L.A. County to pay $47.6 million over alleged misconduct by sheriff’s deputies.
In a report issued Thursday afternoon, the county’s chief law enforcement officer blamed the deputies for a series of incidents that led to the deaths of seven people in the past three years.
The county also agreed to pay a $47.6 million settlement and to overhaul its disciplinary system after prosecutors argued that deputies beat and abused inmates and jail inmates.
The deputies’ attorney, Brian Cremins, said his office has already appealed the jail portion of the settlement.
The settlement was reached with county supervisors, who voted 4-0 to approve it, while Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck was not part of the proceedings.
County Counsel Laura Wasser will represent the deputies.
“The deputies have cooperated with this independent investigation and have provided credible information that the county has no choice but to compensate and discipline them for many years,” Wasser said in a statement. “We’re disappointed some public officials in San Bernardino have chosen to spend taxpayer dollars trying to defend a decision that clearly did not uphold the county’s obligations.”
The settlement did not address the alleged mistreatment of inmates by deputies and jail inmates from 2008 to 2008.
The settlement resolves “a multitude of issues” the county had with jail inmates and deputies, Wasser said.
“The county intends to vigorously and completely remedy this problem as part of this settlement,” she said.
The deputies will receive annual performance awards and be placed on two-year “probationary period” following the settlements with the county, Wasser said.
A county attorney will oversee the investigation; a county deputy will also conduct the investigation, she said in a statement.
