Court ruling stymies probe of alleged deputy gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A court ruling has at least temporarily blocked an investigation of alleged gangs within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that seeks to have deputies answer questions and reveal tattoos. The Los Angeles Times reports that a preliminary injunction was issued this week after hearings on a lawsuit filed by the deputies’ union. The investigation is being conducted by the county Office of Inspector General and is supported by Sheriff Robert Luna, who ordered deputies to cooperate. The court ruling found the lawsuit’s claim of labor law violations compelling. The judge wrote that the county is statutorily obligated to bargain with the union before putting in place significant changes such as the requirement to show tattoos.