LA Riots Reveal Newsom’s Leadership Flaws, Says Former Sheriff’s Deputy

Los Angeles descended into chaos as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spiraled into riots, leaving businesses looted and cars ablaze. Former L.A. County sheriff’s deputy Patrick Gipson didn’t mince words, slamming California Gov. Gavin Newsom and local leaders for what he calls a catastrophic failure of leadership.

“This didn’t have to happen,” Gipson said, pointing to Newsom’s delay in deploying the National Guard as a critical misstep. “Billions in damages, small businesses gutted—it’s the cost of reactive, not proactive, governance.”

The unrest, sparked by anti-ICE demonstrations, exposed deeper tensions over California’s progressive criminal justice policies. Gipson argued that Newsom’s reluctance to fully fund Proposition 36, a 2024 measure to toughen penalties relaxed by Proposition 47, has left store owners defenseless and residents fearful. “People are scared to drive into L.A. now, worried a brick might crash through their window,” he said.

Gipson also called out Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, suggesting she’s tethered to Newsom’s playbook. “She’s taking orders from Sacramento, and it’s failing us,” he said. Meanwhile, Newsom deflected blame toward President Donald Trump, claiming his rhetoric inflamed the protests. Gipson scoffed at this, suggesting Newsom’s eyeing a 2028 presidential run and using Trump as a scapegoat.

Law enforcement, Gipson added, is paralyzed. “Officers are handcuffed by fear—fear of prosecution for doing their jobs,” he said, blaming a decade of what he calls Newsom’s neglect. “Defunded, defamed, demoralized—that’s the state of our police.”

Newsom’s office pushed back, insisting state and local forces were sufficient and that federal resources went untapped. “Calling for troops shows a misunderstanding of public safety,” a spokesperson said, taking a swipe at Gipson’s sheriff days. Bass’s office remained silent.

Gipson’s solution? Swift consequences for lawbreakers and stronger support for law enforcement. Without it, he warns, California’s streets will only grow more volatile.