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public safety

Image of a deputy wearing a tan Sheriff's Uniform riding a 4 wheel motorcycle. he is riding on a beach with the ocean and skyline behind him.
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Beach Patrol Mission

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Announces the Beach Patrol Mission

On Saturday, May 28th, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) will officially kick off the LASD Beach Patrol Mission, which will run from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The beach patrol will consist of members from the Sheriff’s Response Team and the Mounted Enforcement Detail.

The team will perform high visibility patrol to assist LASD beach partners with extra patrol from Playa del Rey to Malibu. The LASD Homeless Outreach and Mental Evaluation Teams will be available and part of the deployment throughout the summer.

“Summer is upon us and the last couple of years have been challenging for everyone. I want to remind the community that we’re doing our best, we’re stretching our resources so that people feel safe wherever they are, including the beach areas of Los Angeles County. This summer, the LASD Beach Patrol Mission will be visible throughout our beaches so that visitors and the community have a great time at the beach,” stated Sheriff Villanueva.  

The Sheriff’s Department wants all residents and visitors to our LA County beaches to have a safe, and enjoyable summer. Please visit our social media pages for additional information. 

Sheriff Villanueva is standing at a podium infront of a TV that reads. "Dramatic Rise in crimes. Quality of life issues involving homlessnes on the Metro.
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LASD Operation Safe Travel

Sheriff Alex Villanueva announces LASD Operation Safe Travel

Within the last six months, there have been several crimes in the Metro system including people pushed on train tracks, unprovoked attacks on passengers by homeless individuals. Sexual assaults on female passengers, and a patron intentionally set on fire while riding the train have also been reported. Several of these crimes resulted in fatalities. 

According to Metro, approximately 5700 homeless people live on the train system and on the Metro platforms. This has created an enormous problem for those whose only transportation option is the train system.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference to announce a new initiative to keep the public safe while they ride the Metro system. 

“The biggest problem we have right now on the entire transit system, is we have a homeless population that are living on the train system and on the platforms. And the intersection of that, and the people that are actually using the trains for their intended purpose, for travel, is colliding and it’s colliding with deadly results,” said Sheriff Villanueva.     

To halt the grave problem and to ensure the safety of Metro passengers, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) is launching Operation Safe Travel. This will be a multi-layered approach to conduct targeted operations along the train system. The goal of the operation will be the safety of commuters by having high law enforcement visibility and the removal of homeless individuals from trains and platforms through homeless outreach and early intervention. Right now, security officers request assistance from deputies when a situation is out of their control and sometimes that intervention comes late. With early intervention, deputies can interact with an individual showing distress so that the situation does not escalate.  

Resources for the operation will include members of various units and bureaus from the LASD including the Sheriff’s Response Team, Community Oriented Policing Services, Homeless Outreach Services Team, Transportation Services Bureau Special Assignment Team, Mounted Enforcement Detail, Narcotics Bureau, Operation Safe Streets, Human Trafficking Detail and other units and bureaus from the Sheriff’s Department.  

Operation Safe Travel will begin on June 1st, 2022, and the first step of the multi-layer approach will be to remove individuals living on the transit system. LASD wants train commuters to see the difference and feel safe while using the Metro.

Train commuters and riders are encouraged to call this number to report any Metro non-emergency concerns: (213) 229-2298

Press Conference Video

Press Conference Material

Power Point – PDF

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2021 Year in Review Recap of LASD

Sheriff Alex Villanueva Provides A Year In Review Recap Of LASD, Crime Stats And Department Goals for 2022

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva provided a recap of 2021 during a press conference at the Hall of Justice on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. The Sheriff discussed the topics of crime, jail violence, personnel shortage, accountability, the Public Corruption Unit, accomplishments, homelessness and goals.

In general, violent crime went up, with a two-year increase in homicides by 94% and grand theft auto was up by 59%. Some crime went down due to the pandemic because people were home and businesses were closed.

Jail violence went down steadily for two years, but there was an uptick in 2021 and that was also as a result of the pandemic. Jail population in 2018 was 17,000, it was decompressed to 11,500 to prevent the spread of COVID in the jails, and now it is close to 13,000. The percentage of inmates suffering from diagnosed mental illnesses is up to 36%, and the lack of staffing due to budget cuts, has impacted violence in the jails.

Staffing levels in the department continue to create a challenge in daily operations. Patrol stations are operating at 71%. When deputies are either injured, relieved of duty, light duty, or retire, there is nobody to replace them. Deputies working at the stations have to cover absences and that impacts public safety. Positions continue to be filled in all other Los Angeles County departments, except for the Sheriff’s Department. 

The pandemic also affected the total volume of contact with the community. It decreased from 2.5 million to 2.1 million. However, statistically, the use of force was very small. Use of force involving a fatality was even smaller. Commendations from the public were greater than complaints and that shows the department is making progress.

Accountability is something Sheriff Villanueva takes great pride in. Under his leadership, a total of 949 personnel members have been disciplined, 132 have been discharged for offenses that include use of alcohol, false statements, sexual misconduct, domestic violence and excessive force. In addition, in 2021, Sheriff Villanueva ordered an organizational change in administrative investigations that allows for a concurrent administrative and criminal investigation for specific cases to speed up investigations. Currently, there is one case from 2016, one from 2017, two from 2018, 12 from 2019 (including the Ryan Twyman case), 19 from 2020 and eight deputy-involved shooting cases at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office that are still pending. Sheriff Villanueva expressed his frustration and said such investigations should take 90 days and not six years.

Sheriff Villanueva also discussed the Public Corruption Unit, a unit that has existed for decades but was never formalized. Since its formal inception during his administration, the unit has worked on 24 cases, 10 of them are open investigations, 14 of them are closed, three of them were presented to the DA and six of them have been presented to state and federal agencies. Sheriff Villanueva reiterated that the unit does not investigate individuals, it investigates complaints of criminal conduct.

One of the accomplishments Sheriff Villanueva is very proud of is the Special Alert System for 911 calls involving mental health crises. This program allows families to register a loved one who suffers from any impairment in our system so that deputies know ahead of time and use the best approach on the person involved. 

In 2022, Sheriff Alex Villanueva will start a pilot program in Men’s Central Jail. On February 1st, the Department will begin testing the use of 50 body-worn cameras inside of the jail. On February 13th, the Department will begin testing the use of the “live streaming” feature of the body-worn cameras in patrol for the benefit of the Mental Evaluation Teams. The Homeless Outreach Services Team will continue to provide help and house homeless individuals especially on tourist destinations like they did on Venice and Olvera Street. He will continue to put dents on illegal cannabis grows. Securement of rail corridors is in his immediate plans. Fighting crime and the safety of residents will continue to be a priority, but he urged the Board of Supervisors to support law enforcement.

Press Conference Video

Press Conference Material

Press Conference Slides – PDF

To view the video of the Ryan Twyman incident which occurred on Thursday, June 6, 2019, visit: https://youtu.be/pDDGCwucfto


To listen to the audio of Supervisor Janice Hahn from the Operations Safety & Customer Experience Committee Meeting, LA Metro -Thursday, November 18, 2021, visit: https://metro.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=2024 and refer to minute 30:31-30:40

Image of a taped off street. Yellow tape reads: Sheriff's line do not cross. end of a police car is in the front and in the distance a congregation of sheriff's Deputies.
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Arrests made in a series of armed robberies

Six cities in the County of Los Angeles have been impacted by a series of armed robberies in recent days. Hard working deputies from several of our patrol stations along with detectives from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau – Major Detail finally made a breakthrough and arrested three juvenile suspects in connection with those robberies. On December 14, 2021, Metro Detail investigators responded to armed robberies occurring in the city of Norwalk and in the city of Industry.

During their investigation, detectives discovered that they were looking for one to two suspects described as male Blacks and armed with a handgun. Additionally, detectives were also able to identify the suspects’ vehicle and a license plate. The license plate was entered as a “Felony Vehicle – Armed and Dangerous,” which alerted all LASD patrol stations in the County of Los Angeles. Shortly after, the suspects committed another armed robbery in the city of Bellflower.

A Lakewood Sheriff’s Station patrol deputy, patrolling his area, spotted the suspect vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop. During the traffic stop deputies recovered over $1000 USD, and evidence linking the juvenile suspects to multiple robberies. The handgun used in these multiple incidents, is still outstanding. Several victims and witnesses positively identified the juvenile suspects as the ones who committed these armed robberies at the various locations.

Major Crimes Bureau – Metro Detail arrested three juvenile suspects responsible for a series of armed robberies that occurred between December 12 to December 14, 2021 at multiple gas stations, and convenience stores in the cities of Bellflower, Industry, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Whittier, and Downey. The juvenile suspects are currently detained, and the criminal case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau – Major Detail at 562-946-7150. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

image of a person in an orange jumpsuit in hand cuffs, being lead down a dark hall, Text reads, "Make the Right call, dont drink and drive.
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Drugged and Drunk Driving Prevention Month

National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Millions of us will be traveling to visit friends and family over the holidays. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department encourages everyone to have a holiday game plan that includes a designated sober driver.

During the pre-Christmas and New Year’s holiday season Nov. 30 till well past the New Year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will have additional deputies on patrol looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Tragically, there is an uptick in impaired drivers during the holidays. During the 2019 Christmas (Dec. 24-Dec. 26) and New Year’s Day (Dec. 28, 2018-Jan. 2, 2019) holiday periods, there were more drunk-driving related deaths (210) throughout the country than during any other holiday period in 2019.

“We want everyone to enjoy the holidays and be safe,” Sergeant Robert Hill said. “The more people who plan ahead and find a safe, sober ride home from holiday parties and get togethers, the merrier.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reminds drivers that a “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana can also impair, especially in combination with alcohol and other drugs. Driving under the influence (DUI) can have serious consequences. Call a friend, call a cab, or use a ride share app but make the right call. Don’t Drink & Drive!

Sheriff Alex Villanueva is standing behind a wooden Podium and is pointing off to the right to a screen.
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Sheriff Villanueva Addresses Public Safety Concerns at LA Metro

Public Safety Concerns Regarding LA Metro Policing Services

On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Chief Gene Harris from the Los Angeles County Police Chief’s Association, along with Special Operations Division Chief Jack Ewell and Transit Services Bureau Captain Shawn Kehoe, held a press conference to address public safety concerns for LA Metro and the pending vote to significantly alter dedicated law enforcement services as we know them.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) is contracted to provide police services for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to areas within Los Angeles County. As part of a transit policing team, LASD works with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) and Metro Security Services, to ensure the safety of transit riding patrons and Metro employees. The LASD Transit Services Bureau (TSB) is comprised of over 300 personnel, including personnel specially trained to handle: transit patrol services, transit mental evaluation, transit homeless services, explosive detection, canines, transit special assignments, transit investigations, transit dispatch, and transit support. All of these components are essential for the safety of public transportation users.

On June 18, 2020, on a motion by Metro Board of Directors Bonin, Garcetti, Hahn, Dupont-Walker, and Solis, authorized the creation of the “Public Safety Advisory Committee.” This committee developed a new scope of services, budget, and other provisions for the multi-agency police contract renewal.

On November 3, 2021 this official paid advisory committee voted, 14 to zero, to recommend abolishing all three policing contracts, shifting the burden of policing to local agencies and using the $75 million to fund undefined alternatives such as non-profits and yet-to-be developed Metro Ambassadors. The recommendation from this newly-created committee will be considered by the Metro Board of Directors on November 18, at their “Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience” committee meeting, and on December 2, by the full MTA Board of Directors.

“If we’re re-imagining things without any input, any serious consideration for what the outcomes could be, then what we might as well start doing is imagining of the carnage that it’s going to ensue. The chaos that’s going to happen when we don’t have law enforcement officials to address the situations we just heard,” said Chief Gene Harris.

Prior to the pandemic, in 2019 over 370 million people rode Metro, an average of over one million riders a day. Post pandemic, over 200 million riders per year used the metro. Although there was a reduction of riders due to the pandemic, crime remained

constant. In the past three years, there have been 6 murders, 26 rapes, and 1,450 robberies or assaults on the Metro. The statistics show the need to increase the number of law enforcement officers, not abolish them.

Sheriff Villanueva planned to show a video clip with a compilation of crimes that occurred on the transit system but Stephanie Wiggins, Metro’s CEO, refused to consent to the release of the videos because it would harm public trust in the Metro system and it would also constitute a breach of contract between Metro and the Sheriff’s Department. Instead, Sheriff Villanueva described the eight violent crimes.

“We need to take these matters seriously because lives are at stake, lives are being endangered on the system and that callous disregard for the safety of the passengers is alarming and I think every single member of the MTA Board of Directors needs to be held accountable,” said Sheriff Villanueva.

Ultimately, voting to defund police services for LA Metro will hurt public safety, especially for those community members who have no other choice but to rely on public transportation.

Press Conference Video

Material Used During the Press Conference

Powerpoint – PDF
Part 1 Crimes 2019-2021 – PDF

Videos of Crimes Occurring on the Transit Systems – PDF
Transit Agency 4 Year Comparison – PDF
Defund Movement – PDF
MTA Crisis Letter to Supervisor Solis from Capt. Kehoe – PDF
LACPCA Letter to Supervisor Solis – PDF

Sheriff alex villanueva graphic. portrait of sheriff in tan shirt black tie. Sheriff's uniform, on greeen background with the hall of justice building behind him faded in the back ground.
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IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY

IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY

October 28, 2021

As homicides continued to rise, the Board of Supervisors voted to require all Los Angeles County employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face discipline, up to and including termination. 

The Board’s vaccination mandate is causing a mass exodus within the Department, which is an absolutely absurd result.  I have repeatedly stated the dangers to public safety when 20%-30% of my workforce is no longer available to provide service, and those dangers are quickly becoming a reality.  We are experiencing an increase in unscheduled retirements, worker compensation claims, employees quitting, and a reduction in qualified applicants.  As a result, homicide rates will continue to rise, response times will increase, solve rates will diminish, arrests will decline, patrol services will significantly decline, and patrol stations will close. 

A large part of our workforce who is close to retirement finds it easier to simply retire, than be forced into a decision which should be a personal choice.  Other personnel who were called “heroes” for diligently working in service to the community during the pandemic, while other professions stayed home, have decided to finally get those surgeries they have been putting off for injuries sustained throughout their careers (knees, shoulders, back, etc.). 

This unintended consequence to public safety was predictable.  In the near future, unless something changes, the “defunded” and “de-staffed” Sheriff’s Department will no longer be able to sustain the staffing levels required to maintain public safety at the status quo.

My personnel already wear masks and would submit to routine COVID-19 testing, so termination makes no sense. 

Personally, I am vaccinated and believe the vaccine works, but the choice to receive the vaccine is a personal one, and an individual who served the community tirelessly before there was a vaccine should not now be fired because they made a decision about their own body.

If you have an opinion on this matter, please call the Board of Supervisors and voice it.  With the pandemic diminishing, there is no justification for the Board mandate; it is like putting up the storm windows after the storm has passed. 

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

See my Response letter regarding the matter here.

Voice your concerns with your district supervisor

Name and numbers of the Board of supervisors.
Sheriff Villanueva speaking at a podium surrounded by Consulates from the Asian and Pacific Island nations of LA County
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Zero Tolerance For Hate Crimes In Los Angeles County

Press Conference: Sheriff Villanueva, Along With Local Asian Community Groups, Call For Zero Tolerance For Any Hate Crimes And Incidents In Los Angeles County

On Thursday, March 25, 2021, Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference in front of the Hall of Justice to announce his support for the Asian community.  He was joined by; Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, Akira Muto; Honorary Consul General of Cambodia in Los Angeles, Mr. Kim Chha Hout; Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles, Kyung Jae Park; Mayor of Monterey Park, Yvonne Yin; Mayor of San Gabriel, Chin Ho Liao, the support of Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles, Zhang Ping, the Sheriff’s Community Advisory Counciland other highly respected community leaders.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a significant rise in hate crimes against the Asian-American community. The fatal shooting of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, is the latest attack against Asian-Americans, and it shook the nation. Unfortunately, it was not an isolated incident. On Sunday, March 21, 2021, a man disrupted a ‘Stop Asian Hate’ protest in Diamond Bar by driving through a group of protesters while hurling insults against China.

Sheriff Villanueva called for zero tolerance for hate crimes in Los Angeles County, especially towards Asian Americans. He urged people to report crime by calling 911 if it is an emergency, contacting a local law enforcement agency, or remaining anonymous by calling LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222 or by visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

Undersheriff Tim Murakami talked about his experience as a 4th generation Asian-American. He explained that historically, the Asian community has been very quiet. For the most part, they accept things, overlook them and move on. He urged the community to stand up as a group and realize “they’re Americans, they have the right to be here, they have the right to be respected and the right to be protected.”

Sheriff Villanueva reminded everyone that everyone is looking for the same things in life, security and a sense of belonging at the end of the day. “If you’re a recent arrival or you’ve been here for generations, all of you are welcome in Los Angeles County. We welcome you in this great nation of us,” he concluded.