The Los Angeles County Probation Department announced Monday, May 13, that 66 probation officers have been placed on administrative leave in the last five months for alleged misconduct, including excessive force, drug possession and sexual abuse.
The department released the figure as part of an effort to “regain public trust as it roots out employees who cultivate or contribute to a culture of violence, drug use, neglect and sexual misconduct in the nation’s largest probation agency,” according to a statement.
“We are releasing this information in the spirit of greater transparency and to assure our stakeholders — especially the families of youths in our juvenile facilities — that we will not tolerate anything that impedes our mission to provide a safe, nurturing and structured environment for those entrusted to our care,” said Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa.
Related: Attorneys, social workers endure long waits to see LA County detainees in juvenile hall
The officers placed on leave were assigned to both the department’s adult and juvenile divisions. Of the 66 officers placed on leave, 39 were for general misconduct, including suspected excessive force, child endangerment or abuse, possession of contraband and negligent supervision. Another 18 were accused of sexual misconduct, while nine had arrests unrelated to their employment, according to the department.
The total includes 14 officers allegedly involved with youth-on-youth violence at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. The department first removed eight officers in January for allegedly standing by during — and potentially orchestrating — fights among youths. Six more officers have been placed on leave since then. The California Department of Justice is independently investigating the matter at the Probation Department’s request.
A recording of the first-known incident in December, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, showed multiple youth consecutively entering a day room in Los Padrinos and then attacking a 17-year-old, one at a time, before sitting down to eat their meals. At least four officers stood by during the assaults, while two others halfheartedly attempted to break up the fights. Officers could be seen laughing and even shaking hands with the attackers at various points.
Related links
Attorneys, social workers endure long waits to see LA County detainees in juvenile hall
Removing hundreds of LA County probation officers from field duties sparks court delays, diminished oversight
8 probation officers placed on leave after ‘significant incident’ at LA County juvenile hall
4 more LA County probation officers placed on leave over juvenile hall violence
Is LA County putting itself at legal risk by sending light-duty probation officers home?
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In a statement in April, Viera Rosa said the video should make it “abundantly clear why I felt compelled to take swift action once this incident was brought to my attention.”
Those accused of misconduct represent a small minority of the department’s nearly 2,800 sworn personnel, Viera Rosa stated.
“It is out of respect for the majority of our officers, who perform their duties each day with integrity, that we moved quickly on these cases,” he said. “It’s not right that the majority should be tarnished by the misconduct of a few. We will not tolerate anything that is an affront to our mission and a disgrace to the important work we do.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
