Demands for accountability and justice are intensifying as Los Angeles County’s probation system teeters on the brink of collapse under the leadership of Chief Probation Officer (CPO) Guillermo Viera Rosa.
On November 14, 2024, Probation Oversight Commissioner, Esche Jackson, frustrated, made a statement regarding CPO Viera Rosa once again, not showing up to the Probation Oversight Commission. Commissioner Jackson made it clear that she wanted her remarks on record, which included a direct call for the CPO’s rejection of leadership, series of failures, and his inability to be present with his absence being disrespectful to Probation and all stakeholders.
She stated that she did not want to ask questions that she knew she would not get answers to, so she decided to make a comment, “However, the series of failures in the findings of unsuitability, in my opinion, only speak to how unfit he is as a leader at this point. The corrective action plan being rejected is a denial of his competence.” Referring to the unsuitability of Los Padrinos, she further stated, “It’s about his inability to get up there and do what needs to be done.
Frankly, outside of him just being rejected as a leader, him not being here today, in my opinion is a rejection of himself. I feel very strongly about that, because as a leader the bare minimum is just showing up. I find his absence disrespectful to every stakeholder imaginable. So very disappointed time and time again and it’s just tragic.”
Leadership in Freefall: A System in Crisis
The Commissioner’s statement paints a damning portrait of a department in disarray. Key failures include:
- Operational Chaos, missed court deadlines, inconsistent probation client supervision, and neglected protocols.
- Staff Demoralization: Officers report being overworked, under-supported, and abandoned by leadership, fueling record turnover.
- Public Safety Risks: Lapses in supervision create a deeper level of recidivism, endangering communities.
- Legal Liability: The department faces potential lawsuits and federal oversight due to potentially evasive mismanagement.
Improper Hiring
Viera Rosa allegedly bypassed merit-based hiring rules to appoint friendly associates to key roles and top salaries during an Emergency hiring status. Most refer to an alleged blatant form of cronyism, as most of the new hires came solely from CDCR and San Bernardino Probation.
A Leader Disconnected
The CPO’s consistent absence reveals a stunning lack of engagement with labor, community stakeholders, and even the CPO’s own executive team:
- Why did Kimberly Epps leave, former number two in charge, formerly San Bernardino County Probation? Why did Sanford Rose leave, hired as a Deputy Director formerly Orange County Probation? The abrupt departure of two high-ranking officials has raised suspicions about internal turmoil.
- Who are the shadow operatives? Seemingly, secretive teams as contractors are reportedly working “on the side” without transparency, undermining trust.
- Why is labor alienated?”
- CPO has ignored labor concerns, creating a complete disconnect with all staff ranks, including managers, supervisors and line staff. How are officers expected to perform with no support or leadership?
Occurring under the CPO’s watch include:
- High-profile probationer escapes;
- In addition, the hiring of CDCR Associate, Gabriella Aguilera, who filed a lawsuit against the State of California, alleging that she was retaliated against and denied promotions for complaining about gender discrimination. Additionally, according to an article by City News Service, on June 3, 2024, “as well as false internal rumors spread about her, including that she was having an affair with her supervisor”. Aguilera recently took the role of Acting Chief Deputy Probation Officer after Chief Deputy Probation Officer Kimberly Epps departure. She has never worked for a probation agency; and
- His Chief of Staff, Meshal “Kash” Kashifaighita is also not visible, nor does he coordinate strategic planning meetings with staff during these multiple emergencies. “Kash” is allegedly enticed to try to become a Chief Probation Officer. There may be notable concerns from the County of Los Angeles Office of Equity (CPOE) with complaints due to his uncontrolled statements with many current Probation employees.
His other number two in charge, Administrative Chief Deputy Probation Officer Sheila Williams, could run probation operations and not solely administrative services. She assisted in coordinating the removal of Deputy Directors and Bureau Chiefs in late June of 2024. When will Williams engage the department effectively and efficiently? She appeared nearly silent at the last BOS meeting, on February 18, 2025. It appears that she found amusement, even with the CPO’s substandard presentation to the BOS.
One of the public commenters, a probation employee, stated, “My 5th grader could have done a better presentation”. The combined salary of the current CPO and Chief Deputy is roughly close to three-quarters of a million dollars a year. Objectively, the same rule could be applied to the removal of an Unclassified (UC) executive position for not protecting the mission of the department, nor ensuring its success.
Allegations of officer misconduct that occurred under Viera Rosa’s watch
- There does not appear to be a visible global plan to date where the CPO has failed to acknowledge his own shortcomings.
- A botched deployment of field officers to the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall (LPJH), diverted resources from critical community supervision.
Community advocates and elected officials have joined the chorus of criticism. This isn’t just incompetence—it’s a betrayal of public trust,” said a citizen from the Board of Supervisors Holly Mitchell’s District of Los Angeles. These families and communities remain the hardest hit areas by his deployment debauchery.
In a recent article by Jason Henry, he highlights Probation Field Officers, who typically work in the field supervising adults and youth clients, are being sent home to burn their own benefit time, because they are unable to work in the institution setting, due to a disability or age, as Los Angeles County Probation Department does not have safety retirement like some other law enforcement agencies or CDCR.
Probation has an older workforce and therefore has different physical class levels, for example, a physical class level 2 is “light duty” for Deputy Probation Officers in the field. As a result of the CPO’s tactic to make all DPOs deploy, it backfired on him, with a current pending class action lawsuit that includes roughly 800 employees.
Demands for Accountability
The Probation Oversight Commission recognizes the challenges and appears to lose confidence in many meetings with no Chief Probation Officer (CPO) in attendance. The CPO attended court with Judge Espinoza, one time, and has never returned.
On a global scale for any Chief Probation Officer, even at the federal level, any chief probation officer who conceals his or her decisions by not having emails linking them to any decision made can be reviewed by a federal agency for the destruction of records 18 U.S.C. € 2071 (concealment or destruction of government documents). If criminal conduct arises (e.g. corruption, obstruction), a Chief probation officer could be terminated from employment which may coincide with prosecution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
Immediate Transparency
- Full disclosure of staffing levels, LPJH emergency plans, and shadow teams’ roles.
- Collaboration with Labor, rebuilding trust with unions to address officer burnout and turnover.
- The CPO should answer for every decision with his failed attempts to present a global plan at the Board of Supervisors last month on February 18, 2025.
Within the decades of probation, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has attempted to hire only outside candidates and is noted to be on their 9th outside chief. The other California Probation departments prepare within their ranks, future department leaders. The Board may not have to search far for their hope and their hero.
A Call to Action
The Los Angeles County Probation Department employees’ closing plea leaves no room for ambiguity. Probation is at a critical juncture. The community, the staff, and the community served are counting on Probation to get this right. Hope can only be restored if leadership changes. The CPO must go—now.
Elected officials are urged to intervene.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said an official from the US District Courts.
Signed,
The Men and Women of the Los Angeles County Probation Department
