DAMAGE CONTROL: Probation Chief is Out, High Profile Exec at DA Office Heads to Probation Dept.

The turmoil and turnover at LA County Probation has finally hit its peak with the resignation of Probation Director Guillermo Viera Rosa. Sources reveal a memo was sent to the LA County Board of Supervisors December 5th, indicating Viera Rosa would step down as head of the scandal plagued department on December 31st. The memo included Viera Rosa stating “He can’t run the department being micro managed by the Board.”

The LA County Board of Supervisors has added the discussion of his replacement on the agenda for next week’s Supervisors meeting.

Board of Supervisors Agenda discussing Probation Department chief’s replacement.Photo byThe Current Report

The LA County Probation Department has been under fire after numerous controversial personnel decisions and incidents under Viera Rosa’s leadership.

The LA Times reported the president of the union representing rank-and-file probation officers, which has long expressed frustration with both department leadership and the Board of Supervisors, welcomed Viera Rosa’s announcement.

“Under his leadership, there has been failure after failure,” Stacy Ford, president of local union AFSCME 685, said in a statement. “People don’t leave good jobs because they don’t like their job, they leave because of bad leadership. Under his leadership, officers were forced into retirement, officers were forced home on medical leave, officers were forced to work in a toxic unsafe work environment and many officers quit because of the abuse.”

The increasingly dangerous work conditions under Viera Rosa has resulted in multiple lawsuits filed, including one seeking $10 million dollar in damages. The complaint was filed on behalf of Supervising Detention Services Officer Richard Ruiz for alleged unlawful detainment and state federal civil rights violations at the direction of LASD Lieutenant Eric Strong, on loan to Probation as Chief of Security.

As reported by The Current Report the day before Thanksgiving, Strong was served at his home in Corona after dodging service for over a week.

X.com post regarding successful service of the $10 million dollar lawsuit to LASD Lt. Eric Strong after a week of evading service.Photo byCece Woods X

According to sources, there are multiple lawsuits pending alleging Strong’s civil rights abuses against Probation personnel.

Hostile work conditions forced personnel to speak up regarding abuse of power by those in top level management positions. As a result, whistleblowers who came forward were retaliated against, relocated or relieved of duty.

In July, sources say as many as 17 management positions were reassigned to other agencies throughout the county as a direct result of their whistleblowing. The management personnel affected by the transfers were given no notice, informed of the new assignment on a Friday and told to report on Monday.

As a result of the moves, several lawsuits were filed.

After Gascon’s November 5th loss to Nathan Hochman, top executives at the DA’s office were looking for new positions. The Current Report has learned two members of Gascon’s management team, have transferred to LA County Probation.

Robert Arcos, former Chief of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has now taken the role as Deputy Director of Special Enforcement Operations at LA County Probation. Arcos has more than 18 years of management experience, with more than nine years in a senior executive position.

In September, Arcos threw his hat in the ring for Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. Ultimately, Mayor Bass chose former Long Beach Police Chief and former LA County Sheriff Jim Mc Donnell for the position. McDonnell spent over two decades at LAPD before heading to Long Beach and LASD, and has a loyal following at the department.

Sources also reveal Joseph Iniguez, Gascon’s former Chief of Staff is rumored to be joining the Justice Care and Opportunities Department, part of the “Care First, Jails Last” narrative the far left is continuing to pursue despite the overwhelming failures of the movement which led to George Gascon’s defeat in the November election. The voters of LA County spoke loud and clear electing Nathan Hochman as District Attorney and passing Prop 36, putting the poltical powers that be on notice they expect law and order to return to LA County.

This is a developing story.