Since the 1990s, Los Angeles County’s Emergency Operations Center has been run by the sheriff. That came to an end recently when the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously, to remove Sheriff Alex Villanueva as the Director of the center. Villanueva tells Inside the Issues the position oversees control of the entire emergency apparatus, when the center is activated.

“My position is to ensure that everyone is talking to everyone, every plan is carefully vetted, out every voice is heard [and] is communicated effectively and we have all the contingencies addressed.”

He said state law establishes a position of Director of Emergency Operations.

“When the county opts into state law there’s a set of rules that they have to follow. They can’t just change the ordinance on their own on a whim,” he said. “They have to repeal the entire ordinance and write it over from scratch. So, what they’re trying to do is edit out the sheriff’s role in the entire process, which is kind of bizarre and at this moment - dangerous.”

RELATED | Coronavirus Updates: What to Know in SoCal

Following an audit of the Woolsey fire, The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors said there were concerns that the proper channels of communication were not followed and that led to their decision of removing Villanueva as Director of Emergency Operations. He disagreed with their findings saying he read the full Woolsey report.

“It does not even mention my role as Director of Emergency Operation nor does it criticize the role of the Director of Emergency Operation anywhere in the report,” he said.

He believes this is a loss of checks and balances.

“There’s no longer a voice within this whole emergency apparatus that can say ‘that’s a bad idea, let’s not do that’ because every single person now is appointed by the Board of Supervisors” Sheriff Villanueva said.

RELATED | Ask Ariel: Your SoCal Coronavirus Questions Answered

Villanueva recently allowed gun shops in Los Angeles County to reopen after first requiring their closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Villanueva has said he believes the effort to remove him was a response to reopening the gun shops. A gun owner himself, he said he is a firm believer in the Second Amendment and he will reconsider when people start contracting the virus after visiting the shops. 

He recognizes there has been an ongoing battle between the Board of Supervisors and himself, saying they need to figure out a compromise.

“There needs to be a viable and working relationship between the Sheriff’s Department and the Board of Supervisors because we provide the essential service of county government which is public safety. That is the number one priority. If we can’t provide that, then everything else is jeopardized because we can’t provide the first one so why would you try to degrade the foundation of what county government exists for.” 

He also talks about the inevitability of losing a member of his team to COVID-19. He currently has a custody assistant on a ventilator in ICU and about 300 department personnel in quarantine. About 150 employees have recently come back to work after being in quarantine.

Watch the clip above for more.

Let Inside the Issues know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.