Key L.A. sheriff oversight official resigns, citing county interference

Civilian Oversight Commissioner Resigns Amid Legal Battle Over Prosecution of Former DA Advisor

sean Kennedy, a longtime member of the Civilian Oversight Commission overseeing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, resigned Monday following a contentious clash with county attorneys.The resignation stems from a legal battle concerning Diana Teran, a former advisor to former District Attorney george Gascón, who faces six felony charges related to alleged violations of state hacking laws.

Last year, California Attorney General Rob Bonta accused Teran of illegally accessing confidential court records and sharing them with a colleague. Prosecutors argue that Teran, who previously worked for the Sheriff’s Department, leveraged her prior access to confidential disciplinary files to share sensitive information with a fellow prosecutor. Teran pleaded not guilty to the charges last summer.

The Civilian Oversight Commission sought to intervene in the case by filing an amicus brief, arguing that the prosecution hindered the commission’s ability to investigate misconduct within the Sheriff’s Department. During recent months, the commission alleged, the department has cited the Teran case as justification for withholding crucial documents, including records pertaining to shootings, beatings, deputy gang activity, and false statements by deputies.

“We have heard from the leadership of the department that they cannot give COC ad hoc committees confidential documents,” Kennedy stated during a recent commission meeting. “They’re afraid that their employees will be prosecuted by the California attorney general just as Ms. Teran is being prosecuted.”

Despite unanimous commission approval to file the brief, County Counsel objected, asserting they, not Kennedy, held the authority to represent the commission. They threatened legal action against kennedy if he proceeded. Undeterred, both Kennedy and fellow commissioner, Bonner, filed the brief. Subsequently, Kennedy resigned, citing the County counsel’s attempt to control the commission’s self-reliant oversight decisions.

“It is not appropriate for the County Counsel to control the COC’s independent oversight decisions, because the County Counsel represents sheriffs engaged in misconduct and because they helped hide deputy gang misconduct for decades,” Kennedy declared.

Bonner, who declined Kennedy’s resignation, believes the County Counsel’s attempt to block the brief was not worth the sacrifice.Simultaneously occurring, the Sheriff’s Department has requested a legal opinion from Attorney General bonta’s office regarding the legality of sharing confidential deputy personnel records with ad hoc committees.

This case highlights broader concerns surrounding transparency and accountability within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Critics argue that the prosecution of Teran serves as a deterrent to whistleblowers and hinders efforts to address misconduct within the department. experts emphasize the significance of robust civilian oversight mechanisms in ensuring police accountability and protecting the public trust.

“Sadly,Los Angeles is mirroring Washington in dismantling sources of independent analysis when it should be defending constitutional guarantees,” Inspector General Max Huntsman stated.“The public will suffer for it.”

The legal battle surrounding Teran’s prosecution continues, with multiple briefs filed by legal experts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and oversight officials raising concerns about the case’s implications for criminal justice governance. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly shape the landscape of police accountability in Los Angeles.

What led to your resignation from the Civilian Oversight Commission?

Civilian Oversight: A Conversation with Former Commissioner Sean Kennedy

In an exclusive interview with Archyde, former Civilian Oversight Commissioner Sean Kennedy discusses his resignation, the legal battle surrounding Diana Teran, and the broader implications for police accountability in Los Angeles.

Q: Commissioner Kennedy, thank you for joining us today. Let’s dive right in. What led to your resignation from the Civilian Oversight Commission?

Thank you for having me. My resignation was a direct result of the County Counsel’s attempt to control the Commission’s self-reliant oversight decisions. We, as the Civilian Oversight Commission, have a duty to ensure clarity and accountability within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. When the County Counsel threatened legal action against me for filing an amicus brief in the Diana Teran case, it was clear that their interests lay elsewhere.

Q: Can you elaborate on the Teran case and why the Commission felt compelled to intervene?

Certainly.Diana Teran, a former advisor to former DA George Gascón, is facing felony charges related to allegedly violating state hacking laws. The issue here is that the Sheriff’s Department has been using her prosecution as a justification for withholding crucial documents from our investigation into misconduct within the department. This includes records pertaining to shootings, beatings, deputy gang activity, and false statements by deputies. we believe that this prosecution is hindering our ability to perform our oversight duties effectively.

Q: How did the County Counsel’s involvement in this matter come into play?

The County Counsel asserted that they, not I, held the authority to represent the Commission. They threatened legal action if we proceeded with filing the amicus brief.I strongly disagree with this assertion. The County Counsel represents the sheriffs engaged in misconduct and has helped hide deputy gang misconduct for decades. It is not appropriate for them to control the Commission’s independent oversight decisions.

Q: Looking ahead, what are your concerns about the future of civilian oversight in Los angeles?

My biggest concern is that we’re seeing a trend of dismantling sources of independent analysis, much like what’s happening in Washington.This is detrimental to the public trust. We need robust civilian oversight mechanisms to ensure police accountability. If we can’t investigate misconduct effectively,how can we expect the public to trust their local law enforcement?

Q: Lastly,what can the public do to support and strengthen civilian oversight in Los Angeles?

I encourage the public to stay informed,attend commission meetings,and engage with their local representatives. We need their voices to hold us accountable and push for stronger oversight. Together, we can ensure that our law enforcement agencies are transparent, accountable, and truly serve and protect our communities.

What are your thoughts on the Teran case and it’s implications for police accountability in Los Angeles? Share your comments below.