firmándola en nombre del Alguacil. La copia original es devuelta al solicitante o al defensor. El peticionario enviará todos los documentos aplicables al USCIS.
Para preguntas o quejas por favor llame a la: Unidad de Información del Alguacil (213) 229-1700 Unidad de Asuntos Internos (800) 698-8255
Les animamos en ponerse en contacto con cualquier estación local del Alguacil para obtener respuestas a cualquier pregunta adicional o si tiene una preocupación.
Recently, 19 justice involved men from Men’s Central Jail earned their high school diploma through the Department’s Education Based Incarceration (EBI) educational program. The ceremony, hosted by New Opportunities Charter School, was held virtually at Men’s Central Jail, located in downtown Los Angeles.
New Opportunities Charter School teachers are California state certified and teach in-jail classes such as Math, English, Science, and Life Skills, all of which meet current State requirements for high school education. Inmates participating in the program are housed together which creates an uplifting and motivating environment for them to thrive in.
Inmates who participate in educational courses but are released prior to completion, may continue their education by attending one of New Opportunities Charter School’s six fully operational school sites, which are conveniently located throughout Los Angeles County.
Congratulations to the recently graduated students – LASD is very proud of your accomplishment and wishes you much success in your future endeavors!
RUMORS OF MANDATORY COVID VACCINATIONS UNDER THE THREAT OF DISCIPLINEhttps://sheriff33.lasd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Sheriff_Statment_Header_2021-1024x249.jpg1024249SIB StaffSIB Staffhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/179d7335802e3daded4330485a5562ec1de93760eb3e7e694ec84645300a95c0?s=96&d=blank&r=g
RUMORS OF MANDATORY COVID VACCINATIONS UNDER THE THREAT OF DISCIPLINE
August 25, 2021
Personally, I have received the COVID vaccination, and I encourage others to become vaccinated. I also respect the individual rights of others to make decisions about their own bodies. Considering recent countywide directives being discussed related to mandatory vaccinations, under the threat of discipline or termination, I must state my belief this is a labor issue which must be worked out between the unions and the County Board of Supervisors.
As this issue is worked out by all involved parties, I want to reassure Department personnel NO ACTION will be imposed prior to completion of the meet and consult process.
Once this issue has been through the entire legal process, if there were ever policies regarding vaccination status which could result in discipline, the implementation of such policies would start from the top of the executive staff down. I look forward to seeing this issue resolved in a manner consistent with labor laws, the Constitution of the State of California, and the Constitution of the United States of America.
Back to Schoolhttps://sheriff33.lasd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Post_Back-to-school.jpg900900SIB StaffSIB Staffhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/179d7335802e3daded4330485a5562ec1de93760eb3e7e694ec84645300a95c0?s=96&d=blank&r=g
THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES THE PUBLIC TO STAY AWARE AND STAY SAFE IN SCHOOL ZONES: As students head back to the classroom, schools and the communities around them are going to be busier than they’ve been since the start of the pandemic. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reminds everyone to stay aware and stay safe with increased traffic returning to school zones.
There are going to be a lot more parents, students and staff out than residents have seen in more than a year. Please drive carefully in school zones, especially during pick-up and drop-off times. This includes remembering what to do around school buses.
The easiest, safest thing to do is to stop the car when you encounter a school bus with a stop sign and flashing red lights. There are going to be students getting on and off the school bus. It’s also the law.
California law requires drivers to stop when a school bus is in front of them and extends its stop sign with flashing red lights. Drivers must remain stopped if the red lights are on. Drivers in both directions must stop on any two-lane road without a median or a center turn lane.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department offers the following tips to stay safe around schools: • Slow down. • Follow any school rules for dropping off or picking up students. • Stop for school buses. Watch for children rushing to catch the bus or exiting. • Whenever possible, avoid blocking the crosswalk while waiting to make a right-hand turn. • Always look both ways before crossing the street. Make sure cars see you. • Walk on sidewalks, when available. Cross at marked crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals. • Watch for cars entering or backing out of driveways or leaving parking spaces
Centralized LA Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Connects 3 East LA Unsolved Murders, 2 Persons of Interest Soughthttps://sheriff33.lasd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/i-pDbHQWK-X2-1024x819.jpg1024819SIB StaffSIB Staffhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/179d7335802e3daded4330485a5562ec1de93760eb3e7e694ec84645300a95c0?s=96&d=blank&r=g
On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, Homicide Bureau detectives announced an $80,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible for the murders of 34 year-old Jesse Avalos, 38 year-old Eduardo Robles and 27 year-old Amanda “Nikki” Lopez, who were killed in East Los Angeles in 2014, 2015 and 2018, respectively. The reward was sponsored by Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, First District.
On Monday, February 10, 2014, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Victim Jesse Avalos received a phone call from an acquaintance requesting a jumpstart to his vehicle near the intersection of Telegraph Road and Arizona Avenue in East Los Angeles. Victim Avalos provided the jumpstart approximately 15 minutes later. A few hours later, East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station received a phone call at 3:25 a.m. of an injured person at the 4800 block of Telegraph Road in East Los Angeles. There, deputies found Victim Avalos on the driver’s seat of his blue SUV. He had sustained numerous gunshot wounds. The hood of his SUV was found open and two suspects were seen around the vehicle.
On Monday, July 6, 2015, victim Eduardo Robles was involved in a physical altercation on the driveway of a residence on the 4300 block of Eagle Street in East Los Angeles. Victim Robles was visiting, and approximately 15 people were present when the incident occurred. After the fight, the suspect jumped over a wrought iron fence to the street, walked to Victim Robles’ vehicle and punctured the four tires with a sharp object and fled the location. The same suspect returned to the location five minutes later and shot Victim Robles several times in the upper torso. The suspect was picked up by a Hispanic male in his mid to late forties, five feet eight to five feet nine inches tall, heavy set build, in a light green colored vehicle.
On Sunday, April 22, 2018, at approximately 2:40 a.m., the suspect exited the passenger side of a silver PT Cruiser and began searching for Amanda “Nikki” Lopez in a homeless encampment that was situated in a courtyard in front of the East Los Angeles Courthouse. The suspect located Victim Lopez in a tent in front of the field office of First District Supervisor Hilda Solis. The suspect placed a firearm into the tent and fired at Victim Lopez while she slept, striking her in the upper torso, killing her.
Sheriff’s detectives made a plea to the public, hoping $80,000 will motivate someone to bring that missing piece of the puzzle and bring closure to these families. “We know there were witnesses at every murder,” said Homicide Bureau Captain Joe Mendoza. It was witnesses coupled with surveillance at scenes that allowed a good description of both suspects.
But what led sheriff’s investigators to explore a possible connection in these three murders? Captain Mendoza explained, “One of the things that’s unique about LA County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is that we are centralized and we commonly speak to other investigators about our cases. So when investigators were comparing notes on cases, they believed they had similar description of the suspects and that’s when they really started to connect the dots. The link was the descriptions of the suspects who were similarly described.”
When the ballistic evidence from the 2014 murder of Victim Avalos was compared to the ballistic evidence from the 2015 murder of Victim Robles, the comparison determined the same handgun was used in both murders.
All three murders occurred within 2.2 miles of each other and within the same general area of East Los Angeles. Although a motive for the murders was unclear, investigators believe the victims were known to the suspects and were specifically targeted based on their relationships with the suspects.
In the three cases, witnesses describe the main suspect as a Hispanic male with short hair in his late twenties, five feet eight inches tall with a medium build. He has a tattoo on his neck with unknown writing.
The second suspect drives the getaway vehicle and is described as a Hispanic male in his mid to late forties, five feet eight to five feet nine inches tall, heavy set build and possibly with a mustache.
“I speak for my family as well as the other two families. We don’t have closure, we don’t have justice and I’m sure all of these families are still suffering. Please help us, please come forward with any information you may have,” said Victim Avalos’ eldest sister, Maria Orozco.
“Our brother is truly missed by our family, by his children,” added Victim Avalos weeping sister, Bertha Avalos.
Justice Deputy Esther Lim, representing LA County Board of Supervisor’s Hilda L. Solis said, “Through this $80,000 reward, the county is counting on our residents to help us bring accountability to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”
“We’ve had nobody come forward that can really tell us who these suspects are,” said Captain Mendoza. “So we are trying to get them to come forward because we know those witnesses are out there. And the $80,000 reward may quite possibly help do just that.”
If you have information about these senseless murders, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, East Los Angeles Station at (323) 264-4151 or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.
