After announcing my candidacy for sheriff last month, I took some time to review basic facts comparing my first year on the job as sheriff versus Luna’s first year on the job. This is very important since Luna campaigned on “chaos and dysfunction” and bragged about how his relationship with the board would somehow make everything better. The results are in, and the results are really, really bad for team Luna.
I went to the lasd.org website, went straight to the transparency window I pushed to create, and looked at two sets of data: crime rates and arrest rates. Common sense tells us that when crime is going up, a lack of commensurate arrests can be both contributing to it and illustrative of the department’s efforts in the areas we patrol. Of the county’s 4,000 square miles, the LASD jurisdiction covers over 75% of it – roughly 3,115 square miles.
Looking at crime statistics, comparing 2019 (my first full year on the job) to 2023 (Luna’s first full year on the job) and the difference was startling. There was a whopping 17.5% increase in Part 1 crimes, which includes all violent crime. My first year saw a decrease of 6.2% in Part 1 crimes from my predecessor Jim McDonnell’s last year in office (2018). Looking at three specific crime categories, the numbers were dismal. Under Luna, homicides increased by 46%, grand theft auto (GTA) increased by 68%, and aggravated assaults increased by 23%.
Turning towards arrest statistics, the picture is even worse for Luna. Focusing on three of the busiest stations in the county, Lancaster, East LA, and Century, the figures are appalling. East LA saw a 48% drop in arrests, Lancaster saw a 52% drop in arrests, and Century Station saw a staggering 66% drop in arrests. These figures demonstrate that the LASD as an organization has been compromised by the failed leadership of Robert Luna, and the county’s residents are now suffering as a consequence of his failed efforts.
These figures demonstrate decisively that the relationship between the sheriff and the men and women working on the front lines delivering public safety is extremely important. While building relationships with the board of supervisors is important, it is no substitute for a healthy relationship with the workforce, one built on trust and mutual respect. Nonetheless, as sheriff my goal is to be able to work shoulder to shoulder with the community, our personnel, and yes, the board of supervisors, to ensure we are all doing everything possible to keep everyone who calls Los Angeles home safe.
Arrest Drops Under Luna – Steep declines at East LA (-48%), Lancaster (-52%), Century (-66%). Under Villanueva, crime went down. Under Luna, crime is up, and arrests are down.
Crime Increases Under Luna: Sharp spikes in Homicides, GTA, and assaults.
Part 1 Crime Change: Villanueva (-6.2%) vs. Luna (+17.5%)
From Growth to Collapse: LASD Staffing 2018–2025
- Under McDonnell: Deputies fell from 9,250 to 9,200.
- Under Villanueva: Staffing surged to 10,000 until the Board’s hiring freeze stalled
- Under Luna: Staffing collapsed from 9,100 to 8,000 in just two
Villanueva rebuilt LASD. Luna shrunk it. This collapse in staffing means fewer patrols, slower response times, and greater danger for both deputies and the public. Help is on the way!
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