Gov Newsom ‘handcuffed’ police as LA riots expose ‘reactionary’ leadership failure: former sheriff’ s deputy
Former sheriff's deputy says Democratic leadership has left law enforcement 'defunded, defamed, and demoralized' amid unrest
By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Peter D'Abrosca Fox News
Published June 14, 2025 10:00am EDT
ENCINO, Calif. – As violent protests erupted in Los Angeles, Calif., L.A. County GOP Vice Chair and former L.A. County sheriff's deputy Patrick Gipson issued a scathing rebuke of state and local leadership, accusing officials of negligence and political opportunism.
"These riots, they’re completely unnecessary," Gipson told Fox News Digital. "We didn’t have to go to this length to see cars burning, businesses looted, livelihoods destroyed. It could’ve all been avoided."
Gipson pointed the finger squarely at Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom, blaming him for failing to deploy the National Guard in time to prevent chaos.
"Newsom is reactionary instead of pro-action," he said. "If he had called in the National Guard earlier, we would’ve saved billions of dollars in insurance claims and protected our small businesses."
The protests, which began as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), escalated into street violence and theft. The protests highlighted, for many conservatives, the consequences of the state’s left-leaning approach to progressive criminal justice reform and immigration.
"ICE is here to enforce federal law. And if we can’t enforce federal law in this state, what does that say about us?" he asked.
Gipson also alleged that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was unable to act independently, suggesting that she has been taking her queues from Newsom.
"I know Karen Bass did go in and said, ‘this is not the way to protest.’ They wanted peaceful protest, but that’s not what we had," Gipson said. "She’s taking her instructions from Sacramento and Gavin Newsom. If she had better leadership from him, I think we would have been off a lot better that we are now."
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