More Turmoil In Villanueva’s Office – Chief Of Staff Reassigned Over Offensive Facebook Posts
Written by 991KBU on July 16, 2020
A top aid to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has been reassigned …. after making comments that seem prejudicial to the investigation into the shooting death of an 18-year-old-man in an alley.
Chief of staff John Burcher is one of Villanueva’s closest advisors, will be removed as chief of staff and transferred to the agency’s East Patrol Division, effective Sunday.
He will remain a captain.
The latest episode of musical chairs in the sheriff’s office is revealed by an internal Sheriff’s Department memo first uncovered by ABC7.
Burcher was caught on social media saying that Andres Guardado … the 18-year-old man shot in the back and killed by sheriff’s deputies … “chose his fate.”
There is evidence that the youth was shot as he was reaching for a gun … but activists are saying that the sheriff’s office cannot be trusted to investigate itself.
The chief of staff’s comments has inflamed that.
Captain Burcher was also caught hurled insults at other Facebook users.
In one post, he called someone an idiot and a moron.
In another … he called someone a “racist” and used an expletive.
“Sorry, your life does not matter more than mine does, you racist…” the post said.
Villanueva put out a statement,
The sheriff’s department put out a statement saying they have opened an administrative investigation and that Burcher had been reassigned.
Attorneys representing Guardado’s family said Burcher’s comments show that the Sheriff’s Department is incapable of conducting an independent investigation.
“It is deeply troubling that on the same day Sheriff Villanueva issues a statement that the Sheriff’s Department would not be providing any commentary on the Andres Guardado case until the investigation has completed … the sheriff’s own chief of staff took to social media and did exactly just that,” attorney Nicholas Yoka said in a statement.
The deputy who fired the gunshots says the man was shot when he ignored commands to freeze on the ground … and reached for a gun in the alley
The sheriff’s homicide bureau is conducting the investigation … and the comments from the sheriff’s chief of staff indicate they have already decided not to press charges … the attorney argued.
If no cases are filed … it appears the fuse is lit for a bad reaction in the community.
And the sheriff’s office command staff turmoil continues.
As chief of staff … Burcher was one of the commanders in charge of police operations here in Malibu.
