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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23- SEPTEMBER 29, 2024
Assistance centers offer resources to people impacted by SoCal wildfires
VOL. 13,
NO. 190
LA County Sheriff’s Department formally bans deputy gangs By City News Service
By Staff and City News Service
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. | Courtesy of LASD
S Firefighters battle the Bridge Fire. | Photo courtesy of Cal Fire/Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
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os Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties opened “local assistance centers” last week offering recovery resources for residents impacted by the Bridge Fire burning in both counties and the Line Fire in San Bernardino. The centers were described as one-stop shops where residents and business owners can get information about services and assistance they can access through local and state agencies or nonprofit groups. Among the resources available were assistance with insurance claims, property cleanup procedures, replacing vital records and rebuilding assistance. “My heart goes out to everyone that is struggling with loss,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “It can feel overwhelming and it’s common to not know where to start. I encourage anyone
who has been impacted by the Bridge Fire to visit our L.A. County Local Assistance Center. You’ll find helpful recovery resources, including supports for debris removal and rebuilding permits. Recovery is a long road, but our county stands tall and ready to help.” The Los Angeles County center was open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona, in Expo Hall 8. The San Bernardino County center was open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and will also be open at the same time Monday at Cal State San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway in San Bernardino. The Bridge Fire began around 3 p.m. Sept. 8 near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads in the San Gabriel Canyon. As of Friday the blaze burned 54,795 acres and was 59% contained. The Line Fire started
Sept. 5 near Base Line Road and Alpin Street in Highland, according to Cal Fire. Currently it is over 39,000 acres with 53% containment. Orange County officials launched a website to help residents and also opened a center Thursday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, where people affected by the Airport Fire received assistance and information on available resources. The service center at 28000 Marguerite Parkway was on the second-floor lounge of the college and was open from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The website is at ocgov.com/ recovery. Firefighters were continuing to make progress battling the massive Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties, holding the spread and growth of the blaze that started more than a week ago. As of Friday, the fire had
burned 23,519 acres with containment at 51%. The size of the fire was the same Tuesday. The blaze has destroyed 160 structures and damaged 34 others. Legal claims are beginning to trickle in to the county regarding the cause that sparked the blaze. Authorities have said it started when an Orange County Public Works crew was removing boulders. Mikhail Trubchik, 40, said his San Juan Capistrano home was destroyed in the fire and has filed a claim for $2.3 million. He said the blaze destroyed his house, guest house and a five-car garage. Fred and Diane Neubauer of Trabuco Canyon filed a claim for $1,043.75 for hotel expenses when they were evacuated from the area. Two law firms have also sent letters to the county of a potential claim that requests a preservation of evidence.
eeking to address an issue that has long dogged the agency, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced a department policy Wednesday formally banning so-called deputy gangs or cliques. “Our employees are dedicated professionals who maintain the highest standards of integrity and service,” Luna said in a statement. “While I recognize the issue of law enforcement gangs has only involved a small fraction of the department, I also acknowledge that this long-standing issue must be addressed appropriately to maintain the community’s trust in us. The tireless efforts of our team to move the culture forward, strengthen our reputation, and eliminate any lingering shadows of mistrust are crucial to our public safety mission.” Allegations of oftenviolent collections of deputy organizations within the department have led to various lawsuits over the years, some by department members claiming to have been discriminated against See Deputy gangs Page 28
or even physically assaulted for failing to join or submit to internal gangs’ influence. Department critics have alleged that such gangs have led to increased violence by deputies against Black and Hispanic residents. Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva long downplayed the existence or influence of such organizations, although he conceded during a January meeting of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission that some “subgroups” did operate within the agency. He denied they were violent gang-like organizations, likening them instead to “softball teams.” Villanueva long challenged county leaders and critics to identify any deputies who were active members of a so-called deputy gang, saying years of investigations failed to turn up any proof of their existence. But critics have alleged long-standing gangs do exist within the agency, with members sporting tattoos announcing their allegiance to groups with names such as the Cavemen, Executioners or Banditos.