Christmas party brawl leads to 7 L.A. County deputies being relieved of duty pending probe

A Christmas party for employees from Men’s Central Jail turned ugly when a brawl broke out that resulted in seven Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies being relieved of duty pending an investigation, an official confirmed.

Roughly 100 guests were gathered Friday at the Quiet Cannon banquet hall in Montebello, where an argument led to violence, said sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore.

It’s unclear if alcohol was involved, but “it was a Christmas party, one could assume there was,” Whitmore said.

No gunshots were fired but deputies may have been armed, he said.

“Deputies that have their badges also have guns, so that will certainly be looked at,” he said.

At least two people were mildly to moderately injured, Whitmore said. Seven deputies were relieved of duty with pay this week, pending an internal criminal investigation.

“They’ve been asked to clean out their lockers,” Whitmore said.

Montebello police may have been called out, but no arrests have been made yet, Whitmore said. Relatives may have been at the Christmas party, but only deputies were involved in the brawl, Whitmore said.

“This investigation will go wherever the evidence leads,” he said.

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Comments

[injustice]

This is totally uncalled for! However, this is nothing new with the Sheriff Dept! They have always been dysfunctional!

It's time for a change! Lee Baca needs to step down.

[A_loc]

IT sounds like those LA county officers deserve some time behinds bars in the Mens Central Jail. If there so tough why dont they fight with the fellow inmates, Oh i forgot they already do and mistreat and intimidate them, yet again there just as crooked as the mafia...

[Police411]

While it's obvious this incident is an embarrassment to LASD, many of you need to get a quick education: first, a fistfight, not involving weapons,in which nobody gets seriously injured, is misdemeanor battery. That means the parties involved have to place each other under citizen's arrest, otherwise nobody goes to jail.If everyone WAS desirous of charges, everyone would usually receive a citation and be sent on their way. YES folks, it would be the same for YOU too...not just for cops as you alledge. You wouldn't be arrested for FELONIES as you say. For all of you who mentioned that's what LASD gets for advertising police jobs on billboards in the ghetto....you're right! Get rid of the ghetto rats! So yes these few screwed up, but most of you cowards still call the cops when the boogeyman is at your door, and 99% of cops are still great. So, to recap, most of you whiners have misdmeanor convictions, and you still have your jobs, but yes, as cops, they should be held to a higher standard.

[True Citizen]

Didn't people forget that cops arrest rapist, murders, and the rest of the awful gang members. This is what we owe them these negative comments,and thinking??? I believe those agressors involved should be punished, and some fired once the investigation is completed. Is the military all bad??? 1 % of cops might be bad, but 99% are not and,respond to calls for service to help us citizens.

[Realitylivinginthe mtrix]

Fedupwith morons,

A degree does not insure that an individual will obey the law. Let's try pschiatric evaluations every six months to see if they have a tendency towards violence and/ or bullying. random drug screenings and zero tolerance for those who break the rules. set the example and others will follow suit.