MAX HUNTSMAN OMITS THE FACTS ONCE AGAIN
October 5, 2020
Today, I learned of the latest Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.
Conspicuously absent from the report is the fact the OIG had multiple opportunities to address the “Banditos” issue during the four years under my predecessor but chose to remain silent. This is because his job as a political appointee is to do whatever the Board instructs him to do. Mr. Huntsman now claims the past is the present, while willfully omitting all of the progress which has been made. His actions are purely politically driven and an attempt to undermine the reputation of the Department.
The report alleges investigators did not conduct a thorough investigation into the Kennedy Hall deputy on deputy fight. This is false. Both criminal and administrative investigations were conducted where investigators interviewed over 70 involved parties and witnesses in the case. In addition, this case was submitted to the District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division (JSID) for their review and their office concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The facts are that immediately after taking office, I relieved the East Los Angeles Station captain of his command, overhauled the entire leadership of the station, and transferred 36 personnel. In February of 2020, I became the first and only sheriff to successfully implement a policy specifically addressing employee groups which violate the rights of other employees or members of the public.
3-01/050.83. Employee Groups which Violate Rights of Other Employees or Members of the Public (http://pars.lasd.org/Viewer/Manuals/10008/Content/14944)
On August 13, 2020, at the conclusion of the Kennedy Hall fight between deputies investigation, I held a press conference to publish the results of the investigation for the public. Twenty-six deputies involved in that early morning fight were either suspended or terminated. As has become his pattern, Mr. Huntsman seems to have once again intentionally omitted facts which do not further his political agenda.
Please view our August 13, 2020, press conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEg6Gzilpt4&feature=youtu.be
