--- [ LOS ANGELES ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312) # LA Times’ Misguided Tirade Against the Sheriff's Department GUEST COMMENTARY--One has to wonder whether the adults in charge of the [*LA Times* Editorial Board](http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/25/media/los-angeles-times-buyouts/) were part of the recent mass exodus from the *Times*. The question is raised because of a most recent rambling editorial concerning the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, demonstrating yet again the *Times’* antipathy towards law enforcement. In an editorial ostensibly concerning a delay in the Board of Supervisor's implementation of a "[Civilian Oversight Commission](http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160112/la-county-supervisors-approve-formation-of-oversight-commission-for-sheriffs-department)", the *Times* took a bizarre turn and pontificated about several recent shootings involving Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies. The *Times* questioned the "training" and "fitness" of the deputies involved, wondered aloud whether they were "trigger-happy deputies" whose "tactical training" may have been lacking, and for good measure threw in a random sentence asking if the Sheriff's Department disproportionately targets African Americans. That the *Times* editorial writer didn't know the complete facts of the three shootings it questioned was no hindrance to making accusations against the hard working deputies involved and the Sheriff's Department as a whole. Of course, the *Times* is hardly a supporter of law enforcement, and it clearly pains them to say anything positive about law enforcement officers. Witness, for example, the [July editorials](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-dallas-police-shooting-20160708-snap-story.html) following the assassinations of five police officers in Dallas and three officers in Baton Rouge. Following the Dallas cold blooded murders that shook the nation, the *Times* wrote a nine-paragraph, 836-word editorial. Exactly one paragraph and 81 perfunctory words were devoted to officers brutally murdered before the Times segued into what it would rather discuss: "police brutality", "police shootings" and "racial disparities" in the criminal justice system. The reporting of the ambush murder of three law officers and wounding of three others in Baton Rouge illustrated how difficult it continues to be for the *Times* Editorial Board to express concern over the killing of law enforcement officers. This time, the *Times* could only muster up a [scant four paragraphs](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-baton-rouge-police-attacks-20160718-snap-story.html) concerning the killing, with a mere three sentences devoted to the death of the officers before the Times editorial once again turned to what it would rather discuss, devoting the majority of the editorial to pontificate on "accountability" for law enforcement and the "friction" between police and the community they serve. The *Times* view as summed up by the [repulsive headline](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-baton-rouge-police-attacks-20160718-snap-story.html) "Cops killing civilians, civilians killing cops. How do we fix this" -- suggesting some moral equivalence between police shootings and the cold-blooded and calculated murders of multiple law enforcement officers! Finally, as to the Editorial Board's belief that accountability will only come from "Oversight Commissions" filled with political appointees, it conveniently ignores the fundamental way citizens of this great country determine the direction of their public agencies, including the Office of the Sheriff. It is called elections. Every four years, [elected Sheriffs](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-baton-rouge-police-attacks-20160718-snap-story.html) must justify their performance and that of the department they lead, with anybody who has a different view with law enforcement experience free to run against the incumbent Sheriff in support of a different vision. That is real accountability! *(George Hofstetter is President of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. ALADS is the collective bargaining agent and represents more than 8,200 deputy sheriffs and district attorney investigators working in Los Angeles County. He can be contacted at . Mr. Hofstetter’s views do not necessarily reflect the views of CityWatch.) Prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.* Written by George Hofstetter. ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2016/066i.png) August 15 2016 [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) [Comments](#disqus_thread) GUEST COMMENTARY--One has to wonder whether the adults in charge of the [*LA Times* Editorial Board](http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/25/media/los-angeles-times-buyouts/) were part of the recent mass exodus from the *Times*. The question is raised because of a most recent rambling editorial concerning the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, demonstrating yet again the *Times’* antipathy towards law enforcement. In an editorial ostensibly concerning a delay in the Board of Supervisor's implementation of a "[Civilian Oversight Commission](http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160112/la-county-supervisors-approve-formation-of-oversight-commission-for-sheriffs-department)", the *Times* took a bizarre turn and pontificated about several recent shootings involving Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies. The *Times* questioned the "training" and "fitness" of the deputies involved, wondered aloud whether they were "trigger-happy deputies" whose "tactical training" may have been lacking, and for good measure threw in a random sentence asking if the Sheriff's Department disproportionately targets African Americans. That the *Times* editorial writer didn't know the complete facts of the three shootings it questioned was no hindrance to making accusations against the hard working deputies involved and the Sheriff's Department as a whole. Of course, the *Times* is hardly a supporter of law enforcement, and it clearly pains them to say anything positive about law enforcement officers. Witness, for example, the [July editorials](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-dallas-police-shooting-20160708-snap-story.html) following the assassinations of five police officers in Dallas and three officers in Baton Rouge. Following the Dallas cold blooded murders that shook the nation, the *Times* wrote a nine-paragraph, 836-word editorial. Exactly one paragraph and 81 perfunctory words were devoted to officers brutally murdered before the Times segued into what it would rather discuss: "police brutality", "police shootings" and "racial disparities" in the criminal justice system. The reporting of the ambush murder of three law officers and wounding of three others in Baton Rouge illustrated how difficult it continues to be for the *Times* Editorial Board to express concern over the killing of law enforcement officers. This time, the *Times* could only muster up a [scant four paragraphs](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-baton-rouge-police-attacks-20160718-snap-story.html) concerning the killing, with a mere three sentences devoted to the death of the officers before the Times editorial once again turned to what it would rather discuss, devoting the majority of the editorial to pontificate on "accountability" for law enforcement and the "friction" between police and the community they serve. The *Times* view as summed up by the [repulsive headline](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-baton-rouge-police-attacks-20160718-snap-story.html) "Cops killing civilians, civilians killing cops. How do we fix this" -- suggesting some moral equivalence between police shootings and the cold-blooded and calculated murders of multiple law enforcement officers! Finally, as to the Editorial Board's belief that accountability will only come from "Oversight Commissions" filled with political appointees, it conveniently ignores the fundamental way citizens of this great country determine the direction of their public agencies, including the Office of the Sheriff. It is called elections. Every four years, [elected Sheriffs](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-baton-rouge-police-attacks-20160718-snap-story.html) must justify their performance and that of the department they lead, with anybody who has a different view with law enforcement experience free to run against the incumbent Sheriff in support of a different vision. That is real accountability! *(George Hofstetter is President of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. ALADS is the collective bargaining agent and represents more than 8,200 deputy sheriffs and district attorney investigators working in Los Angeles County. He can be contacted at . Mr. Hofstetter’s views do not necessarily reflect the views of CityWatch.) Prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.* [![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/) ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Website [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34e1b43b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395) ### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395) GELFAND’S WORLD - Indiana has been pounded by rains that resulted in widespread flooding. While the rain was still comi… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) ### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) ### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fe/064i-febc3c1a.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401) ### [All Talk, No Action: Nithya Raman’s Reckoning](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401) THE BOTTOM LINE - Nithya Raman lost the homelessness gavel, and the most damaging verdict didn’t come from Republicans… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/93/064k-9302351b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33205:biden-family-grift-vs-trump-family-grift-lets-do-the-numbers&catid=9) ### [Biden Family Grift vs. Trump Family Grift: Let’s Do the Numbers](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33205:biden-family-grift-vs-trump-family-grift-lets-do-the-numbers&catid=9) GRIFTING IN THE DAYLIGHT - Most people recognize that Donald Trump and his kids are stealing from us with both hands ev… --- ## [ LOS ANGELES ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33215:a-second-karen-bass-term-gets-her-and-us-four-more-years-of-well-earned-voter-outrage&catid=312)### [A Second Karen Bass Term Gets Her (and Us) Four More Years Of Well-Earned Voter Outrage](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33215:a-second-karen-bass-term-gets-her-and-us-four-more-years-of-well-earned-voter-outrage&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065l.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33216:the-cynicism-of-homelessness&catid=312)### [The Cynicism of Homelessness](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33216:the-cynicism-of-homelessness&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33218:la-public-health-is-very-sick&catid=312)### [LA Public Health Is Very Sick](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33218:la-public-health-is-very-sick&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065p.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33219:second-judge-clears-way-for-curren-price-to-face-trial-on-12-public-corruption-felonies&catid=312)### [Second Judge Clears Way for Curren Price to Face Trial on 12 Public Corruption Felonies](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33219:second-judge-clears-way-for-curren-price-to-face-trial-on-12-public-corruption-felonies&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065k.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33220:olympics-la28-controls-the-money-trapping-city-hall-and-taxpayers&catid=312)### [Olympics: LA28 Controls the Money, Trapping City Hall and Taxpayers](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33220:olympics-la28-controls-the-money-trapping-city-hall-and-taxpayers&catid=312)