Embattled Sheriff To Answer Your Questions Tonight At Dukes
Written by 991KBU on May 22, 2019
A local political battle is also coming to Malibu … tonight.
Los Angeles County sheriff Alex Villanueva is coming out to Malibu to address local constituents tonight at 6.
The L-A sheriff’s office infuriated many in the Malibu area … with what was viewed as heavy-handed and arbitrary road closures during the Woolsey Fire.
The hundreds of people who stayed behind to fight the fire storm ran out of food .. gas and other supplies … and county sheriffs roadblocks frustrated most resupply efforts.
It’s important to note that Villanueva had not yet taken office … when the roadblock controversy erupted.
Malibu mayor Jefferson Wagner tells KBUU News he will go to the meeting … which is not sponsored by the city.
He may be the only council member to attend.
And this will be the first and only contact between the city … and the city’s police chief.
Jefferson Wagner.
NEWSCART 75137 WAGNER FORUM
“Well, I think it’s a good idea for me to attend. I have not yet met the sheriff yet, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
“it’s a good opportunity for me to meet him in a more open forum.”
The Malibu mayor stressed that his attendance tonight is not an endorsement.
Other city council members have expressed frustration with Villanueva … and his lack of communication with Malibu … which pays the sheriff 8 million dollars a year to provide police services in the city.
Wagner .. a former reserve sheriff’s deputy … says he understands the new sheriff’s moves to keep trained deputies who have committed minor offenses under the color of law.
NEWSCART 75138 WAGNER SHERIFF
“For deputies that may have had an incident in the past, or may have been to the reprimand process, possibly rehiring would not put them out on the street to expose them to other mishaps or other problems.
“But maybe as management behind-the-scenes or paper shuffling or something where they are not still useful , where they are still useful but not out in active duty.”
The Malibu mayor stresses that cases of major misconduct … such as beating up a domestic partner … are a wholly different matter.
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The sheriff’s visit to Malibu comes one day after a civilian oversight commission raised alarm bells about the sheriffs office apparently sweeping investigation into deputy abuse under the rug.
Civilian complaints about deputy misconduct are supposed to be investigated by the sheriff.
But the outside audit shows that 54 complaints about deputy misconduct were simply moved to inactive status in the last three month quarter.
That’s a sharp uptick.
The civilian oversight board met yesterday . and sent out a news releaase that they did not get any answers from the sheriff.
L A County supervisors have criticized the sheriff for reinstating 16 deputies who had been found to have abused their badges … abused their domestic partners … or committed other offenses.
Villanueva has said each case is being reviewed individually … and that some deputies had been railroaded out by the former sheriff.
According to malibu’s mayor … the public is invited to ask Villanueva about the evacuations … the disciplinary actions … whatever.
The public forum is scheduled for 6 p m tonight at Duke’s Restaurant … on P C H at Las Flores Canyon … at 6 tonight.
