The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ latest communications policy is drawing fire from watchdogs who call it a deliberate attempt to muzzle the Civilian Oversight Commission and other watchdog bodies. Critics argue this is less about coordination and more about shielding Sheriff Robert Luna from scrutiny at a moment when his health, leadership, and political viability are under sharper focus than ever.
In 2019, at the March 26th COC hearing, Elizabeth Miller from County Counsel admitted the deputy gang investigation was halted because then-Sheriff McDonnell was running for re-election against Alex Villanueva.
In 2022, the Board gave the Oversight Commission free rein to go after Alex Villanueva with deputy gang hearings in the run-up to the election, hearings that played a pivotal role in shaping the narrative against him. Today, that same Commission is being muzzled into silence to protect Sheriff Luna. The timing is no accident.
November 11th, 2024, I published a post X addressing the rampant rumors swirling through LASD and the Long Beach Police Department, where Sheriff Robert Luna previously served as Chief. These rumors, which were spreading unchecked among rank-and-file deputies and beyond, had become so pervasive that they were beginning to pose a public safety concern. My post was hardly obscure; in fact, the Los Angeles Times seized on it as the foundation of their own coverage, using it to launch Sheriff Luna’s re-election narrative.
Less than thirty days later, I was served with a cease-and-desist letter from what appears to be Sheriff Luna’s legal team, demanding that I delete the tweet and issue a formal apology. The letter, sent by the firm Lavely & Singer, bears the name of Sheriff Luna’s daughter, Cesie Alvarez, on the letterhead, a glaring conflict of interest that exposes just how entangled Luna’s personal family ties are with efforts to silence criticism.
The nepotism surrounding Sheriff Luna is nothing short of blatant. His daughter’s name appears on the letterhead of the very law firm that issued a politically motivated cease-and-desist on his behalf, while she simultaneously draws a paycheck from Miller Barondess, a firm under contract with Los Angeles County. The dual role is a glaring conflict of interest that underscores just how deeply personal ties and political protection are intertwined in shielding Luna from accountability.
Even more troubling, Luna allowed his son to bypass critical background checks to secure a position with the Long Beach Police Department, despite prior disciplinary actions that should have disqualified him. Together, these actions reveal a pattern of favoritism, abuse of influence, and political maneuvering that undermines public trust in law enforcement leadership.
This was not merely a legal threat, it was a blatant attempt by an elected official to silence a journalist for reporting on verified concerns that his own department could not contain.
RedState Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar recognized the severity of this abuse of power. In her December 12th article, she exposed the Sheriff’s actions for what they were: intimidation tactics designed to muzzle investigative reporting and shield Luna from legitimate public scrutiny. Van Laar pointed out that the Sheriff, rather than addressing the substance of the concerns, weaponized his office to target me personally, escalating what should have been an issue of transparency into a case study of political retaliation.
What unfolded was not just a skirmish over a social media post, but a revealing glimpse into the lengths Sheriff Luna will go to protect his image while jeopardizing press freedoms and trampling on the public’s right to know.
The rumors have reignited over the past month, fueled by Luna’s noticeable trembling at recent public appearances and growing whispers of serious underlying health issues. The parallels to the Biden Administration’s concealment of medical concerns are hard to ignore. Instead of addressing these questions openly, county leaders appear laser-focused on burying anything that could tarnish Luna’s carefully crafted image, particularly as he fights to secure another term as Sheriff.
The crackdown comes as political winds shift. A newly released LASPA poll shows former Sheriff Villanueva commanding more than 80 percent support, a staggering lead that underscores both his enduring base within the department and the deep dissatisfaction with Luna’s tenure. His nearest rivals barely register in the single digits, cementing Villanueva’s status as the clear frontrunner among the rank and file.
The numbers also reflect a seismic shift within the deputy ranks themselves. ALADS, once the dominant deputy union, has hemorrhaged membership to LASPA, a move driven by frustration over ALADS’ cozy relationship with Luna and its unwillingness to take hard stances on issues affecting the rank and file.
At the same time, The Current Report recently exposed potentially troubling behind-the-scenes collusion between the ALADS board and Sheriff Luna. That relationship has now produced a second cease-and-desist aimed at silencing criticism tied to ALADS and the Sheriff’s Department, a move that not only raises serious First Amendment concerns, but also confirms what many deputies have long suspected: that their union leadership is working hand-in-glove with the very sheriff they are supposed to hold accountable.
The fallout has been devastating for ALADS. Membership has been bleeding away to LASPA, as deputies grow increasingly disillusioned with ALADS’ failure to confront Luna or defend their interests. That failure was thrown into even sharper relief when the LAPD union publicly demanded accountability from Cudahy’s vice mayor over inflammatory, gang-inciting rhetoric, despite Cudahy not even falling under LAPD’s patrol jurisdiction. ALADS remained conspicuously silent on this issue despite the national attention this story received in an LASD patrolled area. In stark contrast, LASPA has stepped in to champion deputies, releasing a statement denouncing the actions of the Vice Mayor of Cudahy and demanding her resignation.
ALADS has aligned itself with Luna, trading its duty to represent deputies for backroom deals and political cover. That betrayal, exposed by The Current Report in an anonymous “Just a Deputy” letter, has fueled an exodus of members to LASPA, which is rapidly gaining momentum and redefining the balance of power as Villanueva prepares for a return.
That cozy relationship has been costly. While LAPD’s union publicly demanded accountability from Cudahy’s vice mayor over gang-inciting rhetoric, despite LAPD not even policing that jurisdiction, ALADS remained silent on similar issues within its own backyard. For deputies watching their working conditions deteriorate and their concerns ignored, LASPA has become the union of choice, offering the independence and advocacy ALADS has abandoned.
In this climate, the Board of Supervisors’ attempt to gag oversight bodies looks like desperation rather than governance. If Luna’s health is as precarious as sources suggest, and if the BOS is actively concealing those realities, then the communications crackdown is part of a larger cover-up. Instead of empowering oversight to hold power accountable, the Board appears intent on weaponizing silence to protect its chosen sheriff while erasing the very purpose of the Commission it once unleashed against his predecessor.
This appears serves the best interests of the BOS and their own political survival rather than prioritize pubic safety for the people of LA County.
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