City News Service via KFI, 11/11/20; Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
L.A. County Board of Supervisors will evaluate options to remove bad sheriff
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| Eh. Ugh. I don't know what to say. |
Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn dissented, saying the matter should be left in the hands of L.A. County voters.
Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl co-authored the motion recommending that the county direct its lawyers, inspector general, civilian oversight commissioners, and acting CEO to look at possible avenues for removing the sheriff or [neutering him by] cutting back his responsibilities.
Everyone on the board has raised concerns about Sheriff Villanueva's lack of accountability, including his willingness to flout subpoenas issued by oversight agencies.
Yet the board split on this particular issue, with both sides claiming the moral high ground of supporting democratic principles.
Ridley-Thomas -- who tabled consideration of the motion two weeks ago when Barger and Hahn first indicated their opposition -- said the idea of an elected sheriff was outdated.
“Despite the exponential growth of the county and tremendous advances of modern-day policing, we are still beholden to this anachronistic model of law enforcement,'' Ridley-Thomas said, reading from an opinion piece he wrote in 2014 for the Huffington Post.
“We hold a popularity contest for arguably our most important law enforcement position. The result is that we have something worse than democracy -- we have the illusion of democracy.''
Janice Hahn said democracy dictated that voters settle the matter.
“It's no secret that this board does not see eye-to-eye with this particular sheriff, and I have to point out that it's not for lack of trying...this sheriff has acted like he's not accountable to anyone but himself,''
Hahn said.
However, “[voters] can recall him, or they can vote him out when his term's up. That's how democracy works...'' More
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