By: Marvin McCoy
I mean it’s too tempting with Karen Bass catching heat for her ” glowing” support in support of a new 5-year contract with controversial ” LAPD” Police Chief Michel Moore I find it highly curious that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Holly Mitchell hasn’t reached the same height in her vocal and public support in the newly elected Sheriff Robert Luna as all metrics show that Robert Luna isn’t ready for prime time.
For full disclosure I’m an avid supporter of former Sheriff Villanueva and regardless of what you say he served the people that “elected” him admirably and with honor, although not perfect by any means but I think the void left by the absence left by Villanueva’s ouster by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, more specifically that of Board President Holly Mitchell requires a public response for a Sheriff who seemingly lacks institutional knowledge of the inner workings of his department and the only other glaring example of this anomaly was former Sheriff Jim McDonnell whom was an outsider to the LASD inner workings but benefited as serving in the capacity as assistant Chief and even with that wasn’t re-elected, Sheriff.
If this was the end result for Jim McDonnell an outsider with LAPD experience I can only imagine the outcome for the current Sheriff and it will be ugly.
If you need more proof I ask for your audience to view an interview with CBS news where Sheriff Luna cites his biggest challenges within the LASD based on “well publicized documented reports” which he cites and mending fractured relationships with the Board of Supervisors, the Inspector General and damn near every far-left political operative than that of the deputies he was elected to lead.
Related: Sheriff Robert Luna says things going “extremely well” after his first month in office
Speaking of deputies he then goes on to paint a broad brush of this “boogeyman” elusive deputy gang that exists within LASD ranks based on documented reports which clearly is a rookie outsider mistake because it would, in my earnest opinion, behoove the newly elected Sheriff to earn the support and trust of his deputies than acquiesce to the political pressures and the machinations of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the equally dangerous politically “woke” left.
With that being said, I’m the staunchest proponent of police reform but there must be answers to the political hatchet job that the previous board, including the since indicted former Board member Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was the originator of this witch hunt and proudly passed the baton although mired in his own dirt and disgrace to Holly Mitchell who’s been eerily and conspicuously quiet in Sheriff’s Luna’s less than desirable performance thus far.
On today’s @LACountyBOS meeting agenda alone we had settlement amounts totaling $47,650,000 for allegations that included excessive force, in-custody death, and deputy-involved shootings from our Sheriff’s Department. This is unacceptable. (1/2)
— Holly J. Mitchell (@HollyJMitchell) November 2, 2022
The same Holly Mitchell that was “so outraged” at the cost of lawsuit settlements under Villanueva, but sits silently on the five people the department has killed last month along with the deputy caught on tape threatening to blow a hole in the chest of a Black motorist during a traffic stop.
Have you spoken with @LACoSheriff about his deputies threatening this Black man during a traffic stop? https://t.co/2ptBpb206F
— 2UrbanGirls (@2UrbanGirls) January 29, 2023
By my estimates with each claim potentially valued at $10 million, which includes the man from the traffic stop, Luna has cost the department $60 million in less than two months on the job.
As the mother of two Black sons, this is my greatest fear. This young man could have been my child. Law enforcement has the responsibility to de-escalate situations, not threaten to kill someone livestreaming in their parked car. I’m done & will be following up with LA Sheriff. https://t.co/Hg8v0xwCuQ
— Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (@AsmTinaMcKinnor) January 5, 2023
I mean if we’re being honest here Sheriff Luna is the former Board’s choice and if we’re being honest it was their second choice but even with their failed first choice in former undersheriff Cecil Rhambo I can’t imagine him committing the sins Luna did in his widely criticized response to the Monterey Park shootings or remaining eerily quiet of the number of deputy-involved shootings in which has led to 5 deaths and for irony sake one emanating from the Compton Sheriff’s department station where the rumors of deputy gangs have plagued the department for years.
2UrbanGirls caught a LOT of heat on social media when Luna made the decision to skip the church service a Compton pastor had specifically for the Compton station deputies days after Luna appeared on CBS. It created the perfect opportunity for Luna to speak directly to the residents now that he’s elected. He’s been in office eight weeks and still hasn’t made time to visit the City where the department was facing insurmountable grief over deputy gangs. Remember, it started in Compton before it traversed to the East LA station.
Related: Supes Vote To Cancel Controversial $1.7 Billion Men’s Central Jail Replacement Contract
We need a sense of command from our Sheriff, and not prepared statements being read to Tavis Smiley’s podcast. Luna reiterated his priorities were restoring public trust and at least Tavis asked how is that possible when his deputies keep killing people. Luna also wants a new Men’s Central Jail which is mindboggling considering the Board of Supervisors canceled the contract to build a new one.
In closing, it’s clearly obvious that this job is way above Luna’s pay grade, and we need to collectively have this coming to Jesus moment soon before Board will be forced to remove him from office for not being qualified to do the job.
