29 Facts About Alex Villanueva

Alejandro Villanueva is an American law enforcement officer who served as the 33rd sheriff of Los Angeles County, California from 2018 until 2022.

The first member of the Democratic Party to be elected Sheriff in 138 years, Alex Villanueva campaigned as a reformer and appealed to some progressive values, but has received notoriety for more conservative policies during his tenure, as well as high levels of corruption.

Alex Villanueva was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1963 to a Puerto Rican father and Polish-American mother.

Alex Villanueva's family moved to Rochester, New York at an early age.

Alex Villanueva began his college education while in Puerto Rico and earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts from San Bernardino Valley College in California in 1986 and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the University of the State of New York, Regents College, now known as Excelsior College.

Alex Villanueva then earned a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge and a Doctorate of Public Administration from University of La Verne.

Alex Villanueva's dissertation was on the subject of leadership diversity in law enforcement.

Alex Villanueva served in the United States military for 10 years.

Alex Villanueva remained in the military for another seven years, serving in the California Army National Guard from 1985 to 1992 where he was commissioned and served as 1st Lieutenant.

Alex Villanueva joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1986 and eventually settled in La Habra Heights, California.

In 1988, Alex Villanueva initiated the drive to ban smoking in the Los Angeles County jail system as part of a national effort to ban second-hand smoke.

Alex Villanueva patrolled the community of East Los Angeles, California and volunteered to lead one of the first community policing teams in the nation as permitted by the Community Oriented Policing grant program launched by President Bill Clinton.

Alex Villanueva was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he worked Lennox and Carson Sheriff Stations, the Community College Bureau, as well as the Advanced Officer Training unit.

Alex Villanueva was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served at the Century Regional Detention Facility, which primarily houses female inmates.

In 2014, Alex Villanueva moved on to the Pico Rivera Sheriff Station, where he served as Watch Commander.

From 2006 to 2010, Alex Villanueva was an adjunct professor of criminal justice at California State University, Long Beach.

Alex Villanueva was sworn into office as sheriff on December 3,2018.

Alex Villanueva was the first person in 104 years to unseat a sitting sheriff of Los Angeles County.

Alex Villanueva inherited a department that was understaffed by at least 1,300 personnel.

In 2022, a LASD commander filed legal papers accusing Alex Villanueva of obstructing an investigation into a 2021 incident where a police deputy kneeled on a handcuffed inmate's head, as well as retaliating against whistleblowers.

On his first day in office, Alex Villanueva removed the captain of East Los Angeles Sheriff Station and transferred 36 deputies away from the station.

Alex Villanueva had an empty, unlabeled pill bottle in the vehicle.

Alex Villanueva stated he was not under the influence of any substance, and so no tests were warranted.

Alex Villanueva created a new policy to ban such behavior, and supported Assembly Bill 2655 known as 'The Kobe Bryant Act of 2020'.

In September 2020, Alex Villanueva secured $35 million in funding from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to implement a body-worn camera program across the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Alex Villanueva directed the removal of federal immigration agents from Los Angeles County jails, court facilities, and patrol stations.

Alex Villanueva suspended the department's participation in this program immediately after taking office, describing the cash payments as "blood money".

On September 12,2023 Alex Villanueva announced his candidacy for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, challenging incumbent Janice Hahn.

Alex Villanueva is married to Vivian Alex Villanueva, who retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2016 after 24 years of service.