[ad_1]
When the chief executive in charge of oversight for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department recently announced he was being kicked out of his position, it brought fever pitch tensions that had been building for months.
On one side is the watchdog that says efforts to bring reform and transparency to the sheriff’s department are being hampered. The other is a county official who argues that a new perspective is needed in the Private Oversight Board.
The showdown is taking place as the committee continues to fight the county for access to internal sheriff’s departmental records regarding deputy misconduct, including investigations of gang-like clergy who are said to control certain stations and promote a culture of violence.
Robert Bonner, chairman of the oversight committee, wrote last month that he “reluctantly left” the body he had been a member of since its establishment in 2016.
On Thursday, Bonner gave his first speech to the committee after revealing his time as a chair that will end this month.
Bonner said he was “just as shocked as the call from Supervisor Berger.”
And he had the choice words for the other county operators who he described on the side of the committee as thorns.
“It can be dangerous. County officials, and this includes the office of the county advisor, but they protect the lawn and view an independent committee as a threat to that lawn,” Bonner said.
“There’s a troop in the county,” he later added.
Berger spokesman Helen Chavez said he claimed Bonner’s claim that the supervisor immediately dismissed him “dramatic effect” and that it “not only is it inaccurate, but it also mischaracterizes the circumstances of his departure.”
“His claim that his presence alone is essential to achieving reform is selfish and mildly misleading of the dedicated commissioners and staff collectively moving forward with the mission of the Private Supervisory Board,” the statement said. “These reforms are greater than any individual and continue uninterrupted.”
Berger, who chairs the county’s board of supervisors, told the Times in a statement last month that he is “committed to expanding the diversity of voices and expertise represented by the committee.”
Kathryn Burger, the fifth district superintendent, will be present in 2023 with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
(Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
She said her decision to replace Bonner “reflects my desire to continue to cultivate public trust in the surveillance process by introducing a new perspective that supports the committee’s important work.”
On Thursday, Bonner’s ally Patty Gigans stood up for the chairman who left when he said it was likely to be the last of the Bodhis monthly meeting he attended as a committee member.
“We all feel that we are here, and all commissioners appreciate your leadership, your tenacity, your sparkle and courage.
The county’s advisory office said in an email that it “has fully supported the COC as an advisory body to the board” in its efforts to seek the information needed to serve as a strong supervisory role on behalf of LA County citizens.
However, some observers have noted that county lawyers are in a troublesome position. This includes the Civil Monitoring Board, the Burger office and the Sheriff’s Office, which are attempting to enforce the subpoena.
Peter Eliasburg, the chief counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union in Southern California, said he said that county lawyers are on the sheriff’s office’s side almost every time such a dispute.
“It’s either intentional or it’s very myopic to be pushed out at this point when Commissioner Bonner is leading an incredibly important reform,” Eliasburg said. “I feel this is an effort to hamstring this committee.”
Formerly a federal judge and director of the Drug Enforcement Office, Bonner is not the only commissioner to leave the supervisory body this year, denounce the watchdog agency.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, right, discusses with former superintendent Shawn Kennedy on the annual Baker-to-Vegas Law Enforcement relay on April 5th in Baker, California.
(William Leanne / For the era)
In February, Loyola Law School professor Shaun Kennedy resigned after county lawyers tried to stop him from filing a brief in court in support of former LA County Dist advisor Diana Terran. Atty. George Gascon faces felony charges from the state. Terran was accused of inappropriate access to records relating to sheriff’s deputies, but the state appeals court recently moved to dismiss the case.
Kennedy said in February that he quit because he believed that “county attorneys were not suited to administer COC’s independent oversight decisions.”
Last month, Kennedy investigated him after receiving notice that the law firm was “working in the county lawyer’s office,” and allegedly retaliated against a Sheriff’s Office sergeant who faced supervision scrutiny. Kennedy denied any misconduct and claims that the investigation into him is politically motivated.
In an email this week, Kennedy described the removal of Bonner as “a death knell for LASD’s meaningful civilian surveillance.” He argued that the Board of Supervisors will “assist the sheriff in preventing members from accessing confidential documents to do their work.”
Berger’s office opposed the criticism and said earlier this year the manager’s office had suggested he was willing to step down.
In an April 18 email to Barger, Bonner wrote, “If you decide not to reappoint me, be sure I’ll be fine with that.”
Berger’s spokesman Chavez questioned the “severe contrast” between “his attitude and tone,” and then compared to Bonner’s recent official duties.
Bonner told the Times, following the April 18 email, expressing that he wanted to be “expanded” to achieve his goals as chairman.
“I never wanted her to think she wanted for her job,” Bonner said in a text message.
Bonner and Kennedy’s sudden departure raised concerns about who would fill the gap they left behind.
The Private Oversight Committee voted Thursday for Body co-director Hans Johnson to fill Bonner’s shoes when his role was over on July 17th.
“The loss of Rob and Sean, who were deeply committed to reaching the bottom of the sheriff’s departmental problems, is taking a blow to the county,” said Bert Deckler, a former special advisor to the oversight board. “These were two special guys who knew what they were talking about. A long, long history.”
Deixler attributed the confusion to “political plots” within the county, and denounced the move to replace Bonner.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “There was no reason based on merits to make that decision.”
At the committee meeting Thursday, Bonner listed some goals he wanted to achieve before the chair was over. His priorities included strengthening the board’s ability to implement effective oversight and strengthening Sheriff Robert Luna’s commitment to enacting a ban on deputy gangs and ecclesiastics.
It is not yet clear how Bonner’s layoff will affect these plans.
“I’m leaving,” he said. “We’ll have to pick up the ball here after July 17th.”
[ad_2]Source link
