Robert G. Luna

Robert G. Luna is the 34th Sheriff of Los Angeles County, first elected in 2022.¹ He previously served as Long Beach Police Chief, ending a 36-year career at that department.¹ As chief during the 2020 George Floyd protests, he drew criticism from small business owners, local officials, and some department officers over his response.² He leads the largest sheriff's department in the United States, with nearly 18,000 budgeted staff.³

His campaign says the department reported a 14% decline in homicides and increased crime clearance rates during his first term. His campaign also says he established the Office of Constitutional Policing and banned deputy gangs. A county oversight body documented a 16% reduction in custody use of force and an 11% reduction in patrol use of force. It also noted a 42% drop in shooting-involved deaths. He is planning a Correctional Care Center for inmates, over half of whom have mental health or substance use issues. The department is replacing its decades-old computer dispatch system and deploying drones and license plate readers.^{4, 5}

His campaign says he will reduce violent crime, build public trust, modernize department technology, and address homelessness.⁶ He faces staffing shortages of about 1,400 sworn and 1,300 professional vacancies and the need to secure large-scale events such as the 2026 World Cup.⁵ In 2025, he requested National Guard deployment and imposed curfews to stop looting during wildfires, leading to 20 arrests.⁷ In September 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into the physical conditions at Men's Central Jail.⁸