‘Deputy gangs’ never existed in LA Sheriff’s Dept. — they were a political ploy
After years of accusations, hearings, and political theater by the Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission (COC), the truth has finally been acknowledged: So-called deputy gangs do not exist.
That admission, buried in a February 26, 2026 report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), states plainly that the LA County Sheriff’s Department has not identified any group meeting the legal definition of a law enforcement gang under California law.
This was not a misunderstanding. It was a narrative, designed for political impact.
For years, the “deputy gang” label was used as a political weapon, amplified by county leadership, oversight bodies, and segments of the media, to discredit the Sheriff’s Department, influence elections, and justify weakening traditional law enforcement under the banner of “reform.”
The campaign began early in my first year as sheriff. County counsel acknowledged in 2019 that no such investigations were initiated under my predecessor to avoid political consequences. That standard changed the moment I took office.
Reports followed, along with national media amplification. Some made the astounding claim that one in six deputies were gang members, more than 1,500 sworn personnel.
That claim defied both logic and evidence, yet it was repeated often enough to be accepted as fact by low information voters – the intended audience.
The COC and OIG escalated the narrative further, launching subpoena-driven hearings timed with the 2022 election cycle.
These proceedings generated sensationalized headlines, but no evidence.
The OIG claimed to have been investigating deputy gangs for years, followed by the DA’s office convening a criminal grand jury, and the state attorney general’s office launching a multiyear “pattern and practice” investigation of the LASD.
Every single effort came up empty-handed: no deputy gangs, no conspiracies to obstruct justice, no efforts to circumvent oversight or the rule of law.
A wave of lawsuits followed, creating a cottage industry of claims tied to “deputy gangs.” County counsel cited tens of millions in costs, yet those cases largely involved unrelated allegations such as use of force or wrongful death, misrepresented to fit a predetermined storyline.
Even a taxpayer-funded RAND study avoided answering the central question, reinforcing the perception rather than establishing the truth.
Throughout all of this, I asked a simple question: Name one deputy gang member.
No one could.
Not the OIG. Not the COC. Not county leadership. Not state or federal prosecutors. After years of investigations — local, state and federal — there is still not a single identified deputy gang member.
A 2022 study by Cal State LA found no correlation between alleged subgroup membership and misconduct. That finding was largely ignored because it didn’t fit the narrative.
The conclusion is unavoidable: This was never about evidence. It was about power.
And while this narrative was pushed, the real consequences were felt on the ground.
Recruitment collapsed. Experienced deputies left in record numbers. Mandatory overtime surged. Morale declined. Today, the LA County Sheriff’s Department faces a staffing crisis that directly impacts response times, proactive policing, and public safety across LA County.
Los Angeles County is at a crossroads. The current administration has now had years to validate these claims, and after all of the investigations, hearings and public accusations, there is still no evidence to support them.
What we do have instead is a department facing critical staffing shortages, declining morale and reduced proactive policing.
We can continue down a path where law enforcement is weakened by political agendas and false narratives, or we can restore experienced leadership, support the men and women who serve, and refocus on what matters most: Keeping our communities safe.
We should be asking a simple question: Are we better off today, with fewer deputies, lower morale, and a reduced police presence?
Or is it time to restore proven leadership that prioritizes public safety and supports those on the front lines?
The truth is now on record.
Now it’s time to restore leadership, rebuild the department, and refocus on public safety.
Alex Villanueva was Sheriff of LA County from 2018 to 2022. He changed parties from Democrat to Republican and is running to regain his office in 2026.
https://nypost.com/2026/03/22/opinion/deputy-gangs-never-existed-in-la-sheriffs-department/
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