Yesterday, the Board of State and Community Corrections approved funding for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across the state to combat organized retail theft. Notably absent from the list was the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office run by George Gascón.
The Los Angeles Daily News reported, “The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which sits at the epicenter of some of California’s most recent high-profile smash-and-grabs, did not apply for funding for the portion of grant funds available to prosecutors.”
When asked about his failure to apply for funding, Gascón falsely claimed that the funding was not for prosecutors’ offices.
The problem? Twelve district attorney’s offices across California were awarded $2 million in funding including the district attorney’s offices of Ventura, Orange, and Riverside.
In response to Gascón’s failure to secure funding for Los Angeles County, immediate past vice president of the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys Eric Siddall issued the following statement:
“George Gascón is either incompetent or being untruthful. The state created a grant specifically designed to enhance the prosecution of organized retail theft. All Gascón needed to do was apply for the grant. He didn’t. He either didn’t know the grant existed or he purposely didn’t apply. Either way, his gross incompetence cost Angelenos much-needed resources designed to combat smash-and-grab robberies that are plaguing Los Angeles. Los Angeles County needs a strong and serious leader to take us in a new direction and keep our communities safe.” –Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall