As part of this editorial board’s candidate endorsement process, we sent written surveys to all candidate for Los Angeles County sheriff. All candidates were asked identical questions. Here, we present their responses, only lightly edited, to the following questions: Are there deputy gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department? If so, what should be done about them?
Robert Luna
During my first campaign in 2022, I acknowledged that I believed that these groups existed and that they had no place in law enforcement. Shortly after entering office, I created the Office of Constitutional Policing, which is tasked with eradicating deputy gangs, improving compliance with court orders and ensuring constitutional policing practices.
I have held community meetings throughout the county to discuss the impact this issue has on the community and developed an internal focus group to ensure department leaders at every rank take responsibility for addressing the issue. I have worked, together with the department’s labor representatives, to create a new policy prohibiting law enforcement gangs, that complies with California law.
I meet with new recruits to reinforce a zero-tolerance policy for membership in or participation with such groups and require all new deputies to sign a pledge that they will not join a law enforcement gang. I meet with all new supervisors and have regular conversations with department executives to ensure they understand their responsibility and reinforce my position on the issue.
At all levels, I have been clear – I do not and will not tolerate participation in law enforcement gangs or gang-like behavior.
Alex Villanueva
No, there are not nor have there ever been any. The deputy gang narrative was a political campaign created to discredit my administration, never used during the McDonnell era, and mysteriously disappeared during the current administration. Luna himself has acknowledged never finding any, and department policy has always provided for the means to discipline and terminate any employee who engages in behavior that harms the public, fellow employees, or is otherwise prohibited by law. I terminated 165 employees during my administration, and did so based on facts and evidence, not political agendas. That is extremely important because it is connected directly to the ability to hire new employees.
Oscar Martinez
There are no active “deputy gangs” operating in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department today. Now, let’s be honest, in the past, decades ago, there were groups that raised concerns. But those examples largely come from the 1970s and 1980s, not from today’s department.
If people claim these so-called gangs are active today, then a simple question needs to be asked, where are the prosecutions? For the past two years, you’ve had District Attorney George Gascón and Sheriff Robert Luna in positions of authority at the county level. Both have been openly critical of law enforcement.
If there were actual criminal gangs operating within the department, why haven’t we seen prosecutions? The answer is because those claims are not supported by evidence.
That said, any form of misconduct or behavior that undermines professionalism has no place in this department. Just because someone may have a tattoo or symbol that others find offensive does not mean they are part of a gang, but it does mean leadership must set clear expectations about professionalism and appearance.
As sheriff, I will ensure strong supervision, clear standards, and accountability. We must be honest about the past, reject false narratives about the present, and maintain a professional culture that earns the public’s trust.
Sonia T. Montejano
Yes, there are deputy gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. As sheriff, I will confront the deputy gangs crisis directly and end them—no excuses, no half-measures. Any group of employees that forms an internal clique with secret membership, intimidation, special treatment, or retaliation is incompatible with public service and will be eliminated from this department.
My administration will establish clear policy that bans deputy gangs and gang-like behavior, protect whistleblowers, and create safe, independent channels to report misconduct.
We will investigate thoroughly, using internal and outside oversight as needed, and we will impose swift, consistent discipline—up to and including termination and decertification referrals—on anyone who participates, enables, or covers it up.
Mike Bornman
The short answer is yes, I believe there have been department related sub-groups/cliques that have crossed the line and engaged in gang-like behavior, which is absolutely unacceptable. The larger answer to the question, however, is more nuanced than a simple yes or no answer.
I believe that much of what has occurred regarding the deputy gang issue began through the documented phenomenon known as “Trauma Bonding.” Trauma Bonding has been widely documented as a naturally occurring result of people who work in professions where they are subjected to multiple traumatic events on a regular basis. Studies have shown that the two groups most likely to engage in Trauma Bonding are those in the military and those in high stress law enforcement environments. This is where personnel may form protective groups or teams, possibly get matching tattoos, use team-specific language, etc. It is not inherently bad, as it fosters loyalty and trust.
The issue at hand is when the bonding exceeds acceptable norms and slips into darker behaviors like those seen in “gangs.” This is where, as sheriff, I will insist that leadership monitor their personnel on a consistent basis to absolutely ensure that personnel are not allowed to foster or display a “them vs. us” mentality, a Code of Silence mindset, engage in illegal activity, behavior that is inconsistent with the core values of law enforcement, or any other negative attributes commonly associated with gang-like behavior.
As sheriff, I will have zero tolerance for anyone who violates department policy or state law that prohibits association or participation in a law enforcement gang. Employees who are found to have done so will be terminated from the department, as they have forfeited their right to be a peace officer.
I will also have zero tolerance for anyone in a leadership roll who fails to do their duty in this regard by either failing to monitor, failing to act, or who turns a blind eye to this important issue.
Karla Carranza
The LA County Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a report issued on February 26, 2026, stating in reference to deputy gangs, that “no such group has been identified.” This information was provided to the OIG, by the current Sheriff’s Administration who has access to internal affairs cases, personnel records and investigations.
Therefore, under California law, there are currently no groups within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that meet the legal definition of “deputy gangs.” However, I do believe informal cliques or subgroups still exist.
When membership in these groups leads to preferential treatment, such as promotions or desirable assignments, it undermines fairness, accountability, and public trust. These dynamics should not be allowed to continue or grow.
If there was a “gang” or coordinated misconduct of LASD personnel, then I would increase the size of the Internal Affairs Bureau and improve its operations to ensure personnel are held accountable, criminally and or administratively. If I discovered an extensive or systemic problem where deputies were engaging in criminal behavior, I would seek out the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office or Federal Bureau of Investigation to ensure an impartial investigation is conducted.
Andre White
Accountability must apply to everyone who wears this badge. The majority of deputies serve with honor and professionalism, but when individuals engage in misconduct or participate in deputy gangs or cliques, it damages the entire department. As sheriff, I will ensure misconduct is investigated thoroughly and transparently. These issues will no longer be hidden or ignored. Anyone who violates the trust of this badge will be held accountable. We will strengthen oversight, protect whistleblowers, and create a culture where misconduct is addressed immediately. The badge represents trust and anyone who violates that trust will face consequences.
Eric Strong
Yes. Deputy gangs have no place in a professional law enforcement agency. I will implement clear policies, enforcement mechanisms, and independent accountability measures to ensure these groups are permanently removed from the department and that anyone who violates the public’s trust is held responsible. Equally important, I will establish a culture wherein those employees subjected to deputy gangs, have a safe and effective process for reporting and are free from retaliation, ridicule, or other negative behaviors. Doing the right thing will be protected and safe.