An oversight commission for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department asked the public for feedback Wednesday about experiences with LASD personnel believed to be involved in deputy gangs.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission has published an online survey available via tinyurl.com/32bwczpm that will run through July 15.
“The commission will use the survey to learn about community members’ first-hand experiences with alleged deputy gangs and develop qualitative data to report to the (L.A. County) Board of Supervisors,” according to the commission’s website. “The survey will also be used to determine whether LASD has been responsive to community members’ complaints about deputy gangs.”
Deputy cliques and gangs have long been a problem within the sheriff’s department. The groups are characterized by engagement in egregious conduct such as law violations, using excessive force and making threats to the public or LASD employees.
Two years ago the commission issued 27 recommendations to eliminate deputy gangs and established a system to monitor compliance.
The Board of Supervisors also directed the commission to archive information received from the individuals’ accounts of their experiences with alleged deputy gang members.
Accompanying the survey is the commission’s virtual Community Listening Session set for July 10.
