After resisting calls for his resignation, Los Angeles County Probation Department chief Adolfo Gonzales was fired on Tuesday, March 7, by the Board of Supervisors.
“Our juvenile halls are in crisis. The state has found them unsuitable, and they are at risk of being shut down. Youth are being hurt and are not attending school. Staff are being attacked and many are not showing up to work,” Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn said in a statement. “(The) void in leadership starting from the top has allowed this situation to fester. Our board’s decision to terminate Chief Gonzales is only the first step of a long road to fixing our juvenile halls and supporting the youth in our care and the staff who work with them.”
Gonzales could not be reached for comment.
Hahn and Supervisor Kathryn Barger last week called on Gonzales to resign his position, following a 5-2 vote Thursday by the county’s Probation Oversight Commission also calling for him to step down.
Gonzales, however, didn’t budge, culminating in the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote Tuesday to remove him from the post.
“It’s no secret — our Probation Department is in a crisis and needs strong leadership — yet I did not see him (Gonzales) rise to the challenge on multiple occasions,” Barger said in a statement Tuesday. “He lost what little was left of my support when I visited one of our juvenile halls a few weeks ago. Although I personally saw deficiencies and ensured they were communicated to the department, over a week later nothing had been done. This is just plain unacceptable.”
Barger said she wants to send in a “strike team” to overhaul the department.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who last week fell short of calling for Gonzales resignation, said Tuesday she is “no longer in a position to continue supporting” Gonzales, and saying she has “lost faith” in his ability to lead the agency.
“There is a serious culture issue and lack of leadership within the…
Read the full article here
