The Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission (COC) has acknowledged that the existence of "deputy gangs" in the county sheriff's department does not exist. This admission was made in a February 26, 2026 report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The COC and OIG have been accused of using the term "Deputy gang" as a political weapon to discredit the Sheriff’s Department, influence elections, and weaken traditional law enforcement under the banner of “reform.” The report also stated that the LA County Sheriff's Department has not identified any group meeting the legal definition of a law enforcement gang under California law. Despite numerous investigations, there is still no evidence to support these claims. The department is now facing staffing shortages, declining morale and reduced proactive policing.