Sheriff Commission Vote Postponed

The Los Angeles County Board of Superviors postponed a vote Tuesday morning on the creation of a permanent oversight commission of the sheriff's department.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department, headed by Sheriff Lee Baca, is under scrutiny because of allegations of abuse in jails. (AP)

Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Gloria Molina’s requested the commission in response to a federal civil rights investigation of the jail system in an effort to increase scrutiny of the department, according to their motion.

However, Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky said they delayed the vote until an already-approved office of the inspector general has been established.

The Board’s authority over the department has historically been limited to fiscal matters, but because of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of force and misconduct which began in 2011, Ridley-Thomas and Molina believe it is time to get more involved.

"The seriousness of this new investigation and the allegations of abuse that prompted it cannot be ignored," Ridley-Thomas said. "The sheriff's department has a long required level of scrutiny that has been missing."

The Justice Department's civil investigation will focus on the treatment of mentally ill inmates. The creation of the Los Angeles County Citizen’s Law Enforcement Commission will help oversee the conduct of the Sheriff's Deparment and prevent further issues from occurring.

According to Ridley-Thomas and Molina's motion, "Continued allegations of excessive force, significant litigation costs, and a moral imperative to ensure constitutional policing in the County's jails and communities justifies the establishment of a permanent oversight entity without delay." 

"A sheriff's department oversight commission is the best vehicle to ensure accountability," said Molina.

The supervisors are able to create an independent advisory citizens’ oversight commission in order to improve the department, according to Ridley-Thomas. The motion, if passed, will allow each supervisor to appoint a commissioner to the panel and ensure that funding and staff planning will be provided for the commission.