Sheriff to Address Homeowners Group
Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block will speak on drugs, gangs, crime and other issues at Wednesday’s meeting of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.
Block will focus on what is being done at the county level to tackle these issues and the role of the Sheriff’s Department in the Valley, according to Richard Close, association president.
“Even though the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t patrol the Valley, a lot of our residents are concerned with what’s going on at the county level,” Close said.
In recent months, the Sheriff’s Department has faced a variety of issues, including allegations that deputies encouraged inmates to fight.
In the coming sheriff’s election, Block will be challenged by three current or retired Sheriff’s Department employees: Chief Lee Baca, Field Sgt. Patrick Gomez and Bill Baker, retired head of the detective division.
The sheriff himself has been in the news lately, publicly opposing a decision allowing inmate and actor Robert Downey Jr. to leave the Twin Towers jail to work.
Downey had sought, and was granted, permission to leave the jail at certain times to work on movie roles.
Wednesday’s meeting will begin at 8 p.m. at The Ventura, 13920 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.
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