Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers AssociationLos Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association

Greg Torres

PPOA’s OIG Lawsuit Update

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On February 8, 2024, PPOA’s legal counsel and President Steve Johnson appeared in front of a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge who heard PPOA’s request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop an attempt by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to get confidential records from PPOA members. By agreement, the matter will now move to a Preliminary Injunction Hearing in March 2024.

The original Writ of Mandate arises from a subpoena issued by the OIG on 12/19/2023 and served on the Sheriff of Los Angeles County on 01/02/2024, seeking confidential and protected information from PPOA members and other Sheriff’s Department personnel. Specifically, the OIG is seeking the identity of LASD peace officers who exercised their constitutional right not to speak to an investigator during 2023 regarding potential criminal conduct occurring in the Department. For more information, click here to read the email PPOA sent to members last month.

To date, no PPOA member has been forced to appear in front of the OIG or produce records while this and other litigation advances through the courts and at the Employee Relations Commission (ERCOM). 

PPOA will continue to provide updates on the progress of this litigation.

PPOA Files Lawsuit Against Office of Inspector General

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Today (01/23/2024), PPOA filed a verified Petition for Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive relief against the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD).
 
The Writ of Mandate arises from a subpoena issued by the OIG on 12/19/2023 and served on the Sheriff of Los Angeles County on 01/02/2024, seeking confidential and protected information from PPOA members and other Sheriff’s Department personnel. Specifically, the OIG is seeking the identity of LASD peace officers who exercised their constitutional right not to speak to an investigator during 2023 regarding potential criminal conduct occurring in the Department.
 
PPOA contends that the OIG continues to violate an Order by the Los Angeles County Employee Relations Commission (ERCOM) not to subpoena peace officers’ records until PPOA, the County and the OIG finish the mandated negotiations (meet and confer) over the nature and scope of the OIG subpoenas. PPOA and ALADS have already met with the County and the OIG on six occasions and are set to meet again in February. 
 
This Writ of Mandate from PPOA seeks to stop the Sheriff’s Department from delivering, and the OIG from receiving, the subpoenaed records until we are able to complete the mandated meet and confer process.
 
PPOA will continue to provide updates on the progress of this litigation.