Enforce the California Values Act and keep the LASD out of the immigration enforcement business
Reorganize the sheriff's department around the principles of community policing and improve relations between the community and the department.
Clean house after twenty years of unchecked corruption, dismal morale, low recruitment, severe staffing shortages, and irresponsible fiscal management.

Experience

Profession:Sheriff's Lieutenant, Los Angeles County

Planning Commissioner, La Habra Heights Planning Commission — Appointed position (2015–current)

Lieutenant, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department — Appointed position (1986–2018)

Adjunct Professor, Criminal Justice Department, California State University, Long Beach — Appointed position (2006–2010)

1st Lieutenant, 2/144th Field Artillery Regiment, California Army National Guard — Elected position (1985–1992)

Senior Airman, United States Air Force — Appointed position (1983–1984)

Education

University of La Verne — Doctor of Public Administration (DPA), Public Administration. Dissertation: Leadership Diversity in Law Enforcement (2005)

California State University, Northridge — Master of Public Administration (MPA), Public Administration (1997)

Regents College, University of the State of New York — Bachelor of Science, Liberal Studies (1992)

San Bernardino Valley College — Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts (1984)

Biography

Sworn member, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, 1986-2018
Planning Commissioner, La Habra Heights, 2015-present
Adjunct Professor, Criminal Justice, California State University, Long Beach 2006-2010
Doctor of Public Administration, University of La Verne, 2005
Founding President, Los Angeles Sheriff's Professional Association
Master of Public Administration, California State University, Northridge, 1997
Commissioned Officer, California Army National Guard, 1985-1992
Enlisted, United States Air Force, 1983-1984

With over three decades of law enforcement experience, Alex Villanueva is a unique leader within the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Distinguishing himself early on as a straight shooter, Alex has been a tireless advocate for both the community and the hard working men and women who wear tan and green. A life-long believer in education, Alex burned the midnight oil while working patrol, earning his Master's degree long before it was expected. He took it a step further, earning a Doctorate in Public Administration while studying the impact of diversity on law enforcement leadership.

As an experienced military veteran, Alex learned many valuable lessons in leadership while serving our country in the United States Air Force and the California Army National Guard. His first reform experience was as a young deputy, when he was thrown out of a commander's office for courageously advocating for a ban on smoking within jail facilities. Sticking to his guns, Alex prevailed and the ban won overwhelming support throughout the department, saving the county millions of dollars in the process. As a union organizer, Alex fought for both transparency and ethical representation, the catalyst for many reforms within the employee organizations representing LASD members to this day.

Early on in Sheriff Baca's second term in office, Alex encountered serious evidence of corruption and executive misconduct which threatened the integrity of the entire organization. Realizing the dire consequences of unchecked corruption, Alex courageously challenged the illegal conduct of department executives, and the retaliation was swift and severe from Undersheriff Paul Tanaka and his minions. Both Alex and his wife Vivian, also an LASD deputy, were systematically shunned by managers and executives throughout the LASD. Unable to dissuade Sheriff Baca and his staff from their corrupt ways, Alex never lost sight of his commitment to serving the community, his dedication to public service unwavering.

History proved Alex's concerns to be spot on. The tarnished reputation of the LASD, the convictions of over twenty department members for the crimes of obstruction of justice, lying to federal agents, and conspiracy, all point to the indispensable need to reform the LASD from the ground up. With former Sheriff Baca and his undersheriff in prison, the LASD is in desperate need of real reform. Jim McDonnell failed to reform the department, the one job to which he was elected for.

As a bonafide reformer, Alex plans to rebuild the LASD from the ground up, reforming the organization around the principles of community policing and ethical standards of conduct. Alex's experience within the LASD, the military, and as an educator, all point to a transformational leader who can reform the LASD, raise morale, inspire people to aim higher, and improve the relationship between the community and the LASD. In 2018, Alex Villanueva is exactly the person Los Angeles County needs as our sheriff.

Who supports this candidate?

Featured Endorsements

Organizations (52)

Elected Officials (8)

Questions & Answers

Questions from League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County (2)

What can the Sheriff do to deal more effectively with mentally ill prisoners incarcerated in County jail?

Answer from Alex Villanueva:

We can start by diverting many of those who suffer from mental illnesses from ever setting foot in the County jail. Those initial contacts in the community are the vital first step towards triaging the mentally ill person and finding ways to accommodate the intervention and treatment in the least restrictive environment available. That means finding alternative housing and sufficient support resources to keep them engaged with their individual treatment and deescalate their threatening behavior. Once at this point they will not perceived to be a threat to the community. This will require working closely with the Board of Supervisors on allocating funding, and collaborating closely with the Department of Mental Health and the Mental Evaluation Teams that pair clinicians with deputies in the field.

Once the actions of the mentally ill renders them unsuitable for placement outside the confines of the jail system, then we have to ensure our entry screening identifies those taking psychiatric medications or are under the care of the mental health system already. This will prevent a disruption of care that can be very harmful for a successful therapeutic outcome regardless of the nature of the legal ramifications of their detention. Continued care while the inmate is engaged in the criminal justice system is important, and that involves complying with all the conditions of Title 15 regarding living conditions, access to medical and mental services, programming, religious services, recreational time outside of cells, and fostering continued communications with family members.

Last but not least, each inmate needs an exit strategy once their involvement with the criminal justice system comes to a close. This means reuniting inmates to be released with their family and support system, securing suitable housing and continued mental health treatment outside of the jail system, and maintaining some level of contact with social workers to ensure their continued well being.

What steps do you feel should be taken to correct the problems of brutality that have been identified within the County jails?

Answer from Alex Villanueva:

In order to properly address the issue of brutality, or better yet described as violence within the County jails, requires a healthy organizational culture within the entire department, one that values the services provided by those who are assigned to the County jails. There needs to be a robust force prevention effort, coupled with quality training that complies with Standards of Training for Corrections (STC), mandated by the state. Accountability for force and force prevention policies are vital. They cannot be so absolute, however, that they hinder the ability of deputies to make sound decisions in critical situations.

The jails have become more violent in general due to a variety of reasons, including prison reallignment (AB109), and a catastrophic decision made in the last few years to classify high security inmates and house them based on their behavior, instead of intelligence that shows their involvement in leading organized prison gangs. Policies that reward assaultive behavior from inmates and tie the hands of deputies to defend themselves have caused assaults on staff, including non-sworn personnel, to skyrocket.

Deputies are severely understaffed in the jails, which leaves the officer to inmate ratio dangerously high and an open invitation to test security. As sheriff I will take steps to fully staff all County jails, and provide the level of supervision required to give proper oversight of deputies while they do their jobs. Allegations of excessive force need to be investigated promptly, and decisions made based on actual evidence available. There needs to be a robust complaint system in place as well, one that does not allow complaints to slip through the cracks or be intentionally ignored by supervisors or managers. The Inspector General can play a role as well, providing an external third party source to lodge complaints.

Political Beliefs

Political Philosophy

A lifelong Democrat, Villanueva is a strong supporter of the California Values Act and will push back against Washington's attempts to make the county jail a pipeline for deportation. He has a strong track record of defending organized labor, veterans, the environment, and equal opportunity in employment. A supporter of the 2nd Amendment and gun control, Villanueva does not believe the two concepts are mutually exclusive. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and key to the entire community being not only represented in government but fully engaged in the democratic process. Villanueva's philosophy is forward thinking, pragmatic, and driven by evidence, not ideology. A true progressive, Villanueva is not afraid of doing what is right, even when it's not the popular thing to do.

Videos (4)

Policy Positions

Reform, Rebuild, Restore

— June 1, 2018 Villanueva For LA Sheriff 2018

A brief introduction to my plans to reform the LASD and make Los Angeles County a safer place for all

Candidate Experience

Alex Villanueva for Sheriff of Los Angeles County

— June 1, 2018 Villanueva For LA Sheriff 2018

A straight-speaking introduction to the campaign

Candidate Experience

Elige a Alex Villanueva para Sheriff del condado de Los Angeles

— June 1, 2018 Villanueva For LA Sheriff 2018

Spanish version of the introductory video

Candidate Experience

Mayor of La Habra Heights Endorses Alex Villanueva's Campaign

— June 1, 2018 Villanueva For LA Sheriff 2018

An endorsement from the mayor of La Habra Heights, expanding on Villanueva's performance as city planning commissioner

Candidate Contact Info

Website: alexvillanueva.org

Email - alex@alexvillanueva.org