LA Sheriff’s Dept Deletes Posts on Iran Airstrikes Backlash
So, What Happened?
Okay, here’s the thing—the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) just stepped into a massive political mess. Out of nowhere, their official social media accounts posted messages calling recent U.S. airstrikes “tragic.” And then? Poof. Gone within hours. But you know how the internet works—screenshots don’t just disappear. Conservatives, veterans, and political pundits lost their minds over it, accusing the department of basically betraying national security. Now, here’s the real question: Should cops even be weighing in on stuff like this? Because once you do, there’s no going back.
The Posts That Started It All
The tweets and Facebook posts—now deleted, obviously—didn’t hold back. They straight-up called U.S. military actions “tragic” with zero explanation. No context, no nothing. Honestly, it sounded more like something you’d hear at an anti-war rally than from a sheriff’s department. And they stayed up for, what, three hours? Long enough for the backlash to blow up.
LASD eventually put out this vague statement calling it an “error in judgment.” Classic damage control. They didn’t say who wrote it or if anyone’s getting fired—just threw in a quick “we support the troops” and hoped people would move on. Spoiler: They didn’t.
People Were Not Happy
Social media went nuclear. One tweet I saw said, “Fire whoever wrote this and figure out what the hell they were thinking.” Fox News, of course, ran with it, acting like this was proof that law enforcement’s been infiltrated by anti-American types. Politicians jumped in too. Congressman Mike Garcia—Navy vet, by the way—called it “unacceptable” and demanded answers. Local leaders started asking if this was just one person or something bigger brewing in the department.
LASD’s Damage Control Mode
Under all that pressure, the department apologized, saying the posts “didn’t represent their views.” They promised an internal review, but—shocker—no details on what that actually means. Critics weren’t buying it. Without real consequences, what’s stopping it from happening again?
And get this—they didn’t just delete the posts. They followed up with this super-patriotic tweet praising veterans. Total PR move. Like, “Hey, remember? We love the military!” A little too late for that, don’t you think?
Why This Blew Up
Let me break it down. It’s not just about criticizing U.S. policy. It’s about who did it. A sheriff’s department? Funded by taxpayers? In today’s hyper-polarized world, anything that smells like bias gets ripped apart. And calling airstrikes “tragic” without context? That’s basically handing ammo to people who see military action as non-negotiable for safety.
But here’s the bigger issue: Should public agencies just stay out of politics completely? Or is there a way to talk about tough topics without setting everything on fire? LASD’s quick backtrack says they’re scared of the fallout—but now it looks like they’re hiding something.
Media Went Full Tribal
No surprise here—coverage split right down the middle. Fox called it “left-wing activism in government,” while more liberal outlets brushed it off as a “mistake” blown out of proportion. Twitter? A total warzone. Hashtags like #FireTheSheriff and #LASDScandal were trending, and let’s just say the comments were… not civil.
Someone put it perfectly: “When cops start talking foreign policy, they either piss off half the country or end up spouting empty PR nonsense.” Spot on.
What Now?
The posts are gone, but the damage is done. In today’s world, every word from an official account gets dissected. Agencies have to ask themselves: Is wading into controversial topics worth the risk? For LASD, how they handle this—especially whether they’re transparent about accountability—will decide if people trust them again. Right now, it’s just a mess. And a reminder: One wrong move online can blow up in your face.
If You Want to Dig Deeper
- LASD’s official statement (good luck finding answers)
- Fox News segment (prepare for outrage)
- Twitter thread compiling reactions (grab popcorn)
Source: NY Post – US News
