The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors removed Sheriff Alex Villanueva as head of the county's emergency operations center on Tuesday, a day after he reversed an order to close gun shops amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The supervisors said the unanimous vote was in response to the 2018 Woolsey Fire that charred nearly 100,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and destroyed a number of structures, and the need to centralize disaster operations, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“The new protocols bring Los Angeles County into alignment with modern best practices that recommend use of deeply-trained disaster management professionals to manage emergency functions that often span a full range of critical functions such as public health, housing and health services, in addition to public safety," a board statement said.
The change replaces Villanueva with the county CEO, who will be responsible for coordinating response activities.
Villanueva blasted the board's decision, calling it a "silent coup." In a statement, he said he is committed to the safety of Los Angeles County residents.
"I'm still waiting for the Board of Supervisors and CEO to provide a transition plan," he said. "In the meantime, we will maintain staffing at the County Emergency Operations Center until the county provides suitable replacements."
https://www.foxnews.com/us/los-angeles-supervisors-remove-sheriff-as-head-of-emergency-operations
