The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office has removed a social media post that referred to the recent US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as “tragic” after facing significant backlash online.
In the now-deleted post shared on X, the department expressed sympathy for “victims and families affected by the recent bombings in Iran.” They added that they were keeping an eye on the situation in coordination with local, state, and federal partners.
The reaction to the post was swift and intense, prompting the department to clarify its stance and express apologies specifically to the “victims and their families,” while downplaying the characterisation of the US airstrikes as a tragedy.
Independent sources reported that the post remained live for a while before its eventual removal. Some social media users highlighted the insensitivity of the statement, questioning if the account had been compromised.
One advocacy group responded, saying, “We hope your account has been hacked. There were no casualties from the recent targeting of Iran’s nuclear site.” They urged the department to investigate the matter.
Another social media user expressed outrage over the situation, stating it was shocking that the Sheriff’s Office would post such messages while the country’s servicemen and women face danger.
There were calls for immediate action against the individual responsible for the post, with users suggesting that they should be fired and investigated.
Some users further expressed their discontent with Sheriff Robert Luna, urging him to resign over the incident.
In response to the mounting criticism, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office released a statement at the end of Sunday, apologizing for what they described as an “offensive and inappropriate” post.
The office said, “This post was unacceptable, made incorrectly, and does not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the department. Our mission is focused on public safety and serving a diverse community; we do not comment on foreign policy or military issues.”
They mentioned that they would be reviewing their social media practices to prevent similar incidents in the future and aimed to reinforce their commitment to professionalism and accountability.
The department reiterated its dedication to earning and maintaining the trust of the community.
This post reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office for additional comments.
