The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has demoted Sergeant Rosa Gonzalez, now a deputy, following allegations that she spread “rumors and/or gossip.” Gonzalez, however, contends that her actions were part of an effort to expose misconduct within the department. This decision comes nearly a month after a contentious hearing at the Hall of Justice.
In 2021, Gonzalez filed a grievance accusing department officials of discriminating against women, a person with potential autism, and another whistleblower. She later filed a lawsuit in 2022, alleging retaliation when she was reassigned to a less favorable position after raising concerns. The department’s decision to demote Gonzalez has raised questions, given the rarity of such actions within the ranks.
Gonzalez has vowed to appeal the decision to the L.A. County Civil Service Commission, asserting that her actions were in “good faith” and calling the investigation a “complete fraud.” She also highlighted the need for greater oversight in the department, arguing that penalizing her for incidents from three years ago violates statutes of limitations on police discipline.
The Sheriff’s Department has not commented on Gonzalez’s demotion, but previously emphasized its commitment to investigating misconduct and protecting employees from discrimination and retaliation.
Gonzalez’s history with the department includes a 2015 lawsuit in which she accused an alleged deputy gang, the Banditos, of fostering a misogynistic culture. That case was settled for $1 million in 2019. In her current complaint, she alleges witnessing improper practices at the department’s Personnel Administration Bureau, including discriminatory hiring and time card fraud, which she flagged in her 2021 grievance.
Following her grievance, Gonzalez was investigated by Internal Affairs. Earlier this year, the department announced its intent to demote her, accusing her of violating equity policies by sharing “personal information” unrelated to her allegations.
This week, Gonzalez was notified of the final decision and reassigned to an overnight shift at the Cerritos sheriff’s station. Her attorney, Vince Miller, described the demotion as sending a “chilling message” to other potential whistleblowers, cautioning about the risks of raising concerns. Gonzalez’s 2022 lawsuit remains ongoing.
