Union granted preliminary injunction
A judge has granted the union representing many Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies a preliminary injunction that for now bars the county from requiring deputies to show their tattoos to investigators with the Office of Inspector General.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant heard arguments on the motion for injunctive relief filed by the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs on June 29, took the issues under submission and ruled Monday. The judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order against the county.
The union's petition, filed May 22, maintained it would violate the constitutional rights of deputies if they were required to show their tattoos to those investigating internal cliques within the department. On May 19, ALADS filed an Unfair Employee Relations Practice Charge with the Los Angeles County Employee Relations Commission.
In their opposition to the preliminary injunction, county attorneys stated that for about 50 years, the LASD “has been plagued by problems resulting from secret societies of deputies with gang-like characteristics, with membership allegedly reaching into its highest ranks.''
A trial-setting conference is scheduled for Sept. 19.
