SHERIFF ALEX VILLANUEVA

2021 SPRING-SUMMER

SHERIFF VILLANUEVA NEEDS TO HAVE A SEAT

BY THANDI CHIMURENGA

Like many African Americans in this country, I was raised in a household by parents who migrated from the Southern United States.

As a result, certain phrases and sayings were a part of my upbringing. I can think of two that an adult – any adult but usually my mom – would proclaim in a high-pitched voice whenever they (she) had grown weary of an adolescent’s mischievous shenanigans (usually mine): “I’m so sick of YOU!” and, “Be STILL!” I am so sick of current Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva that “I don’t know what to do” (that last part would also accompany my mom’s proclamations from time to time). Sheriff Villanueva needs to go sit down somewhere and be still. His shenanigans, while full of mischief, are not of the adolescent type: They are a mortal threat to the safety and wellbeing of Angelenos.

They are deadly.

The sheriff’s department has had documented existence of vicious gangs, not benign sounding “cliques” or “social clubs,” but gangs of deputies that rule various stations, for decades. Gangs that operate in the exact same manner as the ones deputies pursue on the streets of Los Angeles.

Villanueva’s lies that these gangs are a figment of our imaginations are as insulting as they are criminal. Like a loyal fellow gang member on the street, he covers for his homies.

He’s got their back.

Sheriff Villanueva’s shenanigans had him declaring in May of this year that we here in Los Angeles County are not living in normal times. His comments, made during a press conference to announce the apprehension of a violent offender, were in reference to progressive District Attorney George Gascon’s efforts to reform L.A.’s criminal justice system.

The sheriff deviated from his written remarks and made the impromptu reference, stating that the sheriff’s efforts at delivering justice to crime victims has been hampered by the current district attorney.

As part of Gascon’s reform efforts, he has instituted an independent team to review lethal law enforcement use-of-force incidents. This group will examine past incidents and make findings to the D.A.’s office on those cases where the previous district attorney declined to prosecute.

That previous district attorney refused to prosecute a single officer during an eight-year career that saw more than 350 people killed by law enforcement. Is this the normalcy that Villanueva craves?

A lot of people are angry with Gascon’s efforts. So angry, in fact, that not only have they taken him to court to stop his reforms, but an effort to recall him from his elected position has also now been launched. And who was present at the press conference announcing this recall effort, as part of the photo op signing the petition against Gascon? Alex Villanueva, sheriff of Los Angeles County.

Villanueva was present in plain clothes, not his uniform. The sheriff has a right to spend his free time as he pleases however, if he’s going to spend it on something political that impacts his day job, why not spend it tracking down the whereabouts of his deputy who refused to appear at the coroner’s inquest into the death of 18-year-old Andres Guardado? Why not spend that time encouraging transparency and cooperation in the investigation of Guardado’s death, instead of supporting officers who refused to testify at the inquest?

Guardado, a student enrolled in the Los Angeles Community College District, was shot five times in the back by Compton sheriff’s deputies in June of 2020. He had been working as a security guard in Gardena when he was approached by two deputies.

Their story is that Guardado produced a handgun and ran. Sheriff Villanueva backs his deputies’ version of events, as he always does, but Sheriff Villanueva – not his deputies – needs to answer a couple of questions. Since when is it necessary to shoot someone running away from you in the back? Since when is it necessary to shoot someone running away from you five times in the back?

The normalcy that Sheriff Villanueva longs for would cover up the death of Andres Guardado. The file would be put away and Guardado would be just another Brown youth killed by law enforcement, leaving his family with no recourse and lots of questions.

But these are not normal times. Sheriff Villanueva is right in that regard.

He still needs to go sit down, however. Angelenos are sick of him. But unlike my mom, we know exactly what to do. Like his predecessor, Villanueva must go.

Image courtesy of peoplecitycouncil Venice Beach.