The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced a new policy Wednesday that bans gangs among deputies in the department, an issue county officials say has spanned decades.Several past investigations by the county's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have identified 19 gangs within the sheriff's department over the years — which have been tied to at least 59 legal claims going back to the early 1990s that have resulted in more than $54 million in settlement payouts for incidents tied to these alleged crime groups.

LA Sheriff's Deputy Cardoso is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl and could face eight years in prison if convicted.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges against 31-year-old Bryan Cardoso on Wednesday.