(File photo: L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell speaks to reporters in Downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Eric Leonard.)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell defended Monday the recent promotions of several executives -- including two men previously investigated and disciplined for incidents the deputies' unions said would likely have precluded lower-ranking employees from career advancements.
"All my promotions have been completely vetted," McDonnell said in a prepared, written statement.
"A tremendous amount of thought went into each selection. I stand behind every single one of them."
Earlier the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, or ALADS, said the two promotions in question showed, "...the disconnect between the Sheriff, his executives, and the line deputies."
One of those promoted from lieutenant to captain was James Tatreau, Jr., who was previously punished for a stun-gun incident that left an inmate paralyzed, and a shooting a federal civil jury decided was unreasonable.
The other, Roosevelt Johnson, was promoted from captain to commander.
The Los Angeles Times, citing Sheriff's records, said Johnson was suspended in 1999 for making false statements and was referred for investigation in 2015 for allegedly lying about a car chase.
KFI NEWS reported last year that McDonnell had sent letters to about 300 deputies warning them their disciplinary histories -- for things like questionable force and false statements -- could result in their names being turned over to prosecutors and demotions or removals from choice assignments.