The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office announced a new policy Wednesday banning gang affiliation among officers in the department, a problem county officials say has been going on for decades.
Several previous investigations by the county’s Office of the Inspector General have uncovered allegations of violent crimes tied to at least 19 gangs within the sheriff’s department. In total, 59 legal claims have been filed dating back to the early 1990s, resulting in more than $54 million in settlement payments for incidents tied to these criminal groups.
The new LASD policy, titled “Prohibition – Law Enforcement Gangs and Hate Groups,” provides clear definitions of terms such as “law enforcement gang, hate group, membership in a hate group, and participation in a hate group – definitions that exist in California law,” according to a statement from the department about the new policy.
It is illegal to participate in a so-called law enforcement gang, or to have others participate in such a gang. In addition, LASD must investigate allegations of such groups and, if necessary, refer them for prosecution.
According to LASD, the policy complies with the California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act and the California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act, among other state laws.
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