Officials with the California Department of Justice announced Friday that they have launched a civil rights investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to determine whether or not the department “engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing.”

On Friday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that he was launching a civil rights investigation of the LASD, the largest sheriff’s department in the United States.

“There are serious concerns and reports that accountability and adherence to legitimate policing practices have lapsed at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” Becerra said in a statement Friday. “We are undertaking this investigation to determine if LASD has violated the law or the rights of the people of Los Angeles County.”

Officials say that the investigation will “seek to determine whether LASD has engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing.”

“Those of us in positions of public trust know that the job comes with the solemn obligation to be accountable to the people we serve,” Becerra said. “Because of the nature of the work involved in law enforcement, that duty of care is heightened.”

The investigation comes on the heels of allegations of excessive force, retaliation, and other misconduct, as well as a number of recent reported incidents involving LASD management and personnel.

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“I look forward to this non-criminal ‘pattern and practice’ investigation,” L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a statement Friday. “Our Department may finally have an impartial, objective assessment of our operations, and recommendations on any areas we can improve our service to the community. During my administration, we have routinely requested the State Office of the Attorney General to monitor our investigations, and we will provide immediate access to all information in our possession. We are eager to get this process started, in the interest of transparency and accountability.”

A civil rights investigation, as opposed to a criminal investigation, allows Becerra and his office to “identify and, as appropriate, ultimately address potentially systemic violations of the constitutional rights of the community at large by a law enforcement agency.”

As of Friday, Becerra had made no determinations about specific complaints or allegations, or about the agency’s policies and practices.

“During the course of the investigation, DOJ attorneys and special agents will work diligently to consider all relevant information, including from community members and organizations, local officials, oversight entities, LASD, individual officers, and more,” Friday’s statement reads.

Officials encourage anyone with information relevant to this investigation to contact Becerra’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section at Police-Practices@doj.ca.gov.

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