LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission continues to allege that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to deny access to confidential information under current Sheriff Robert Luna.
“The Civilian Oversight Commission cannot perform its oversight role without access to confidential information, which is currently denied to the Commission. To be truly effective, the independence of the Civilian Oversight Commission needs to be made clear, and we must have access to confidential information,” said Robert C. Bonner, chair of the commission.
Luna promised more accountability and transparency in the department when he ran for office against then Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
“We need to defend good policing,” he said, adding, “It is our responsibility to call out bad policing, and we will do so — that’s an element of keeping the public trust.”
During its regularly scheduled monthly meeting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission (Commission) unanimously recommended revisions to its governing ordinance (Section 3.79 of the County Code) to the Board of Supervisors; revisions it said are needed to permit it to effectively oversee the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The three key changes to the Commission’s governing ordinance are:
- Allowing the Commission access to confidential information relating to allegations of Deputy misconduct.
- Making it clear that the Commission is independent and is expected to act independently in the best interest of the residents of Los Angeles County.
- If the Sheriff does not adopt a recommendation of the Commission, he would be required to state his reasons for not doing so in writing within 60 days of the Commission’s recommendation.
The Commission’s proposed revisions will bring the Commission in line with best principles and practices of civilian oversight of law enforcement organizations nationally.
In addition to the above, the proposed revisions would permit the Commission to go into closed sessions to receive privileged or confidential information. Also, the revisions clarify that the Commission may review and comment on the adequacy of internal investigations as well as the levels of discipline imposed for misconduct.
