Investigate LA

LACIJ is a nonprofit newsroom doing investigative journalism across the SGV. We investigate what’s overlooked—because silence protects the powerful.

[First Amendment Coalition (follow us on Bluesky) @FACoalition]

A win for transparency! This week a judge ruled the City of El Monte must hand over secondary employment records of El Monte police officers who are employed outside the police force. FAC represented @investigate_la in this public records act case. https://t.co/5SQlDYyuRU

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

These moves come after an investigation by LACIJ found that over five years, the city paid out more than $17 million in overtime. Of that, over $2.6 million went to just five officers, according city payroll data.

Read the story here https://t.co/mMo9RiL6Tf

[ABC7 Eyewitness News @ABC7]

El Monte police investing in new equipment, hiring more officers https://t.co/t7eZuqofrD

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

Read the full investigation from @InvestigateLA:
https://t.co/mMo9RiL6Tf

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

One El Monte police officer earned nearly $440,000 in 2023. That’s more than many police chiefs in the San Gabriel Valley. How did it happen?
@InvestigateLA reviewed five years of payroll data.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

The top earner in the EMPD made more than most city employees across the San Gabriel Valley, including city managers, police and fire chiefs -- typically the highest paid city officials.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

You can read the full story, including the department’s explanation and what we found in the policy, at Investigate LA: https://t.co/sV8I0D6wiP

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

El Monte is one of several cities in L.A. County where residents say they’ve seen aggressive immigration enforcement tactics—but local oversight remains murky.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

In response to community concerns, the City Council voted to form an ad hoc immigrant support committee. The group will explore economic, legal and social avenues of relief for those impacted by ICE operations.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

The policy only outlines how the department coordinates with outside agencies—not how to vet or confirm the identities of those agencies' personnel.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

The absence of clear guidance has prompted questions from community members about how local police interact with federal agents.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

Investigate LA reviewed the department’s mutual aid policy. Nowhere does it say whether EMPD officers can—or should—verify the identity of federal agents operating in the city.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

At last week’s City Council meeting, El Monte police said they won’t routinely verify ICE agents’ identities, citing department policy. But the manual makes no mention of if—or how—officers can verify federal agents. 🧵

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

Instead, Luna urged residents to call 911 if they believe a kidnapping is taking place. “We don’t regulate the federal government,” he said.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

Capt. Robert Luna told councilmembers that officers won’t “self-initiate” ID checks on people who claim to be ICE or HSI agents—unless there’s a “legitimate concern” they’re impersonating a federal official.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

Unmarked SUVs continued to drive through the intersection several hours after the raid. InvestigateLA could not confirm whether or not those vehicles belonged to federal officials, but witnesses said they matched the SVUs that raided the car wash.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

Federal ICE agents conducted multiple raids across the San Gabriel Valley today, including Baldwin Park and Hacienda Heights.

[Investigate LA @Investigate_LA]

In Hacienda Heights, three men were reportedly detained by immigration officers at a car wash on the corner of Amar Rd & Hacienda Blvd.

One of the detained individuals attempted to high in the trunk of a car before agents took him away.