Vindication & Victory

As expected last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has completed the investigation initially launched by former LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva against POV, former Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, LA Metro, Inspector General Max Huntsman, and me. The case is closed. There was no evidence to support charges of any kind against anyone.

This is the outcome I knew and expected all along, and I am extremely grateful for this vindication and victory and that justice was served. This is the appropriate result following the DOJ’s thorough and independent investigation into the false and unfair allegations lodged against us by Villanueva, who has a history of targeting anyone who tried to hold him and the Sheriff’s Department accountable. These false allegations were made against POV specifically as retaliation for my role as Commissioner on the LA County Sheriff’s Department Civilian Oversight Commission (COC). The former sheriff resisted oversight by the COC, the Board of Supervisors, and the Office of the Inspector General from the very beginning of the establishment of the COC in 2016. His vindictiveness even went so far as to illegally seize my car!

Even though I knew this would be the appropriate outcome, it is a relief that it is finally over. Last week, the Los Angeles Times published a story on this turn of events, which you can read here.

Despite the disruptions throughout the investigation, POV remained focused and steadfast in our mission, which is to serve victim survivors of violence along with a commitment to violence prevention in our wider community. I am very proud of the violence prevention work that I have been able to do as a Commissioner along with the other eight appointees. As a Commission, we are all dedicated to constitutional and community policing, holding the Sheriff’s Department accountable for abuses of power and overreach in use of force, while at the same time supportive of the good work and programs that LASD performs. We are also committed to supporting the current Sheriff Robert Luna in the reforms that he is leading.

We are so grateful for the support from so many throughout this ordeal, including my fellow Commissioners, Board of Supervisors, Board of Directors, Advisory Circles, community partners, funders, and donors. POV staff and I have stayed resilient throughout this extraordinary experience because of the support that we have received. The backing of the community and the faith and trust that has been shown to us has lifted us and sustained us. We wholeheartedly thank you.

Now that this investigation is fully behind us, we are more determined than ever to weather the current challenges to the sexual and domestic anti-violence movement, especially with the Victim of Crime Act cuts that are impacting 400 agencies in California and the adjustments we are all continuing to make to post-COVID impacts. I personally remain committed to supporting transparency, accountability, and violence prevention in my role as a Commissioner and have just been reappointed for another term by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

I cannot tell you how meaningful it was to me then and now to have the unwavering support of so many. The emails, letters, phone calls, and donations bolstered our spirits and allowed us to continue working towards building a community free from violence.

We couldn’t have made it through these last two+ years without your support, in whatever form it came.

I am grateful.