Jackie Lacey recall, Los Angeles County, California (2017)
| Los Angeles County District Attorney recall |
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| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2017 Recalls in California California recall laws County official recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Jackie Lacey from her position as the Los Angeles County district attorney in California was launched in January 2017. Civil rights activists initiated the recall after Lacey announced her decision on January 24, 2017, to not charge two police officers in the fatal shooting of a mentally ill black man. Lacey said the officers acted lawfully because they thought the man was trying to grab one of their guns.[1] The recall effort was never officially started so it did not go to a vote.
Lacey was elected district attorney in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016 after running unopposed. She is the first woman and the first black person to serve as district attorney in Los Angeles County.[2]
Recall supporters
The day after Lacey's decision came out, a group of civil rights activists held a news conference to announce the recall effort. "Ezell Ford [the man who was fatally shot] was not the only one. That was the tipping point, but you have a pattern here," said author and activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson. Peter Bibring, the director of police practices for the ACLU of Southern California, questioned in a statement whether the district attorney's office "provides any meaningful check on police shootings." Oliver Buie, the reverend of Holman United Methodist Church, said Lacey had closed her eyes to police shootings, siding with police no matter what.[1]
Recall opponents
In response to the recall effort, Lacey said she understood the community's frustration but stressed that it was her duty to follow the oath of the law. "The physical evidence and the law support my decision in this case," she said.[1]
Background
Ezell Ford, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was shot and killed by police on August 11, 2014. He was walking home in South L.A. when he was approached by Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas. Ford reportedly made eye contact and then started walking away, which is why Wampler said he decided to detain him. Wampler said Ford tackled him around the waist and gripped his hand, leading him to believe Ford was trying to grab his gun and to yell, "Partner, he’s getting my gun." Villegas shot Ford twice, and Wampler also fired his gun.
The district attorney's office released a 28-page report explaining its reasoning for not filing charges against the officers. The report said that Wampler had reason to believe that Ford was attempting to get a hold of his gun, posing "an immediate threat to his safety and his partner's safety," and so the officers had acted lawfully in using deadly force.[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
According to state law, recall proponents would have needed to collect valid signatures of 10 percent of the county's registered voters.
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
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