The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis on April 30 that directs county offices to compile a chronological list of all claims and settlements related to sheriff’s deputy gangs and cliques.

The motion calls for a report in 90 days that tallies the amount of money that has been paid in claims since 1990 due to behavior by “gang-like” groups within the sheriff’s department, as well as an evaluation of corrective action plans. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has a history of secretive groups of sworn deputies that have been the subject of investigations, disciplinary actions, damage claims, lawsuits and settlements involving excessive use of force, violence and dishonesty against other deputies, as well as members of the community, the supervisors said.

“Deputy gangs have cost the county many millions of dollars in claims and settlements, and have fostered a climate of inhumane treatment of inmates and civilians,” said Kuehl, 3rd District. “This motion will give us a much-needed assessment of the county’s past liability, and assess the effectiveness of previous corrective action plans so that we can sharpen our focus as we strive to eliminate dangerous cliques from the sheriff’s department.”

“Issues of cliques or subgroups within the sheriff’s department have been an ongoing problem for decades,” added Solis, 1st District. “I am concerned about the lack of trust between our communities and the sheriff’s department, and the Board of Supervisors has a duty to ensure the safety of the public and of those who work at the sheriff’s department.”