The recent legal battle between a law enforcement union and a county government highlights the tension between police oversight and labor rights. The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) filed a complaint against the County of Los Angeles on May 22, 2023, in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. This case centers around allegations that the county violated labor laws by failing to negotiate with ALADS before initiating an investigation into alleged law enforcement gangs within the sheriff's department.
The dispute began when the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for Los Angeles County sent letters to 35 deputies on May 12, 2023, directing them to participate in interviews regarding their involvement with law enforcement gangs. These interviews were mandated under new California legislation—Penal Code sections 13670 and 13510.8—aimed at curbing such activities within police departments. However, ALADS argued that these directives violated deputies' Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights and bypassed necessary negotiations required under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), which governs labor relations for public employees.
The trial court sided with ALADS, issuing a preliminary injunction to halt the OIG's interviews until either an unfair labor practice claim was resolved or negotiations were completed. The court found that the investigation's implementation had significant adverse effects on working conditions, particularly concerning potential disciplinary actions linked to gang affiliations. Judge James C. Chalfant ruled that while the decision to investigate was not negotiable, its effects were subject to bargaining under MMBA guidelines.
ALADS is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, arguing that without proper negotiation, deputies could face irreparable harm from disciplinary actions stemming from compelled participation in these investigations. The court's decision underscores the delicate balance between enforcing new state mandates designed to improve policing standards and respecting established labor rights protecting public employees.
Representing ALADS are attorneys Jacob A. Kalinski, Richard A. Levine, and Brian P. Ross from Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver. On behalf of Los Angeles County are Jason W. Kearnaghan, Kent R. Raygor, and Valerie E. Alter from Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, with additional support from ACLU Foundation attorneys Dae Keun Kwon, Tiffany M. Bailey, and Mohammad Tajsar as amicus curiae. The case ID: B331881.