Assistant Sheriff Tim Murakami, who had been in charge of patrol operations, will serve as department undersheriff effective immediately, LASD spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.
Murakami replaces Ray Leyva, a department veteran who came out of retirement to help Sheriff Alex Villanueva‘s transition.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Villanueva’s chief of staff Lawrence Del Mese issued an email to the department’s top officials thanking Leyva for his service “through our transition phase.”
Leyva told ABC7 that he was informed by Villanueva Monday morning that he was out.
“I said thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me, shook his hand and I left,” Leyva told the station.
Since Villanueva’s upset victory in November, the new sheriff has replaced much of the department’s executive staff. He elevated Murakami to assistant sheriff from the position of captain of the department’s Industry Station, according to The Times.
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Alexis says
This Department is truly on the verge of imploding. It has eaten itself to the core with abuse of power, cliques, fraternization, cheating, lying, nepotism, and an ad nauseam of other verbs and adjectives that could be used.
Second in Command says
The Justice Department needs to investigate and monitor the cesspool known as the LACSD.
Mars says
Does this mean maybe someone can actually do there job and capture those crank callers, or Persons that Look exactly like officers (Crooked Cops) that beat up Civilians and then Rob them ..or make sure cops do there jobs..or Hey just clean house period.. A lot of bystanders who look and turn the other way in fear of retaliation..(Officers Who Love attacking persons At Carl’s Jr on Sierra Hwy)