Sixty-six sworn probation officers in Los Angeles County will be placed on administrative leave starting Jan. 1 pending investigations into various criminal charges, including those related to sexual misconduct and youth violence, authorities said Monday. Announced.
The county Probation Department said this figure includes 14 officers (two more than previously announced) who have been placed on administrative leave in connection with juvenile violence at Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey. He said that
The cases are being investigated by California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office. An additional 39 probation officers have been charged with general misconduct, including allegations of excessive use of force, child endangerment and abuse, possession of contraband, and negligent supervision.
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Aerial view of Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center in Downey, California. Some probation officers and other probation officers at the facility have been placed on administrative leave starting Jan. 1 on various criminal charges, officials announced Monday. (Allen J. Scherben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In addition, 18 people were placed on administrative leave for sexual misconduct allegations, and nine were placed on administrative leave for arrests unrelated to employment.
“We are disclosing this information in the spirit of increased transparency and to our stakeholders, especially the families of youth in juvenile facilities, to provide a safe, nurturing, structured environment for those placed in our care.” We assure you that we will not tolerate anything that interferes with our mission to take care of us,” Probation Director Guillermo Vieira Rosa said in a statement.
Those placed on leave were assigned to the department’s adult and juvenile division, Rosa said.
Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center reopened last year, replacing two other facilities after authorities closed them in 2019.
Headquarters of the Los Angeles County Probation Department. (Los Angeles County Probation Department)
In February, the California State and Community Corrections Commission declared Los Padrinos and another juvenile facility unfit to house juvenile offenders. Officials have given the facility 60 days to correct the problem or face closure.
In April, the board determined that improvements had been made and withdrew the certification. In Monday’s announcement, the Probation Department did not provide details about recent violent incidents at the facility.
Aerial view of Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center in Downey, California. (Allen J. Scherben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Rosa said all of the employees who have been placed on leave represent a minority of the department’s approximately 2,800 sworn employees.
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“We responded quickly to these incidents out of respect for the vast majority of our employees who faithfully carry out their duties every day,” he said. “It is not right that the wrongdoings of a few taint the majority. We will not tolerate anything that is an affront to our mission and a disgrace to the important work we do.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Bonta’s office and the Department of Probation.
