LASD Oversight Commissioner Resigns After Legal Threats from LA County Attorney
A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission stepped down after receiving threats from the Los Angeles County Attorney. The commission had recently expressed difficulty carrying out its duties due to the Sheriff’s Department’s refusal to provide documents needed for its work. This issue escalated when Commissioner Sean Kennedy resigned after an email from county attorneys warned that the county would take legal action if he filed a brief for the commission in an ongoing legal case involving the Sheriff’s Department.
The conflict centers on a state criminal case involving Diana Teran, a former assistant district attorney accused of sharing court records, which are publicly available, about LASD deputies. These records were reviewed for potential inclusion in databases that track police misconduct, like the Brady database, a tool requiring prosecutors to turn over evidence that might help the defense.
Under former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, the Sheriff’s Department sought to have Teran prosecuted starting in 2019. Though federal prosecutor Brandon Fox declined to press charges, California Attorney General Rob Bonta later filed felony charges against Teran in April 2024, accusing her of unauthorized use of data from confidential law enforcement files.
The Sheriff’s Department has refused to release documents to the Oversight Commission, citing concerns over potential prosecution of its employees, including the ongoing case against Teran.
Robert Bonner, the commission’s chair, said, “The Sheriff’s Department’s refusal to release confidential documents based on fears of prosecution undermines our ability to oversee the department effectively.” The commission has been unable to review important documents related to internal investigations of deputy misconduct, including gang activity, shootings, and false reports.
Last Thursday, the commission voted to file an amicus brief in the criminal case against Teran, but the county counsel's office argued that the commission did not have the authority to do so. County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison stated that the commission needed approval from the Board of Supervisors before filing such a brief.
Despite this, Kennedy filed the brief on Monday and immediately resigned afterward. He expressed his concerns about the county’s influence over the commission’s independence, stating, “County Counsel represents the sheriffs involved in misconduct and has hidden deputy gang activity for decades.”
