LOS ANGELES – A group of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies Thursday filed legal claims against the county, saying they are the victims of gang members who work for the department and terrorize young, Latino deputies working in East L.A.
The gang of deputies call themselves the “Banditos,” according to the claims, which say that the county failed to rid the department of the gang and to discipline the gang members, who all have matching tattoos of a skeleton with a sombrero, bandoleer and pistol. The Banditos have been the focus of previous lawsuits and media reports, as has the decades-long issue of secretive gangs or cliques of deputies in the department.
“The hostile environment at the police station has led to the deputies fearing their fellow officers more than the criminals in the street,” said Vincent Miller, an attorney representing the claimants.
The sheriff’s department did not respond to a request to comment.
According to the claims, which were brought by five young deputies and two veterans, department leaders failed to discipline members of the Banditos, and encouraged its members to retaliate against deputies.
The claims further allege that the Banditos exert power over the deputies on the beat in a manner similar to prisoners running a prison yard, and target young Latino deputies, overloading them with calls and not providing back up on dangerous calls in the field when back up is required.
According to the claims, just prior to being elected the new sheriff, Sheriff Alex Villanueva attended a department party on September 28, 2018, where several purported Banditos gang members assaulted young Latino officers while several deputies watched and didn’t intervene as one of the young deputies was nearly strangled, choked and punched in the face by the gang.
Another young officer also was attacked by the gang and assaulted, according to the claims.
Four of the purported Banditos members were placed on leave after the incident and are under criminal investigation, according to the claims, which also state the Banditos have continued to retaliate against the young officers. The gang secretly emptied out the bullets from one of the officers’ guns in an effort to set him up to be killed outside in the field, according to the claims.
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cosette earnist says
We just moved here and we are appalled to read this story. How can our Mayor let this continue? Is there something about him we should be aware of? I understand this is a training area for young officers and with this kind of example how can we expect decent officers to want these jobs. It’s like a science fiction story where the cops are all the bad guys that people need to fear.
F..k L.A. County says
Why do they use a Spanish word to name their gang if they routinely harass Latino officers?
These parties to celebrate successfully completing probation take place at bars.
These parties conclude with a bunch of arrogant, entitled, rookie cops getting wasted and driving home.
That’s exactly what happened some months back when that shot-faced rookie LASD totalled a row of cars in Palmdale.
Laws, jail, and a life of poverty and criminal records for some, full benefit packages and pensions for the rest.
Surfside 6 says
Once again, California’s tough new “extended” background check fails to weed out nobody.
Tom says
I’m sure the sheriff himself is a member of the gang. So any chance of cops involved being let go will not happen.
¡Bandidos! says
What a bunch of dumb deputies that can’t even spell a simple word in Spanish, send them back to 1st grade: ¡Bandidos!
Alexis says
“Bandidos” is a biker club of 1%ers. The gang of deputies biker gang is the “Banditos.” Bandito is Spanish for bandit. Go figure that a group of so called law enforcement types would be bandits.
LACSD Terror says
One gang terrorizing another gang…
Alby says
How in the hell can someone secretly empty out the bullets of an officers gun unless you’re buddy buddy with him enough to have access to his gun?
AV supporter says
It has been said long time ago the biggest gang there is is the sheriff’s department and is so true
Dauntless says
Many “citizens” have no clue as to what is really going on in our judicial system, what-so-ever! They actually believe most of law enforcement is for our benefit! I often wonder, where and how these people live, in their close- minded view of their environment?
MAGA says
It’s called subversion
Alexis says
Yes, this has been going on for a very long time! Lives are being ruined, and many citizens can’t even comprehend how utterly corrupted lawless enforcement is.