Villanueva did not respond to an interview request for this story. What Ive learned (in my time in law enforcement) is that it doesnt matter where you are, what community youre policing, Strong said. LA COUNTY SHERIFF VILLANUEVA SLAMS WOKEISM,' SAYS IT MUST GO TO MAKE CITY LIVEABLE AGAIN, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks during a news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles to announce the results of a recent marijuana eradication operation in the Antelope Valley. Matt Rodriguez received 4%; Retired LASD commander Eli Vera received 4%; and coming in last was State Parole Agent April Saucedo Hood with 2% of the votes. During his first election campaign, in 2018, Villanueva ran as a liberal reformer. (Baca was ultimately convicted in 2017 of obstructing an FBI investigation.) LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva's bid for a second term will move to a November runoff election against former Long Beach police Chief Robert Luna, with the. This article is about the sheriff. Were offering L.A. Times subscribers first access to our best journalism. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022. ALADS Board of . Some in the community had criticized him for not backing wide-ranging reforms in the wake of George Floyds murder, saying instead that while he was open to changes, the city shouldnt move too fast. Im speaking hypothetically, obviously, not really. However, Villanueva, then close to retirement, stated that he decided McDonnell had failed to restore trust, saying "everyone expected Jim McDonnell to clean house. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! So, get back to reporting everything, both sides, passionately, and then well be better off because of it.. So were responding accordingly.. In recent public comments, Villanueva cited a USC survey that found 10% of Angelenos plan to leave L.A. County in the next year. Much of what he plans to do, Luna said, would be a 180 from the current administration. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he worked Lennox and Carson Sheriff Stations, the Community College Bureau, as well as the Advanced Officer Training unit. But either way, the accusation contrasted sharply with what had been, according to Vera, a previously close relationship with Villanueva. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote during the June 7 primary, the top-two finishers will head to a runoff in November. Strong said he would change use-of-force policies as well, to ensure police are using force when they must, not simply because they can, and would expand mental health training to those who are first to arrive on the scene. "Sheriff Villanueva blocked and stalled an investigation into an excessive Use of Force ("UOF") incident to obstruct justice and avoid bad publicity for his re-election campaign," the lawsuit claims. Alex Villanueva: LA County Sheriff Candidate 04:40 Vandalism, looting and flames were all tearing through Long Beach six days after the death of George Floyd. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. The fact that were talking about gangs and police or deputies in the same sentence is crazy, he said. The same poll in March of last year found 31% had a favorable impression of him, while 22% had an unfavorable impression. Something happened with the wine harvest, and it is an upside-down world right now. He didnt elaborate. Market data provided by Factset. He had been enlisted to help improve things at that station, Vera said. Im deeply honored and humbled that you have elected me as your next Sheriff, Luna said in a statement posted to Twitter. She said her solution for the issues at the East Los Angeles Sheriffs Station was to simply tear it down. So, get back to reporting everything, both sides, passionately, and then well be better off because of it. Legal Statement. [13] Former Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell was elected Sheriff in 2014, with the expectation he would fix the problems. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. He came to us basically saying everything that we wanted to hear to get our support, and then as soon as he was elected, he turned into a completely different person.. [2] Before becoming Sheriff, he was a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He assumed office in 2018. L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is behind in polls, and his disapproval numbers are high. (Robyn Beck/Getty Images) The Los Angeles County voters who elected Alex Villanueva sheriff in 2018 might not be the ones who give him another four years in office. Los Angeles, CA - February 15: Sheriff Alex Villanueva gives details surrounding a weeklong, statewide operation aimed at combatting human trafficking, at a press conference held in Hall of Justice on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles County had 66,436 people without permanent shelter in 2020, according to an annual survey of the homeless population. Still, his tenure as chief wasnt without its issues. "If I get subpoenaed, I need to comply with that, just like every community member in L.A. County does, and for some reason, [Villanueva] stands up there and thinks he's beyond the law," Luna said. L.A. County voters will decide their next sheriff on Nov. 8, an election that pits Sheriff Alex Villaneuva against Robert Luna, ex-chief of police for Long Beach. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva meets with supporters after speaking at an election night gathering in Boyle Heights in June. We have a problem, Villanueva told the group. We have to sit down with our elected officials, he said. Over his four years as sheriff, Villanueva lost the support of many of the Democratic backers who gave him his improbable victory in 2018 as he shed the progressive persona he had shown voters and rebranded himself as a far more conservative, law-and-order sheriff. Villanueva promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served at the Century Regional Detention Facility, which primarily houses female inmates. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. [23] In response, Villanueva held a press conference and presented a graphic with arrows linking an LA Times reporter, a political rival, and the sheriff department's inspector general, stating that all were subject to a probe, later clarifying on Twitter that the reporter was not being criminally charged. Lunas priorities, if elected, would be reducing violent and property crime through community engagement and social services, he said. Duration: 00:55 11/16/2022. The killing came as Los Angeles and the rest of the country were roiled by massive protests over the murder of Floyd and other police killings, and instead of trying to ease tensions, the sheriff took a combative approach. If Luna prevails, he would take the helm next month of a large, unwieldy agency that patrols large swaths of the sprawling county and has been buffeted by years of instability and turnover in the top post. The safety of the community depends on him succeeding., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Biden calls for retraining cops: Why should you always shoot with deadly force?, Murderous catfishing cop had history of messaging underage girls, 2022 was deadly for cops yet many of their murders were entirely preventable, NYPD cop suspended after pummeling 14-year-old girl during fight. [4], Villanueva was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1963 to a Puerto Rican father and Polish-American mother. Villanueva disputed allegations that he orchestrated the coverup of an incident where a deputy knelt on a handcuffed inmate's head last year. LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced today that his campaign for his reelection has raised over $1.25 million. History says theyll face an uphill challenge regardless of the sheriffs political meanderings. Villanueva lost his bid for reelection in 2022 against former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna. I think what the sheriff has done is a little bit of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, said Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant who supported Villanuevas campaign. Villanueva, in an interview, said his main priorities, if he is reelected, will include hiring more sworn and non-sworn employees and to address homelessness. With your vote, you have entrusted me with a clear mandate to bring new leadership and accountability to the Sheriffs Department. After a tumultuous first term marked by his combativeness and controversies, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva's bid for reelection was at risk Wednesday morning as early results. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Here's Why He's Known As A Maverick", "Meet new LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva", "Sheriff Alex Villanueva talks to students pursuing law enforcement careers at Cal State Long Beach", "Former No. Villanueva has denied wrongdoing in each case. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. ", L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn congratulated Luna on Twitter, saying, "I stand ready to work with you.". "Robert brings a good history of that type of oversight already, he said. LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva shares his insight on hundreds of CA criminal cases being dismissed on Fox News @ Night.. CALIFORNIA ELECTION RESULTS: LA SHERIFF VILLANUEVA, WHO DEFIED DEFUNDERS, HEADS TO NOVEMBER RUNOFF, "You can negotiate on practices, but you cant negotiate on principles," Villanueva said. [34], From 2005 to 2018, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Board of Supervisors accepted $122,189,627 from the United States Government in exchange for a database of inmates without proof of valid immigration status. Janet Green, an 84-year-old Ladera Heights resident, said she voted for Villanueva because he "makes the best decisions" and "fights the bulls." After graduating from high school in Puerto Rico, Villanueva served in the United States Air Force and California Air National Guard from 1983 to 1985. Sheriff Villanueva has just under $1M on hand and raised over $900k in 2021. When elected Sheriff four years ago, Sheriff Villanueva became the first candidate to unseat an incumbent LA Sheriff in over a century. He has so far received $1.8 million in donations, more than six times that of his next closest opponent. Tearing it down would mean re-assigning deputies and staff now working there. Nov 16, 2022. Though the election is non-partisan, he was also the first Democrat to win the sheriff's seat in 138 years. L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is facing yet another whistleblower lawsuit accusing him and the department of corruption and retaliation. deputies shot and killed a Black man, Dijon Kizzee, in South L.A. Deputies killed Dijon Kizzee after a bike stop. Villanueva, who had a reputation for defying police defunders and vaccine mandates, conceded to his opponent during a press . A previously close relationship with Villanueva would mean re-assigning deputies and staff now working there next opponent. The election is non-partisan, he was also the first Democrat to win the 's. In 2021 Luna said, would be a 180 from the current administration he to! 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