Cameron Miranda
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a law enforcement agency serving Los Angeles County, California. It is the largest sheriff's department in the United States. The LASD has been accused of violating federal law, including civil rights violations, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and gun rights violations. In one instance, a deputy was found guilty of violating federal civil rights by using excessive force against a woman. The LASD has also been investigated for taking too long to process concealed handgun license applications, potentially infringing on Second Amendment rights. While the LASD is subject to federal law, there have been instances where its deputies have been accused of and convicted for violating these laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| LASD officers convicted of federal civil rights violations | 21 |
| Date of conviction of officers | July 2014 |
| Convicted officers' interference with | Federal grand jury investigation of the county jail |
| Obstruction of an FBI undercover operation | |
| Charges pressed against officers | Federal civil rights violations, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, falsifying reports, bribery, and firearm violations |
| Charges pressed against Trevor James Kirk | One felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law |
| DOJ investigation | Violation of 2A rights |
| Handgun compliance | Must comply with CA state and federal laws |
| Ammunition compliance | Must comply with State and Federal regulations |
| License suspension or revocation | If notified by the DOJ that the licensee is prohibited by state or federal law from owning or purchasing a firearm |
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What You'll Learn
LASD officers convicted of federal civil rights violations
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is the largest sheriff's department in the United States. In 2014, six LASD correctional officers were convicted by a federal court of interfering with a federal grand jury investigation of the county jail. In total, 21 LASD officers were convicted or pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, falsifying reports, bribery, and firearm violations.
In 2024, LASD deputy Trevor James Kirk was federally charged with a civil rights violation for a violent arrest that took place outside a WinCo Foods supermarket in Lancaster in 2023. Kirk was accused of assaulting and pepper-spraying a woman who was recording the arrest of a suspect on her cell phone. He was charged with deprivation of rights under color of law and faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
In February 2025, Kirk, then 32, was found guilty of one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law. He was scheduled to be sentenced in April 2025 and faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The LASD has stated that it has strict policies and procedures regarding the use of force and that its personnel are expected to uphold the law and maintain the public's trust. The department has also emphasized that no deputy is above the law and that any abuse of power will not be tolerated.
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LASD deputies violating gun rights
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is the largest sheriff's department in the United States, with approximately 18,000 employees, including nearly 10,000 sworn deputies. In 2025, the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into whether LASD deputies were violating people's Second Amendment gun rights. The investigation was triggered by a lawsuit that challenged the 18-month delay faced by plaintiffs in receiving concealed carry licenses from LASD. The DOJ also cited California's resistance to the Supreme Court's recent pro-Second Amendment rulings as a reason for the probe.
The investigation focuses on whether the LASD is engaging in a pattern or practice of depriving Californians of their Second Amendment rights through excessive fees and wait times for concealed carry permits. The DOJ's Special Litigation Section, which has never lost a case, will determine whether LASD staff are violating gun rights. If the investigation finds that the LASD is violating gun rights, the Special Litigation Section will present the Sheriff with a federal complaint and a consent decree. If the Sheriff does not sign the consent decree and agree to make changes, the investigators will file the complaint in federal court.
While the LASD has stated that it respects and upholds the Second Amendment, it has attributed the delays in permit approvals to limited staff and a backlog of applications. The LASD has also been criticised for its handling of deputy gangs, with leaked documents revealing that the department has refused to answer questions about the Industry Indians, a deputy gang within the LASD. Additionally, Undersheriff April Tardy has admitted to having a tattoo affiliated with an alleged deputy gang, and the department's policies on deputy gangs have been criticised as being more permissive than required by law.
The LASD has also been accused of other forms of police misconduct, including civil rights violations, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, falsifying reports, bribery, and firearm violations. In 2014, six LASD officers were convicted of interfering with a federal grand jury investigation of the county jail, and a total of 21 officers were convicted or pleaded guilty to various charges. These incidents highlight the complex dynamics within the LASD and the challenges faced by the department in upholding the law and protecting the rights of citizens.
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LASD violating federal law by transferring firearms
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a law enforcement agency serving Los Angeles County, California. It is the largest sheriff's department in the United States. In 2011, 21 LASD officers were convicted or pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, falsifying reports, bribery, and firearm violations.
Federal law prohibits unlicensed individuals from transferring firearms to individuals who do not reside in the same state as the transferee. An unlicensed person may sell a firearm to another unlicensed person within their state of residence, but there may be state or local laws or regulations that govern this type of transaction.
The LASD has been known to violate federal law by transferring firearms without involving a federally licensed gun dealer (FFL). This is a direct violation of federal law, which requires an FFL to facilitate interstate firearm transfers.
Furthermore, LASD officers have been convicted of firearm violations, including transferring firearms to prohibited individuals. This is a serious offence, and those convicted can face imprisonment and substantial fines.
The LASD's actions in transferring firearms without adhering to federal law are, therefore, a clear violation of the regulations set out for such transactions.
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LASD deputies convicted of federal obstruction charges
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is the largest sheriff's department in the United States. In July 2014, six LASD officers (two deputies, two sergeants, and two lieutenants) were convicted by a federal court of interfering with a federal grand jury investigation of the county jail. The officers had obstructed an FBI undercover operation that was using an inmate informant to report on brutality and misconduct by jail deputies.
In 2015, 18 LASD members were charged as a result of a federal investigation into corruption and civil rights abuses. The lead defendant in this case was Sergeant Eric Gonzalez, who supervised the Men's Central Jail (MCJ) visiting center. Gonzalez was charged with fostering an atmosphere that encouraged abuses of the law, including the use of unjustified force and unreasonable searches and seizures. Each of the four deputies—Sussie Ayala, Fernando Luviano, Pantamitr Zunggeemoge, and Noel Womack—was charged with participating in at least one of the four incidents in which victims suffered civil rights violations.
In addition to the above, two deputy sheriffs, Bryan Brunsting and Jason Branum, were charged with civil rights violations and making false statements in reports. Brunsting, a training officer, was charged in relation to an incident in which an inmate was allegedly assaulted and suffered bodily injury. Both Brunsting and Branum were charged in another assault on inmates at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, where both deputies worked. Following the two incidents, Brunsting allegedly used deputies he was training to file reports that covered up the abuse.
In December 2023, a former LASD deputy, Miguel Angel Vega, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for depriving a 23-year-old man of his civil rights by falsely imprisoning him and then lying to cover up his illegal actions. Vega pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
In September 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against an LASD deputy, Trevor James Kirk, alleging that he used excessive force when he assaulted and pepper-sprayed a woman during a shoplifting investigation outside a WinCo Foods store in Lancaster in June 2023. Kirk was charged with deprivation of rights under color of law for the force he used during one of his shifts as a sheriff’s deputy.
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LASD violating Second Amendment rights
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is the largest sheriff's department in the United States, with approximately 18,000 employees, including nearly 10,000 sworn deputies. In March 2025, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an investigation into potential violations of Second Amendment rights by the LASD. The DOJ cited concerns over excessive fees and long wait times for concealed carry permits, which may ""unduly burden" or "effectively deny" the Second Amendment rights of citizens in Los Angeles.
The DOJ investigation focuses on potential "patterns or practices" of civil rights violations by the LASD. This investigation is part of a broader review of restrictive firearms laws in California and other states. The DOJ cited a lawsuit brought by Gun Owners of America (GOA), which challenged the LASD's delays in issuing concealed carry permits. In this case, two GOA members faced an 18-month delay in obtaining their permits, which was deemed unconstitutional. The DOJ believes that many other residents may have experienced similar issues, resulting in a violation of their Second Amendment rights.
The LASD issued a statement acknowledging the investigation and attributing the delays in permit approvals to limited staff and a backlog of applications. They affirmed their commitment to processing all Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) applications in compliance with state and local laws to promote responsible gun ownership. The LASD also highlighted the significant staffing crisis within their CCW Unit, despite successfully approving 15,000 CCW applications.
The DOJ's investigation into the LASD is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether any violations of Second Amendment rights will be substantiated. The Special Litigation Section of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division is handling the case, and they have a reputation for never losing a case. This investigation carries broader implications, as the DOJ has signaled its willingness to actively enforce the Second Amendment and address restrictive firearms laws in other states.
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Frequently asked questions
No. LASD deputies are bound by federal law and can be convicted of federal civil rights violations, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, falsifying reports, bribery, and firearm violations.
If LASD ignores federal law, the Department of Justice (DOJ) can investigate and file a federal complaint in court. LASD deputies have been convicted of federal charges and the DOJ has a powerful Special Litigation Section that has never lost a case.
Examples of LASD deputies violating federal law include deputy gang activity, interfering with a federal grand jury investigation, and using excessive force, resulting in deprivation of civil rights.
No. LASD deputies are required to comply with federal regulations regarding firearms and ammunition. The DOJ investigates any violations and can revoke licenses if individuals are prohibited by federal law from owning or purchasing firearms.
