Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told NBC Los Angeles that he called for eight deputies to delete the graphic photos of Kobe Bryant’s tragic helicopter crash so the photos wouldn’t leak.
- Villanueva said: “That was my No. 1 priority, was to make sure those photos no longer exist. We identified the deputies involved, they came to the station on their own and had admitted they had taken them and they had deleted them. And, we’re content that those involved did that.”
- He said he learned eight deputies had taken the photos or exchanged them between each other.
- Villanueva said: “We’ve communicated in certain terms that the behavior is inexcusable. I mean, people are grieving for the loss of their loved ones. To have that on top of what they’ve already gone through is unconscionable. And, to think any member of our department would be involved in that.”
Previous reports on making a deal
- According to The Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies who were linked to showing the photos were offered a deal to avoid discipline.
- As I wrote on the report: “The report suggested the deputies were told they would avoid punishment if they admitted their involvement in the photo scandal and deleted the pictures.”