LA County Probation Department Chief Issues Statement on Board of Supervisors’ Internal Affairs Motion

Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County Probation Department Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa issued the following statement regarding today’s motion by the Board of Supervisors to move forward with assessing the feasibility of using an outside organization to conduct the Department’s Internal Affairs investigations:

“The Probation Department continues to play a crucial role in both LA County’s criminal justice system and juvenile criminal justice reform efforts.

“As the Probation Department continues to work on reforms needed to align more closely with the rehabilitation and reintegration goals of the LA County Board of Supervisors and restore public trust, we continue to seek out new ways to increase the Department’s transparency and accountability.

“Allegations of employee misconduct must be thoroughly and impartially investigated.  As the Probation Department continues to implement much needed reform, we want to ensure that Internal Affairs investigations produce the strongest assurance of a bias free perspective for all involved. To do that, the Probation Department is taking unprecedented action by looking at the feasibility of utilizing an independent entity outside of the Department to conduct these sensitive and important investigations. 

“We thank the Board for their leadership in introducing today’s motion and their active engagement in our progressive reform initiatives.”

###