LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County has paid out roughly $55 million in settlements in cases in which sheriff’s deputies were alleged to belong to a secret society, records obtained by the Los Angeles Times show, illuminating the entrenched nature of a subculture that has plagued the Sheriff’s Department for years.
The figure comes from a list that includes payouts in dozens of lawsuits and claims involving deputies associated with tattooed groups accused of glorifying an aggressive style of policing. The report, prepared by L.A. County attorneys, lists nearly 60 cases, some of them still pending, and names eight specific cliques.
The county has paid out nearly $21 million in cases that began in the last 10 years alone, according to the document cited by The Times.
The high cost underscores how these deputy groups — with monikers such as the Vikings, Regulators, 3000 Boys and the Banditos — have operated out of several Sheriff’s Department stations and jails for decades, exhibiting what critics have long alleged are the violent, intimidating tactics similar in some ways to criminal street gangs, The Times reported. The cases involve incidents that date to 1990.
Over the years, a succession of elected sheriffs has failed to bring the subgroups under control despite multiple internal investigations and, more recently, a probe by the FBI. Many civil liberties advocates and county watchdogs have accused the Sheriff’s Department of turning a blind eye.
“I think it’s a willful failure,” said John Sweeney, an attorney who has represented families of people killed by deputies. “For some reason, they pride themselves, the Sheriff’s Department, on having these violent cliques I guess to show the public who’s the boss. But, you know, what it does is just fosters a horrible relationship between the community that these sheriffs serve.”
The Board of Supervisors requested the list of payouts last year after The Times reported that members of the Banditos, which operate out of the East L.A. station, were accused of assaulting other deputies during an off-duty party in 2018. One deputy was knocked unconscious.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said that he put measures in place in February that prohibit deputies from participating in cliques.
“The fact that I’ve had to address these issues which have been festering since 1990 is an illustration of the failure of past sheriffs from addressing the issue head on,” he said in a statement, adding that he transferred leadership personnel from at least one station to combat the clique problem and is holding employees accountable if they fail to uphold the new policy.
Inspector General Max Huntsman said last week that he is “aware of no implementation whatsoever” of Villanueva’s new measures and that his office can’t effectively investigate the secret societies “because of the obstruction of the Sheriff”s Department,” The Times reported. Huntsman said the criminal investigation in the off-duty Banditos beating amounted to a “cover-up,” noting that more than 20 deputies present during the incident were not required to give statements.
Lt. John Satterfield said investigators conducted more than 70 interviews as part of an administrative investigation of the Banditos claims and are sharing information from reviews under the new clique policy with the FBI, The Times reported.
“The IG continues to further this distorted narrative that his office is not provided documents or information in order to ‘investigate’ or provide oversight,” Satterfield said, adding that in the last 13 months the oversight office has had access to more than 500 documents. “Despite his misleading statements, the sheriff continues to provide him with access and continues to welcome oversight.”
Defenders of the deputy cliques say they represent hard work and boost morale by fostering camaraderie.
Previous related stories:
L.A. County asks for tally of lawsuits related to deputy cliques
Overview commission asks inspector general to review deputy cliques
L.A. County calls for study of deputy cliques
Reinstated deputy a member of secret society of Reapers
Deputies claim gang at East L.A. sheriff’s station terrorize them
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Monico says
In the mid 90’s I was being extorted and robbed by a woman related to a gang the southsiders.. I tried to make a complaint to the sheriff department..I was in fear of mine and mothers life as we were told not to say anything.. when I talked to the deputies all they said is not to worry about the Southside they were not going to do anything… I was now in real disbelief about this situation.. soon after my home got raided.. deputies intimidated me to take mother to jail if not allowed to search my home..So I let them…I was convicted for receiving stolen property..
The same property I had taken from the woman related to the Southsiders that I was trying to make a complaint about but I was told not to worry about.. I had to take a $50k loss.. Later on I come to find out the person that introduced me to this woman is a son to a deputy…
They are up to no good deep state police… because of this is hard to trust the good cops..the bad ones sure got me silent and risked my life..My illegal conviction right into the lions den… I am sure karma will be served now days, for the sake of truth and justice..
I would be more concerned about cops without tattoos…with a secret illuminated deep state power monger mentality.
Anonymous
Shaunna Elaine Black says
I know what happen at Rampart
Shaunna says
What makes them a gang? Just because a group of officers are close.. Its good they are close and keep each other in check. Society will not benefit from a police department full of pushovers and sissys.
Just because 1 or 2 officers couldn’t hang and got there feelings hurt.
Matt says
Apparently someone doesnt remember or has no idea about what happened in the Rampart division, but hey, what could go wrong. Lol.
Say no to jail says
This happens because deputies have to spend the first 2+ years of their career working at the county jail surrounded by people who think its cool to be a criminal covered in tattoos and some deputies who are young and easily influenced are going to think its cool as well and want to emulate that behavior. This is why I never hear of this happening in the LAPD. The solution is to have the jail run by private guards, so we don’t end up with patrol deputies who have been tainted by their experience of working at the jail.
Alexis says
Say no to jail…This article is about L.A. County, plus it would be a good idea to read the oath law enforcement takes. You are justifying lawlessness in law enforcement.
Lasdlight says
As a recently retired younger deputy- the issue is not the jails, the problem is the department hires within the ghetto. To satisfy “diversity in hiring”, well qualified candidates from nice areas are pushed to the back burner to hire the Latin applicant from Lynwood or Compton. My academy class was diverse, had many different backgrounds and most men with some women but quality people. Most trainees were decent people. Over the last 5 years, classes are 80 percent Hispanic BUT most of these are straight from Compton, Lynwood, south LA. They signed up for high pay, low education standards and good benefits, not for the profession. You don’t see these same hiring practices at Glendale, Irvine or depts who mandate 4 year degrees or military experience. The LASD has become a beacon of trash- it’s sad honestly. New supervisors promoted based on gender and ethnicity are typically morons who have no business in their scope of responsibility. Any private company wouldn’t hire or promote the same for that much responsibility that their position holds.
Say no to jail says
Makes sense, and passing a background check can mean nothing if the person is a dishonest criminal with no morals who just never got caught, but doesn’t the LAPD have to follow the same hiring and promoting rules as the LASD does?
And Alexis. ya I know its LA County and I’m justifying what? Half the time I can’t understand what the heck you are talking about.
Shaunna Elaine Black says
Well said.. requirements should be stricter and some type of tactical background should be mandatory
Alexis says
The difference between lawless gang members that use violence to destroy our society, and the gang members that use violence to destroy our society wearing a badge is the badge that justifies corruption.
Alexis says
Excellent article, and so true. Sure, we need law enforcement, but it has been corrupted all the way through, and has been for a very long time. The abject failure of those within to clean their own house is going to remain, as it has for decades. Too many are “public servants” no more.