Sheriff Refuses To Appear Before Civilian Oversight Board – Subpoena Approved To Make Him Explain Drastic Cuts To Homeless Outreach Program
Written by 991KBU on May 8, 2020
L A County sheriff Alex Villanueva appears to be picking another fight with the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission .., according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
The sheriff yesterday refused to send any of his assistants … or to appear himself … at the commission.
Voters last November overwhelmingly approved giving the commission the power to subpoena the sheriff.
And yesterday … they voted to order through a subpoeona that the sheriff appear.
the sheriff refused to explain his plans to close two patrol stations …
The sheriff refused to explain his plan to drastically reduce homeless outreach services …
The sheriff also refused to appear to answer questions about his handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the jails.
The chairwoman said she thinks “it’s outrageous that the sheriff isn’t here to answer questions about what’s going on in the jails.”
Commissioner Priscilla Ocen suggested that inmates are being housed in conditions that increase their vulnerability to contracting the virus.
In March, voters overwhelmingly approved Measure R, handing the commission direct authority to issue subpoenas to investigate conduct within the Sheriff’s Department.
The LA Times reports it is unclear whether Villanueva plans to comply with the subpoena.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-07/civilian-oversight-subpoena-sheriff
