The Second Division of the California Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed an injunctive order barring oversight officials from asking whether employees of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are members of deputy gangs.
The order blocks Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman from asking deputies to show their tattoos and/or reveal the names of others who may have similar tattoos.
Huntsman said his office compiled a partial list that includes 11 deputies who allegedly belong to the Banditos, which operate out of the East L.A. sheriff’s station, and 30 alleged Executioners from the Compton sheriff’s station.
In May 2023, Huntsman sent notices to 35 deputies asking them to come in and answer questions related to his investigation and to show their tattoos and give up the names of any other deputies with body art linking them to either the Banditos or Executioners.
Huntsman’s letter indicated that their failure to cooperate could affect their employment.
Sheriff Robert Luna indicated he had a list of 41 names of deputies allegedly belonging to a deputy gang that was presumably supplied by Inspector General Max Huntsman.
Luna campaigned on a platform of eradicating deputy gangs from the sheriff’s department but it was reported by Cece S. Woods, that he promoted Commander Jose “Joe” Mendoza to Detective Division Chief after covering his Banditos tattoo with an American flag.
Luna also faced controversy when he named April Tardy his undersheriff despite her having a “station tattoo” from her time at the Temple Station in the San Gabriel Valley.
To read the full ruling click here.
