LA cops forced to delete ‘offensive' post about US strikes on Iran and admit it was ‘unacceptable' in lengthy apology
Cops issued a lengthy apology for speaking out on the issue and falsely suggesting people were killed after the US launched airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran.
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The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shared condolences for the "tragic" bombing in a since-deleted post on X on Sunday.
An original version of the post read, "Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran.
"While this tragic event occurred overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state, and federal partners."
No deaths have been confirmed in the US airstrikes on Iran.
A few moments after the post was shared, it was edited to remove mentions of Iranian victims and families.
The statement was also edited to say police were "closely monitoring the situation overseas."
Then, the post was deleted entirely after backlash from social media users, some of whom called the message "embarrassing" and "pathetic."
LASD then shared an apology for the post.
"We are issuing this statement to formally apologize for an offensive and inappropriate social media post recently posted on our Department social media platforms regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran," police said.
"This post was unacceptable, made in error, and does not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the Department.
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'"As a law enforcement agency, we do not comment on foreign policy or military matters.
"Our mission remains solely focused on protecting public safety and serving our diverse communities."
The department said it launched an internal review to figure out how the post was created and published.
Police also said they're working to strengthen their social media policies and "ensure that any future communications align with our Department's standards of professionalism, respect, and accountability," the apology added.
LA County Sheriff's Department's statement
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department issued the following apology after sharing a post about the US airstrikes on Iran:
We are issuing this statement to formally apologize for an offensive and inappropriate social media post recently posted on our Department social media platforms regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran. This post was unacceptable, made in error, and does not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the Department. As a law enforcement agency, we do not comment on foreign policy or military matters. Our mission remains solely focused on protecting public safety and serving our diverse communities.
We fully recognize that the words and messages we share carry weight. As law enforcement professionals, we are entrusted with a position of public responsibility, and that trust demands that we communicate accurately. In this instance, we fell short of that expectation, and we are taking quick corrective action. We are committed to learning from this failure and to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
We have updated our social media post and have launched an internal review to determine how it was created and published. Steps are being taken to strengthen our social media oversight protocols and ensure that any future communications align with our Department's standards of professionalism, respect, and accountability.
We appreciate the continued trust of our community and will work diligently to reaffirm that trust every day.
Source: LASD
The LASD hasn't returned The U.S. Sun's request for comment.
It comes after Los Angeles law enforcement officials are already facing backlash for how they handled anti-ICE protests in the city, which saw violence and looting break out earlier this month.
The demonstrations were peaceful at first, but escalated after President Donald Trump sent in the National Guard as some rioters lit self-driving vehicles on fire.
Cops and local politicians were slammed for failing to keep the peace during the rallies.
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CONFLICT IN IRAN
The LASD's original post about Iran was shared just hours after Trump entered the conflict between Israel and Iran on Saturday night.
He sent American warplanes to target Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
It's unclear if there have been any casualties in the attack, but Trump said the sites were "obliterated."
He wrote on Truth Social after the strikes, "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
"All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.
"Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!"
Iran has warned that there will be consequences for the strikes.
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