A Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station lieutenant has filed a lawsuit against the department alleging retaliation after trying to inform the public about several shootings at Malibu Creek State Park, according to officials.

Lt. James Royal filed a lawsuit on June 6 against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the County of Los Angeles, Division Chief John Benedict and 100 unnamed “Does” who were employees of the department alleging retaliation.

In January 2017, Royal was a detective lieutenant at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station when he became aware of three shootings that occurred in Malibu Creek and recommended the Sheriff’s Department to advise the public, according to the lawsuit.

Royal immediately notified his supervisors and explained that the Sheriff’s Department needed to warn the public regarding the shootings, according to court documents.

“No warning was issued, and Royal’s supervisors told him that it was a ‘State Park’s problem’ and not theirs,” according to the lawsuit.

Thereafter, four additional shootings occurred in the area, including the fatal shooting of Tristan Beaudette, when he was inside a tent with his two young daughters in June 2018, according to officials.

Beaudette’s family filed a lawsuit for more than $90 million in damages against the LASD and other agencies.

After the shooting of Beaudette occurred and was reported in the media, others came forward with reports of their experiences hearing gunfire or being shot at in and around the Malibu Creek State Park area, according to the lawsuit.

In January 2019, the retaliation began, according to court documents.

“Without any prior warning or basis, (Royal) was transferred from his detective lieutenant assignment, at the Malibu/Lost Hills Station, to the Santa Clarita station, a much less coveted assignment,” according to the lawsuit.

Royal now has to commute approximately 100 miles a day to work, commonly known in law enforcement agencies as the department giving the employee “freeway therapy.”

Sheriff’s personnel are allegedly retaliating against Royal to get him to “back-down and shut-up” because they believe he will continue to reveal that he wanted to warn the public in both internal investigations and in external forums, according to court documents.

A spokesperson with the Sheriff’s Department declined to comment due to pending legal action.

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