Los Angeles County supervisors were briefed this week on four legal options for removing Sheriff Alex Villaneuva from his elected post. The board did not specify if it was ready to take action.
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas first called on county attorneys in October to spell out their options for playing hardball with the sheriff.
Then last week, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced he was launching an investigation into whether there is a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
It seems that a majority of the board is now willing to wait and see how that investigation—which will certainly take many months, if not years—plays out. Villanueva will be up for reelection in 2022.
County Counsel Rodrigo Castro-Silva laid out the board’s alternatives, including an amendment to the county charter, a recall, an accusation by a civil grand jury of willful or corrupt misconduct followed by a jury trial, or an action by the state’s attorney general challenging the sheriff’s right to hold his post.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, the board’s current chair, noted that to date, the board has sued the sheriff, held back funding and granted subpoena power to watchdog dog agencies to strengthen oversight.
“I welcome this investigation as a continuation of the board’s continued effort to hold the department accountable for its actions and inactions against the residents of L.A. County,” Solis said, referring to the AG’s announcement.
Solis also highlighted that voters have the power to remove the sheriff when he comes up for reelection, a point that Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger have stressed in previous meetings.
Barger reiterated that position Tuesday.
“I remain opposed to taking action to unilaterally remove the sheriff or changing policies to instead have that position be appointed,” Barger said. “It’s not our jurisdiction to take power away from the people.”
Barring a community-led recall vote, Barger said she would leave it up to the AG to take swift action if the investigation warrants.
