By Alex Villanueva
Four years ago, against all odds, I became the 33rd Sheriff of Los Angeles County. And as Sheriff, I promised that I would Reform, Rebuild and Restore the greatest and largest Sheriff’s Department in the nation. Four years later, I am proud to say that with the support of the sworn and professional staff, together we were able to meet challenges head on, and deliver on that promise.
I am proud we reformed the jails by prioritizing safety for all, and as I promised during my campaign, we removed ICE from the jails. And as the COVID-19 pandemic began, we took proactive steps to prevent the spread of the virus in our custody facilities, becoming a model for custody facilities nationwide.
I am proud we protected the First Amendment rights of thousands of peaceful protesters. While doing so, we were able to identify and detain those who were using the protests as a cover for riotous actions. And during the Civil Unrest of 2020, there were no deaths, no looting, and only minor injuries in areas where our deputies were present. Through transparency, we restored our tradition of service, and rebuilt trust with the community. We redesigned LASD.org and put the entire department online.
The Body Worn Camera program was a commitment during my campaign, and a cornerstone of my Transparency Promise. Every deputy on patrol now has a body cam, and we were able to accomplish this feat at a fraction of the initial estimated cost, saving taxpayers millions.
We also expanded or service to the community by hosting over 100 Town Halls, expanding the Homeless Outreach Services Team, launching Operation Homebound, Operation Safe Travels, the Marijuana Eradication Task Force, the Wage Theft Task Force, and our Hometown Heroes recruitment program.
It has been an honor to serve as your Sheriff and I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished as a department over the last 4 years. And I urge you to continue to work together with the community, our leaders, and elected officials to ensure our great Department provides the transparency, accountability, and service the good people of Los Angeles County deserve. I would love to keep in touch with as many folks as possible. Our journey is far from over! Please save my new email address: sheriffvillanueva33@gmail.com or follow @alexvilanueva33 (one “L”) on Twitter and @SheriffVillanueva33 on Instagram with any questions you may have.
Sick and tired of BS says
I just hope that the new Sheriff does not make another Gascon and also begins to release criminals and allow and celebrate their crimes.
Hopeful says
Sheriff Villanueva, you will be missed. You truly cared and refused to sacrifice your integrity to the corrupt Board of Sups, or to the activists with their extortion attempts
And despite the toxic environment they created, you managed to succeed in truly progressive and badly needed accomplishments. If the biased, politically entrenched, deceitful and untrustworthy media hadn’t tainted these accomplishments, they would have been better known amd understood, and the election results may have been different. We are the silent majority that truly thank you for your selfless service. We wish you well with your next journey and hope this is only the beginning.
Skibum says
Laughable… if there truly was a “silent majority” that supported Villanueva in his failed attempt to be re-elected, he would not now be the former sheriff that voters dumped by a huge percentage. Hopeful, you can hope all you want, but when an elected official turns his back on the rule of law, shows such disregard for integrity and transparency, and alienates as many people inside and outside of county government as the former sheriff managed to do in his four year term, that individual deserves to be run out of office on a rail and that is exactly what L.A. County voters did.
Iconoclast says
You came into office with high expectations. Unfortunately, you got tangled up in politics with the BOS. That was not smart. One of them has been a LA City Council member and a congresswoman. Another has been a state senator, a congresswoman, and Secretary of Labor. One had been a state senator. Another had been a state senator. Finally, one of them had worked for a county supervisor for ages and then became one of them. When you play with fire, don’t complain if you get burned!
Connie says
Good riddance. What a waste of human space. Thank God Angelo’s were smart enough to see through Villanueva’s BS and crime
RoachesOfLA says
You know your comment is flawed when you claim Angelino’s are smart. Lol! That’s rich!
Skibum says
Here is your REAL lasting legacy: In the four years you were sheriff, you intentionally violated your oath of office, you indulged in personal vendettas against those in the department and county government who you perceived as not loyal to you or who tried to hold you accountable. You succeeded in further damaging the reputation of LASD and you ruined your own integrity. You failed to live up to the high standard that law enforcement professionals are supposed to have, and you brought dishonor to the badge that was given to you by the voters. You misled and lied to, and ultimately made each of the county supervisors your adversaries. You alienated a large number of citizens as well as members of your own agency, you disrespected the rule of law, and you now have been run out of office and have made the work or restoring integrity and confidence in the office of sheriff a steep climb for your successor. Wow, all that in four short years. Congratulations on the terrible job you did! All that the people who had such high hopes for you as sheriff can say now is leave already, and good riddance!
Mayor of Stomp Town says
Evidently you haven’t been to Long Beach lately.
if you french fry when you should pizza you’re going to have a bad day.
Common Man says
Naturally, preventive action – stuff done to preclude hazard – always goes unrewarded.
Ask anyone in safety practice about this conundrum. The problem that does not precipitate is thanklessly assumed to be a non-problem.
On your way out, I hope you will now take some time to please ponder the immature behavior you manifested when you refused to answer subpoenas.
Subpoenas – these are legal summons to witness. Common citizens cannot resist them without finding one of your deputies at their door.
Yet, there you were. like a common criminal, refusing and resisting.
That made you appear ‘above the law’, and ruined your legacy, no matter how much you might want to amend that reputation with your accomplishments.
I could have been on your side if you could have just walked the talk, that obedience and order are important.
By ignoring legal processes and refusing to cooperate you lost my confidence.
Stinger says
Nicely put.
Pacoima p says
Beat it and the rest of your gang deputies the sheriff’s are just devils in the making its really sad they treat people like animals I was denied medical treatment I told them I had seizures bit nothing came out of it just that the d.a threw it out see these sheriff’s pick and choose who they harass and broke my phone you will see me in small claims court in los angeles
Lynwoods finest says
Down right shameful to be proud of the sheriff’s department nothing has changed in the jail system no weekly clothes exchange the sheriff’s are still bullies blackmailing people straight up busters and the prison gangs they still exist in the lynwood jail the people that work and pay taxes we deserve better audios villanueva there’s a new sheriff in town Luna clean up the corrupt sheriff’s fire them all the police gang at the compton,Lancaster, and Palmdale stations they call themselves the vikings Luna the people want things done we are tired of just words get on this deputies hold them accountable for everything that they don’t do
Cyndi says
Your arrogance and being the narcissist you are led to your demise. And keeping the “Sheriff” emails, twitter accts etc, you can’t let that bigger than life ego go. You are now just a Citizen. Your behavior for 4 years, shameful. Bye Felicia….and take your crooked family and friends with you. You were lucky as a Lieutenant.
Tim Scott says
Yeah, yeah…beat it. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. Say hi to Lee Baca.