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Janice Journal: A tragedy in our Sheriff's Department

County of Los Angeles, California sent this bulletin at 07/19/2025 08:00 AM PDT

Yesterday, three Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies were killed in a tragic explosion at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Biscailuz Training Center in East L.A. It was an extraordinarily painful day for our Sheriff’s Department and for LA County.

The deputies were part of the department's arson explosives detail and had decades of experience with the department. My prayers are with the families of the deputies and their colleagues in law enforcement who are reeling from this tragedy.

I am offering my full support to our Sheriff Robert Luna and his department as they not only work to support our deputies but to investigate what went so wrong. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure that it never happens again.

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9.5% drop in unsheltered homelessness in LA County

The results of this year’s Homeless Count came out this week—and they showed a 9.5% drop in unsheltered homelessness across LA County.

With thousands fewer people on our streets, these numbers are encouraging. It is clear to me our focus on bringing people inside by clearing encampments is paying off and programs like the city’s Inside Safe and the county’s Pathway Home are working. These strategies are not only compassionate, but they are also the most effective tools we have in addressing homelessness and we are seeing the impact in real time.

As the County builds out our new homeless services department, I want us to double down on these encampment operations and get more people off the streets and safely inside as quickly as humanly possible.

988 is a lifeline for people in crisis—and the Trump administration has cut the services that specifically help LGBTQ+ youth. It is disgusting and cruel to cut these services for this community whose rights are being threatened every day.

Here in LA County, we celebrate and protect our LGBTQ+ community.

Services specifically for LGBTQ+ youth on 988 ended this week, but we are doing everything we can to make sure they are getting the support they need. That is why I brought forward a motion with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath this week for LA County to look at ways that we can reinstate the connection between 988 and LGBTQ+ crisis counseling.

Meanwhile, our state Health and Human Services Agency is working with the Trevor Project to ensure 988 counselors are trained on providing inclusive care.

The time to act is now, and we must come together to ensure that we are continuing to support LGBTQ+ youth here in LA County.

Read more in the Daily Breeze

Across the county, people are being pulled out of their cars, beaten, and ripped from their families by men in tactical gear with balaclavas, no badges, and no names.

That’s not how law enforcement in a democracy should operate. Residents have a right to know who is stopping them, questioning them, and detaining them.

At this week's meeting, I introduced a motion to ban law enforcement officers from concealing their identities in unincorporated LA County. We’ll vote on this motion on July 29th.

Calling on the EPA to remove illegal fireworks from Commerce

In late May, Cal Fire and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered 75 tons of dangerous illegal fireworks and 27 pallets of hand sanitizer at a warehouse in the City of Commerce.

The EPA has identified a site for the storage and safe destruction of the materials, but we have been informed that the removal of the fireworks isn’t expected to happen until mid-August.

This is a recipe for disaster, and it needs to be dealt with immediately.

I joined LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone this week in writing a letter to US EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin requesting the urgent and expedited removal of these explosives. They are sitting in the middle of a busy commercial area where people work everyday and just blocks from homes.

Our fire department would remove these fireworks themselves if we had the authority to, but as it stands, we need the EPA to act and we need them to act quickly.

Read our letter

$14.4m to refurbish the Huntington Park Library

For decades the Huntington Park Library has been a hub of learning, of arts and culture, of preserving and sharing LA County’s indigenous heritage, and so much more. But it’s showing its age.

This week we approved a $14.4 million refurbishment project for the library. It’s time to upgrade it and deliver the world-class library that the residents of Huntington Park and Walnut Park deserve.

Now more than ever, it is critical that our immigrant communities understand their rights.

We are hosting another virtual workshop next week where you can learn about immigration policy and what resources are available.

July 24 workshop

Pedro Pet Pals is hosting an adoption event tomorrow at the PetSmart in Downey from noon to 3pm. Stop by to find the furry friend that will complete your family.

Rosalia is a beautiful 6-year-old husky at our Downey Animal Care Center who is ready to find her forever home.

If you think Rosalia could be the one to complete your family, you can find out more about her here or visit her during the Downey Care Center's open hours.

Find your friend here

Whether you take home Rosalia or you find another furry friend, please do your part to help control the pet population and have your pets spayed or neutered.