Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies Accused Of Rape, Smuggling Undocumented Immigrants, and Heroin

This was just some of the misconduct investigated — and corroborated — by the Office of Independent Review in a recently issued report.

The OIR, a civilian oversight body created by the county Board of Supervisors, is tasked with making sure the LASD’s internal affairs investigations are thorough and effective, and the recommended discipline is fair.

The report, posted on the OIR’s website, provided summaries of administrative discipline cases resolved through Sept. 30, 2013.

Because of privacy laws, it does not list the identities of the deputies involved or the dates of the misconduct, some of which may have taken place a few years ago.

Assistant Sheriff Todd Rogers expressed concern about the findings.

“When these matters are brought to our attention, we make every effort to investigate them as promptly as possible and take the most appropriate correction action,” he said in an email Thursday. “This can include retraining, written reprimands, suspensions, demotions, and even discharge.”

Rogers added accountability must be ensured “from the sheriff to the most junior supervisor.”

“All of us have an absolute obligation to conduct ourselves in a manner that is above reproach and demand the same of those who work within our chains of command,” he said. “As supervisors, we must do everything in our power to ensure that our personnel do not engage in conduct that violates the public trust, damages the reputation of the department, or causes irreparable harm to their careers.”

Source: Black Voices | Los Angeles Daily News  |  Christina Villacorte