Spectrum News: Tran, Kamlager-Dove urge LA Deputy Sheriffs, County to come to contract agreement

LOS ANGELES — Two Los Angeles area members of Congress are wading into a year-long labor dispute between the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to encourage both sides to come to an agreement.

For over 12 months, negotiators from LA County and the ALADS have been trying to reach a contract deal that would run through 2028. The previous contract expired on Jan. 31, 2025, leaving thousands of deputy sheriffs and district attorney investigators without a contract for the last year.

In a letter dated Jan. 8, Reps. Derek Tran, D-Calif., and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., wrote that “it is imperative that Los Angeles County has a strong police force that is ready and equipped to serve, especially with these high-profile events rapidly approaching” such as the NBA All-Star Weekend and FIFA World cup later this year, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the Olympics and Paralympics in 2028.

Those events are expected to bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to the greater Los Angeles area at a time, Tran and Kamlager-Dove say, when the department is operating at its lowest sworn staffing levels in decades.

“We have a profound appreciation for the law enforcement officers who answer the call to service, often in the face of immense personal risk. This workforce is essential and deserving of a contract that recognizes their value and treats them with dignity and respect. It is our sincere hope that ALADS and Los Angeles County reach an agreement that addresses our daily public safety needs, equips the force for upcoming global events, and fairly compensates the officers for their tireless work and personal sacrifice,” the letter reads.

ALADS Director Jason Zabala said in a December Facebook post that negotiations remain ongoing, and that there are two reasons a deal has not yet been reached. 

“ALADS continues to hold firm based on two major reasons: one, the 0% [raise] through 2026, and the claw back language, which includes returning any funds that members may receive in their contract should the county decide that there’s a budget shortfall. These are the major reasons why we continue to fight for a better contract,” Zabala said.

Tran told Spectrum News in an exclusive interview that a deal needs to be reached, and soon.

“We have some really big events coming to our great city that’s going to yield a lot of small business operations that’s going to be able to make money. But at the same time, we’ve got to take public safety very seriously,” he said. 

“Public security is really national security.”

“Southern California’s ability to safely host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympics, and other major sporting events depends on well-resourced and appropriately trained local law enforcement,” Rep. Kamlager-Dove told Spectrum News in a statement. “As preparations continue, it is essential that the Association for LA Deputy Sheriffs and LA County reach an agreement that addresses public safety, ensures the department can manage increased tourism, and provides fair compensation for officers while ensuring that other critical county social service needs are also met.”

During the holiday recess, Tran said he spent time doing a ride along with deputy sheriffs in his district, and that the lack of contract was weighing on those he spoke with, particularly with the department struggling to recruit new members of the force.

“They have over 1500 positions that are left open. That’s huge. The fact that we cannot, hire, retain these, very important public safety officials, is something that my community wants me to take action on,” said Tran. “We have one of the largest police forces out there that’s working without a contract. That is scary for me.”

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Solis told Spectrum News in a statement that “Los Angeles County remains fully engaged in good-faith negotiations with the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS). A timely resolution is critical — not only for the safety and readiness of our communities but also for the morale of our deputies, who are the backbone of public safety in Los Angeles County. I strongly support them and the essential work they perform every day.”

But Solis added the county is facing “unprecedented fiscal pressures, including costs associated with wildfire recovery, the loss of millions of dollars in federal funding for safety net programs, and the $4 billion AB 218 settlement.”

Negotiators, Solis told Spectrum News, are scheduled to reconvene next week.

“I remain committed to supporting and equipping our deputies so that Los Angeles County can continue serving our residents safely, effectively, and without interruption — especially as we approach major upcoming sports and entertainment events, which place additional demands on public safety.”

ALADS President Richard Pippin called the lack of progress on salary contract negotiations “quite frustrating not just for our agency but most importantly for the deputies we represent.”

“Persistent staffing shortages lead to increased overtime, reduced time for family engagement, and growing fatigue. This directly affects officer wellness, long-term sustainability of the workforce, and ultimately the services provided to the community,” Pippin said in part. “Public safety should be a daily top priority, but even more significant as our county will serve as center stage for the upcoming FIFA, Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics.”

The LA County Sheriff’s Department told Spectrum News that it “is experiencing a significant staffing crisis driven by challenges affecting law enforcement agencies across the nation,” as it looks forward to a busy 2026 and beyond.

“We are focused on reducing excessive overtime and filling our vacancies to ensure we are properly keeping our communities safe,” it said in part. “It is vital that our deputies receive fair and competitive wages and benefits to increase recruitment and retain our trained public safety professionals in the nation’s largest Sheriff’s Department.”

Click here to read on Spectrum News.