The Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission Friday approved a report on “deputy gangs” in the department and adopted the report’s recommendations to eradicate the gangs.

The report documents “overwhelming evidence” demonstrating that the gangs still exist and engage in harmful activities within the department. The report holds these gangs responsible for “undermining discipline, morale, and safety to the public and  Department personnel.” The report also contained recommendations identifying the reforms needed to eliminate these gangs and “extinguish the culture the Department has permitted.” Additionally, the report recommends that the department adopts a policy that clearly prohibits gangs and subject captains that are unwilling to support the policy to “appropriate discipline.”

In response to the report, Interim Executive Director for the Commission Danielle Butler Vappie stated:

We look forward to partnering with the Sheriff’s Department, the Office of Inspector General and the Board of Supervisors to implement these recommendations and eradicate deputy gangs from the ranks. These gangs put a stain on all the positive work that is being done by honorable deputies each day.

The report defines deputy gangs as “deputy groups engaged in egregious conduct such as violations of law, the excessive use of force, threats to the public or Department members.” The members of these gangs “not only use gang-like symbols but engage in gang-like criminal behavior directed against the public and other Department members.” The commission assigned the pro bono team of special counsel that investigated and authored the report in March 2022.

The report will now go to Sheriff Robert Luna with the commission’s recommendation that he adopt and implement the report’s recommendations.