Los Angeles County Chief Probation Officer Guillermo Viera Rosa appears to have violated the Board of State and Community Corrections conflict of interest policy while serving on the board before joining the probation department in May 2023.
A public records request was initiated last month seeking disclosable records for Viera Rosa’s outside employment while working for the state department that provides leadership to the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems, expertise on Public Safety Realignment issues, a data and information clearinghouse, and technical assistance on a wide range of community corrections issues.
In 2016 then-Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Rosa Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Division of Adult Parole Operations. Then, in May 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom reappointed him to the post, which qualified him as an ex-officio member of the BSCC.
After being reappointed to the role, Rosa was listed as the Qualified Manager on a state application to the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) on behalf of Garrison Group International (GGI), a security firm based in Newport Beach, California, in October 2020.
Rosa’s affiliation with GGI was disclosed in an article published to WitnessLA which identified him as the “owner and operator” of the firm.
In February 2020, Rosa listed himself as the owner of Sovereign Protection (SP), as a Private Patrol Operated Qualified Manager in an application submitted to the BSIS.
In essence, he was enjoined in two side businesses while serving on the state board that appears to have been in conflict with the state’s Incompatible Activities Statement.
Documents released under the public records request the BSCC provided a copy of the policy the Board of State and Community Corrections provides employees with guidelines concerning activities that are incompatible with State employment.
Prohibited activities listed under outside employment included in Section D determines Rosa engaged in prohibited activity when working with GGI and SP.
“Outside employment in public or private business involved in detention or corrections activities, including employment with any law enforcement, custodial, corrective, security, or investigative agency that maintains a local detention facility, whether public or private, including volunteer service as a peace officer.”
According to state records, Garrison Group International had its license suspended in November 2022 due to not having a Qualified Manager, which was initially identified as Rosa.
It is not publicly known why Rosa gave up his appointment overseeing the division of adult parole operations.
He was announced as the interim chief of the Los Angeles County Probation Department in May 2023 and was made the permanent chief five months later in October.
BSCC was asked if Rosa’s working for Garrison Group International was a prohibited activity of the BSCC Incompatible Activities Statement?
“The BSCC incompatible activities statement applies to BSCC employees and officers but does not apply to BSCC Board Members. As Director of Adult Parole, Mr. Viera Rosa would have been covered by an incompatible activities statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation,” said Mercedes Morales, an analyst with BSCC.
Was Rosa forced out due to conflict of interest?
*story will be updated once BSCC provides a response.