Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the largest Sheriff department in the United States and provides general-service law enforcement to unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, serving as the equivalent of the county police for unincorporated areas of the county as well as incorporated cities within the county who have contracted with the agency for law-enforcement services (known as "contract cities" in local jargon). It also holds primary jurisdiction over facilities operated by Los Angeles County, such as local parks, marinas and government buildings; provides marshal service for the Superior Court of California - County of Los Angeles; operates the county jail system; and provides services such as laboratories and academy training to smaller law enforcement agencies within the county. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is sometimes referred to as the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office (LASO).

On March 10, 2007, actor Jackie Chan has joined forces with the LA County Sheriff's Department in their current recruitment campaign in encouraging the Asian American community to be a deputy sheriff. In the announcement with Sheriff Lee Baca, Chan was seen wearing an LA County Sheriff's Deputy uniform.[1] [2] [3]. An LASD public service announcement will feature Chan.

[edit] Statistics

The LASD is the largest sheriff's department and the fourth largest state or local law enforcement agency in the United States with over 16,000 employees, over 8,400 of whom are sworn deputies. Leroy D. Baca is the current sheriff.

Memorial to deputies killed on duty. Located outside the LASD Lakewood Station.
Memorial to deputies killed on duty. Located outside the LASD Lakewood Station.

LASD deputies provided law enforcement services to 2,557,754 residents in an area of 3,171 square miles both in the unincorporated County land and within the contract cities (1995 figure).

The Sheriff's Department also operates one the largest jail systems which provides short-term incarceration services for all of the County (including the cities like Los Angeles which have their own police departments). The Men's Central Jail (MCJ) and Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF) are located in a dense cluster northeast of Union Station that is next to the station's rail yard. The North County Correctional Facility (NCCF) is the largest of the four jail facilities located at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, California. The other facilities are East Facility, North Facility, and South Facility.

Some of the newer contract cities like Santa Clarita and West Hollywood have never had police departments. When their city governments were founded, they took over what was formerly unincorporated land, but then contracted their police responsibilities right back to the county sheriff. Since the sheriff already had substations in those areas anyway, the result was to maintain the status quo.

In contrast, Compton, California, used to have a police department, but in 2000 the city council voted to dismantle the police department and become a contract city. Compton has been at times notorious for gang violence.

LA County Sheriff's academy training is at Sheriffs Training Academy and Regional Services Center (STARS Center) in unincorporated South Whittier. Reserves may use either STARS Center or College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita) for academy training. Academy training is 18 weeks. Many law enforcement agencies throughout Los Angeles County utilize STARS Center and deputy sheriff trainees graduating as deputy sheriffs also undergo detention-specific training.

[edit] Achievements

LASD's Rescue 5, a Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King helicopter, flies offshore near Point Vincente Park in Rancho Palos Verdes
LASD's Rescue 5, a Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King helicopter, flies offshore near Point Vincente Park in Rancho Palos Verdes

The LASD has gained an international reputation for its efforts in developing and integrating the latest law enforcement technologies, especially nonlethal weapons. Because many developers, especially those developing technologies for the U.S. Department of Defense, have little idea of the needs of domestic law enforcement, the LASD provides experts to assist in the development and implementation of technologies that will be of service to law enforcment when fully mature. In the late 1990's the LASD successfully implemented a county-wide sound recorder/meter system, ShotStopper, to detect loud noises.[1] When dispatch has a call from a citizen reporting possible gunfire near their residence, these sound towers can pinpoint within about 25 to 30 feet where the shots were coming from and record the sound for investigative purposes, and at the same time, relay the GPS info to HQ and deputies on the street. The system is up and running and has already been responsible for the arrest of a felony shooting suspect.

Currently the LASD is working with the Federal Aeronautics Administration and local government officials to deploy their remote control aerial surveillance drone system. This would allow the Sheriff's Department to have real time imagery from the streets of Los Angeles to combat street violence and record crimes in progress, not to mention searching for missing hikers, "patrolling" behind the surf zones of the beaches and looking for lost children. The drones are not intended to replace police helicopters, but in specific incidents could be better, cheaper and quieter to use.

The LASD hired the first female deputy sheriff in the United States in 1912. Margaret Q. Adams remained a deputy in the evidence department at the Los Angeles Couthouse for 35 years until her retirement in 1947.

The LASD is also known for having some of the sharpest cops around, especially in the Special Enforcement Bureau, which houses the famous Special Weapons Team or their version of SWAT, a creation of their brothers at LAPD. Both LAPD and LA Sheriff SWAT teams are thought highly around the globe. SEB SWAT has even helped the US Defense Department in the early 90's by training US special forces on policing skills prior to going overseas. Swat teams from all around the world look to SEB for training and advice. Before conflicts like Bosnia and Kosovo came up, US special forces wanted to be able to enter that very scenario as specialized peacekeepers. Modern tactics of dynamic entries with large firepower was thought to be too much and would conflict the situation further. The idea was to control a scene,take people into custody, and at the same time keep the peace.

In 1992 after the King riots in LA proper, both the LAPD and LASD SWAT teams decided to work on tactics that would rescue people from dangerous crowds and at the same time provide a way to eliminate a threat such as a gunman without being noticed. In the first example, the idea was to have SWAT ride in one of the departments AIR Rescue units with LASD paramedics to enter a scene by using SWAT as a threat to ground opposition while Medics could safely drop in and pick up an injured person. In the second example, sharpshooters could be used at high altitudes in the air units to look for threats on the ground and at the same time strike would-be killers.

The LASD Air Rescue program is used for many emergencies in LA county. Angeles Forest, especially. Those who are trapped in LA in a place they think no one will find them will usually be found and rescued by this team. The LASD staffs multiple sea King helicopters for this program.

In addition to having a fleet of three Sikorsky Sea Kings, the model of helicopter used by the President of the United States as Marine One, the LASD also use Eurocopter AS-350 AStars helicopters and several fixed wing aircraft.

The Sky Knight Helicopter Program is an airborne law enforcement program in Lakewood, CA which started out in 1966. The unit operates using non-sworn pilots, employed by the city of Lakewood, partnered with a sworn deputy sheriff from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Lakewood station. The unit currently operates three Schweizer 300C helicopters based at Long Beach airport and flies about 1,800 hours per year. Today, Sky Knight is completely integrated within the sheriff’s tactical operations. Five other cities (Artesia, Bellflower, Hawaiian Gardens, Paramount and Cerritos) contract with Lakewood to participate in the Sky Knight program. These five cities also contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for police services Sky Knight.

[edit] Demographics

By sex:

  • Male: 86%
  • Female: 14%

By race:

  • White: 60%
  • Hispanic: 26%
  • African American/Black: 10%
  • Asian: 4%

[edit] Members killed on duty

Main article: List of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officers killed in the line of duty

As of 2007, 94 members died on duty since the department's founding.

[edit] David March

The most notable fallen member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was Deputy David W. March, who was killed by illegal Mexican immigrant Armando Garcia. [4]

On April 29, 2002 in Irwindale, Deputy March pulled over a 1989 Nissan Maxima driven by Garcia. After Deputy March attempted to frisk Garcia, Garcia pulled out a gun, fatally shooting Deputy March execution style. Garcia fled to Mexico within hours after the shooting.

This led to tense negotiations with U.S. and Mexican authorities, mostly about the death penalty. Under a treaty between the United States and Mexico, Mexico will refuse to extradite any fugitive who faces the death penalty. This led to Sheriff Lee Baca visiting Mexico City to negotiate with Mexican authorities to extradite Garcia. Mexico also refused to extradite fugitives who faced life in prison until 2004 when Mexico's highest court overturned the extradition policy.

Garcia was captured near Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico by U.S. and Mexican authorities. He fought extradition for months and was extradited back to the U.S. in January 2007. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The I-210/I-605 interchange in Duarte was named in honor of Deputy March and a sign there reads "Deputy David W. March, Los Angeles County Sheriff Memorial Interchange." A memorial plaque was built at Live Oak Ave. and Peck Rd. in Irwindale, which is the site where Deputy March was killed.

As a result of this case, Congressman David Dreier, working with fellow Congressman Adam Schiff and Sheriff Lee Baca, introduced legislation that would make it a federal crime for any suspect who murders a public safety official and flees the United States. Three attempts have failed in committee and on February 22, 2007, Congressman Dreier introduced such legislation for a fourth time.

In honor of Deputy David March, the Department adopted this creed: "My goals are simple, I will always be painfully honest, work as hard as I can, learn as much as I can and hopefully make a difference in people’s lives." Deputy David W. March (EOW: April 29, 2002)

[edit] Raul Gama

On May 1, 2007, Deputy Raul Gama was killed in an accident involving a teenage driver. The driver was charged with manslaughter. The officer was on a stakeout and at first it was thought the teen driver had hit a parked car. Unfortunately, it was later discovered there was someone in the parked car, Deputy Da Gama. This delay might have played a role in the death of the officer. This was a terrible tragedy for the families of both the officer and the teen driver who was on his way to school at the time of the accident. Coincidentally, Deputy Gama died exactly 20 years after completing the academy.

[edit] Contract Law Enforcement by LASD

[edit] Cities

LASD has entered into contracts with the below cities to serve as their police department/law enforcement agency.

City Served by
Artesia Lakewood Station
Avalon (Catalina Island) Avalon Station
Bellflower Lakewood Station
Bradbury Temple Station
Calabasas Lost Hills Station
Carson Carson Station
Cerritos Cerritos Station
Commerce East Los Angeles Station
Compton Compton Station
Diamond Bar Walnut / Diamond Bar Station
Duarte Temple Station
Hawaiian Gardens Lakewood Station
Hidden Hills Malibu/Lost Hills Station
City of Industry Industry Station
La Canada Flintridge Crescenta Valley Station
La Habra Heights Industry Station
Lakewood Lakewood Station
La Mirada Norwalk Station
Lancaster Lancaster Station
La Puente Industry Station
Lawndale Lennox Station/Lawndale Sheriff's Department Service Center
Lomita Lomita Station
Lynwood Century Station
Malibu Malibu/Lost Hills Station
Norwalk Norwalk Station
Palmdale Palmdale Station
Paramount Lakewood Station
Pico Rivera Pico Rivera Station
Rancho Palos Verdes Lomita Station
Rolling Hills Lomita Station
Rolling Hills Estates Lomita Station
Rosemead Temple Station
San Dimas San Dimas Station
Santa Clarita Santa Clarita Station
South El Monte Temple Station
Temple City Temple Station
Walnut Walnut/Diamond Bar Station
West Hollywood West Hollywood Station
Westlake Village Malibu/Lost Hills Station

Santa Fe Springs was a contract city served by the LASD-Norwalk Station until the 1990s. It now contracts with Whittier Police Department.

[edit] Other Agencies

[edit] Transit Services Bureau

[edit] Community Colleges Services Bureau

[edit] Court Services Division

  • Prisoner Transport Services with 31 of the 58 counties in California
  • Los Angeles County Marshal/Municipal Courts (Merged into LASD Court Services)

[edit] Contract Custody Services

[edit] Reserve Program

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department supplements its full time ranks with over 700 reserve deputies.

Like Full-time Deputies, Reserve Deputies are professionally trained and duly sworn law enforcement personnel. In most cases, Reserves are assigned to the same duties as Full-time Deputies. Since Reserve Deputies have the same powers of arrest as Full-time Deputies they are required by law to meet the same hiring, background, medical and psychological standards as Full-time Deputies. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs enjoy the challenge and excitement offered by law enforcement, as well as the satisfaction of providing a worthwhile community service. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs first complete the extensive state mandated training and then work assignments on evenings and/or weekends as their regular jobs permit. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are issued a badge, an identification card, uniforms, a Beretta 92FS duty weapon, handcuffs, baton, and most other necessary equipment. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs have full peace officer powers when on duty, and, if issued a CCW permit, may choose to carry a concealed weapon when off duty. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs volunteer 20 hours per month of their time with the regular compensation being one dollar per year. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs may also qualify for shooting bonus pay of up to $32.00 per month, and some paid special event assignments are occasionally available. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs serve at the will of the Sheriff, must obey all Departmental regulations, but do not fall into the framework of the civil service system. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs supplement the regular operations of the Sheriff's Department by working in their choice of Uniform Reserve (Patrol), Mounted Posse, Search and Rescue or as a Specialist.

[edit] Television shows based on LASD

In the late 1950's, a short lived "Dragnet (drama)"-style television series, "Code 3", aired based on real cases (though names and locations were changed) from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The late Eugene Biscailuz, then Sheriff of Los Angeles County, was featured in a cameo tag line at the end of every episode.

The department's Emergency Services Detail (ESD) which functions under the umbrella of the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) was depicted in the short lived television series, 240-Robert. The SEB also includes the Canine Services Detail (K-9), and the Special Enforcement Detail (SED) which is the department's special weapons team.

In September 2003, ABC premiered 10-8: Officers on Duty a prime time drama (with a light comedy twist) based on a rookie with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The show lasted one season. The show's name was based on the police radio code for "on duty".

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Recruit Training Bureau is featured on Fox Reality show "The Academy," documenting the day to day activities of the recruits and training staff of LASD Academy Class 355 and 368. [6][7]The Academy

[edit] See also

California Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cuza, Bobby. "Gadgets on Patrol Against Crime." Los Angeles Times 9 June 2000: B2.

[edit] External links

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