Underwhelmed With Oversight

I was making up some hours on a recent Saturday and remembered a flyer that had found its way to my desk. It was a presentation of the L.A. County Civilian Oversight Commission. We used to have something on the Department with a similar name: the Civilian Advisory Committee. I am not sure if it still exists, but I do know I was never invited to join. Funny how that happens to me a lot. Anyway, the topic was:

“Local residents are invited to meet with Civilian Oversight Commission leadership to discuss deputy gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Tell us about your experience with sheriff’s deputies and your observations and thoughts on: Deputy gangs whose members engage in misconduct. Accounts of deputy wrongdoings that violate policy or are unlawful. Courtesy and professionalism of patrol deputies.”

Oh, this should be interesting.

I sauntered past the sign-in table where no one seemed particularly interested in getting my contact info. They kind of just looked right through me. I was fine with that. Soon, the meeting began, and when I started to rise for the flag salute, I quickly sat down when I realized that there was no flag salute and there wasn’t even a flag proudly waving.
OK, interesting.

I am going to be purposely vague about who I am referring to, but 100% accurate about the words.

The topic was the harassment that the families of deputy-involved shootings claim they endured. Several people alleged that deputies drove by memorials and taunted the family members of young men who had put themselves in situations where deputies had to use deadly force. They also said they felt intimidated by deputies in the area. Things like this are so easy to prove, so I straightened up in my folding chair and waited to see the pictures and other easily obtainable evidence, including department logs that track the movement of every patrol car on every shift. I’m certain that not a single sheriff’s patrol unit got anywhere near the home where the alleged harassment took place.

Several speakers talked about their lost loved ones. Each speaker recounted the tragic stories. I was not entirely clear on who exactly all the commission members were, but I did see that one of them was openly weeping as the families told their stories. I wondered if he would have displayed similar emotion if his son or daughter were a new deputy faced with a violent suspect who decided that day he would try and take the deputy’s gun away? Would this commission member weep when the deputy reverted to training and used deadly force? I hope so.

We also had a representative of the Sheriff’s Department up there. He didn’t say a word. I sure wish I could trade places with him.

All of the families held the Sheriff’s Department 100% responsible for what happened, and none of them took any ownership of their loved ones’ actions. And the commission members didn’t ask.

It’s going to be a long, hot summer.