Sheriff's Deputies Shouldn't Carry Guns While Drinking Alcohol, Supervisors Say

LOS ANGELES, CA — Following reports of dangerous behavior by sheriff's deputies while they've been under the influence of alcohol, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday pushed the sheriff to implement policy changes meant to protect the public from mishaps stemming from the mixing of alcohol and firearms.

The supervisors voted to send a package of policy recommendations to Sheriff Robert
Luna including a ban on deputies carrying weapons while drinking, mandatory alcohol testing in all instances of off-duty accidental weapon discharges and a procedure to allow commanders to test deputies suspected of alcohol use and punish those who refuse testing.

Concerns over alcohol use by deputies were highlighted in a November report by the county inspector general that identified eight incidents that involved deputies drinking while in possession of a firearm.

"And even more recently, news reports highlighted an incident involving alleged members of a deputy gang which involved a deputy who had been drinking flashing a handgun when in a dispute with teenagers outside of a bowling alley," the supervisors' Tuesday motion reads.

"Many of the incidents referenced in these reports were very dangerous in nature including: firing their weapon negligently, firing 'warning shots' at youth, displaying the firearm to threaten others, physical fights while possessing a firearm, driving on the wrong side of the road, losing their firearms, possessing their firearm off-duty without having qualified to do so, and other deeply concerning behavior."

Supervisor Holly Mitchell said the incidents outlined in the inspector general's report "clearly shows a pattern."

"This is a common-sense policy," she said. "We should, as a civilized society, have a heightened level of expectation of those who are licensed to carry a firearm. And so I think it's very reasonable. It was shocking to read about the number of incidents in the OIG report."

The board approved the motion 4-0, with Supervisor Janice Hahn abstaining. Hahn said she trusted that Luna recognizes the problems outlined in the inspector general's report and would take appropriate action.

City News Service contributed to this report.