“I have lost confidence in Chief Gonzales’ ability to run our Probation Department,” board Chairwoman Janice Hahn said in a statement. “His ineffective leadership is hurting both the youth in our care and our staff who deserve better. I believe the best way forward is for Chief Gonzales to step down.”
Supervisor Kathryn Barger echoed the concerns, saying the department is in “crisis and has consistently failed to correct increasingly unsafe conditions for youth and staff, chronic understaffing, and abysmal conditions for the youth under its supervision and care.”
“We are nowhere near the level of rehabilitation and reform that our board has envisioned,” Barger said in a statement. “We can’t continue to wait for change to happen — we need to drive change. That change must start from the top.”
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Probation Department. The county’s Probation Oversight Commission on Thursday, Feb. 23, voted 5-2 to call for Gonzales’ resignation. Supervisor Hilda Solis issued a statement Friday afternoon that fell short of calling for Gonzales’ resignation, but said recent concerns make her “question and doubt whether Chief Gonzales and Chief Deputy (Karen) Fletcher should continue leading this department.” The calls come one week after the Los Angeles Times reported the launch of a criminal investigation by the District Attorney’s Office into the actions of several probation officers caught on video piling on top of a teenager at a juvenile probation camp in 2020 during an argument that escalated into a physical altercation.
According to the Times, an internal disciplinary board moved in 2021 to fire a supervisor involved in the melee, but Gonzales overrode the panel and opted to continue the supervisor’s employment. [Read the Times article here.] The Probation Department was targeted last year in a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of dozens of girls by agency staff dating back to 1985. The county’s juvenile lockups have also been criticized in recent years by state corrections officials for being unsuitable to house offenders. Late last year, the department abruptly moved all detainees out of Central Juvenile Hall over concerns about conditions at the facility.
Last month, the Board of Supervisors approved an emergency motion after learning that the Probation Department was auctioning off surplus firearms to dealers. Supervisors Hahn and Hilda Solis wrote in their motion that such an auction “directly compromises the board’s efforts to address the gun violence epidemic, is antithetical to the county’s values and is highly insensitive in the wake of the recent tragedy in our community,” referring to the mass shooting in Monterey Park. The board ordered the county to halt any other such auctions of weapons being conducted by any county departments and called for a policy banning sales by the county of firearms and ammunition.
Gonzales has led the county Probation Department since Feb. 1, 2021, and previously served as chief probation officer for San Diego County.
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Debra Wright says
I totally agree my son was killed July 5 2022 So much evidence foul play . So much blood. When you o.d. there never is the sm
Amount of blood that there was in my sons apt.Including a footprint i. The blood a sheet soaked in blood.Why does a detective hides sll this to say my son o.d. I won’t deny that drugs wasn’t in his system
That is not how he died. I don’t know why people who are suppose to protect us do just the opposite. Before I lost my son, the only time he ever went to jail was when fireman and Sheriff’s assaulted him. They say he assaulted them a lie. Fireman even knocked my phone out of my hand told me I wasn’t going to film a f@#$#@ thing. Before taking him to jail both times Sheriff went to the fire station first. When they should have been taking him straight to jail. But they had to make sure their stories matched. The second time the Sheriff’s stories didn’t even match. You’d think that would make a difference. It didnt. Who do we call when we’re in trouble now?We can’t trust all the Sheriff’s
Im noy saying all of them are bad. My stomach turns every time I think about it. Because I’ve learned we can’t trust them all. That is sad. In fact the 1st time it took 2 weeks before my son finally saw a judge. I had to make many calls. In fact at 1st it didn’t even show that he was in the system. It’s so wrong. They abuse their authorities. I’m aboard to do whatever it takes to get rid of the so call deputies and detectives.
Ouster says
Another failing department in LAC…
Palmdale resident for 22 years. says
I have lived here in the Antelope Valley for 22 years I am born and raised here. I’m an independent individual who has paid attention to everything that has gone on around here in my city. From the bases, to Lockheed, to Northrop, to the stations, dispatchers, mayors, the development, from the independent business owners and there shops, the nature and all the community events that happen here in the Antelope Valley. There’s a lot to be done there has been minor things that have been resolved but no where NEAR to where our city has to be we have a lot of growing to do and I can see the potential in Palmdale, the potential I have for myself I have for Palmdale, I won’t give up on my city. The way this city is going on about everything. A lot of people with more power feel they can get away with stuff because we are a small city. Changes are going to start happening. Courage is what is takes.
Do the right thing it’s ethical behavior. I’m so disappointed.
Dr gloom says
Seek counseling
Manny says
Yeah! Dr. Gloom is correct! Good advice!
Tim Scott says
Well, the results should have been predictable when they were hiring a guy away from San Diego County, and easily avoided by hiring someone else. But here we are.
Dr Ted says
Where ever we go, here we are