Meet Oscar Martinez, Candidate For Los Angeles County Sheriff

LOS ANGELES, CA — Oscar Martinez, 45, is vying to be elected as the Los Angeles County sheriff.

In the June 2 primary, incumbent Sheriff Robert Luna is facing seven challengers: Martinez, Eric Strong, Brendan Corbett, Mike Bornman, André N. White, Alex Villanueva and Karla Carranza.

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Learn more about Martinez's goals for Los Angeles County:

What is your educational background?

I earned a bachelor's degree in homeland security, with a minor in terrorism studies, from American Military University.

I also hold a master’s in criminal justice from American Military University and a master’s in organizational leadership from Woodbury University.

I completed executive leadership programs including Command College.

What is your professional background?

I am a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, with over 15 years of experience across custody operations, patrol, professional standards and the Public Information Office.

I currently serve at Palmdale Station, overseeing critical incidents, policy compliance, and operational coordination.

I am also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

What are the top three public safety challenges the next sheriff of Los Angeles County will need to address?

The next sheriff must confront three critical public safety challenges. First is staffing and retention. The department is losing experienced personnel faster than it can replace them, leading to increased overtime, slower response times, and reduced proactive policing. Stabilizing the workforce is essential to restoring service levels and morale.

Second is restoring focus on the core mission. The department must prioritize patrol, custody, and court operations, ensuring resources are aligned with fighting crime, securing jails, and supporting the justice system, rather than being diluted across competing responsibilities.

Third is rebuilding public trust through accountability and consistency. This means enforcing standards, reducing costly lawsuits, improving transparency, and delivering reliable service across all communities. Strong leadership must balance effective law enforcement with clear communication and responsible stewardship of public resources.

How should the Sheriff’s Department handle use-of-force incidents, and what changes, if any, would you make to current policies or oversight?

Use-of-force must be guided by clear, practical policy, strong training and consistent accountability. Deputies need standards that are easy to understand and apply in rapidly evolving situations. I would revise current policies to simplify language, remove ambiguity, and ensure they are aligned with real-world conditions, so deputies can make sound decisions under pressure.

Equally important is training and supervision. We must invest in realistic, scenario-based training and ensure supervisors are actively engaged in reviewing incidents, identifying lessons learned and reinforcing expectations.

When it comes to oversight, I will work collaboratively with oversight bodies, but not for them. The sheriff is elected by and accountable to the people, and that responsibility must remain clear. Transparency will be a priority, but it must be balanced with fairness to our personnel and the facts of each case.

Finally, we must take a more disciplined approach to litigation. Not every case should be settled. When deputies act within the law and policy, we should be prepared to defend those actions in court. This protects accountability, supports our personnel, and safeguards taxpayer dollars.

How should the Sheriff’s Department respond to calls involving mental health crises or homelessness, and what role should deputies play?

The Sheriff’s Department must respond to mental health and homelessness calls with a clear, mission-focused approach. Deputies should be involved when there is a crime, a threat to public safety, or a third party at risk. In those situations, law enforcement has a critical role in stabilizing the scene and ensuring safety.

However, not every call requires a law enforcement response. Many of these situations are better handled by trained mental health professionals and service providers. The department should partner with county health services to ensure the right resources are dispatched, allowing deputies to focus on their core mission while still ensuring individuals in crisis receive appropriate care.

This approach protects the public, supports those in need, and reduces unnecessary risk and liability. It also ensures taxpayer resources are used effectively by aligning the right response with the right problem, rather than relying on law enforcement as the default solution.

What changes, if any, would you make to improve conditions and safety in county jails, including for both inmates and staff?

Improving conditions and safety in our county jails requires a balanced approach that prioritizes both staff and those in custody. First, we must invest in modern technology, upgraded surveillance systems, body-worn cameras in custody settings, improved communications, and real-time data systems to track incidents and inmate needs. Technology enhances safety, accountability, and efficiency across the entire operation.

Second, we must address infrastructure. Many of our facilities are outdated and not designed for today’s challenges. I will advocate for two new, modern jail facilities that improve supervision, reduce violence, and better support medical and mental health care.

Third, we must implement a dual-track career system that treats custody, patrol, and courts as equal missions. Deputies should have the option to remain in custody and promote through the ranks if they choose. This builds expertise, strengthens leadership within the jails, improves morale, and creates a more professional and stable custody environment.

Do you believe deputy gangs, cliques or other formal or informal groups are a problem within the Sheriff's Department today? If so, what additional steps are needed to address them?

I do not believe there are organized “deputy gangs” operating within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. If there were credible evidence of criminal conduct, it would have resulted in investigations and prosecutions.

Now let’s talk about the reality. From 2022 to 2024, you’ve had Sheriff Robert Luna and District Attorney George Gascón, both with full authority, full access, and full ability to investigate and prosecute. If there was credible evidence of criminal gangs operating within the department, you would have seen cases filed and people held accountable in court. That has not occurred, even under these two elected officials, who hate law and order.

That said, any behavior, formal or informal, that undermines professionalism, policy, or public trust must be addressed. The focus should be on conduct, not labels. If any employee violates the law or department policy, they must be investigated and held accountable.

Moving forward, the solution is strong, consistent leadership. Policies must be clear, enforced equally, and supported by engaged supervision and early intervention when issues arise. At the same time, we must support the vast majority of deputies who serve honorably every day.

Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

I am a better choice because I bring experience, perspective, and a clear plan to refocus the department on its core mission. I have served in custody, patrol, professional standards, and as a chief’s executive aide, giving me a full understanding of how this department operates at every level. I am also a Marine Corps combat veteran, and I understand leadership, accountability and decision-making under pressure.

Unlike others, I am not offering recycled ideas or political talking points. I am focused on practical solutions, stabilizing staffing, modernizing technology, improving jail conditions, and restoring focus on patrol, custody, and the courts. The department does not need more bureaucracy, it needs clear direction and disciplined leadership.

I also bring independence. I will work with our partners, but I remain accountable to the people of Los Angeles County. This campaign is about results, restoring public safety, supporting our deputies, and ensuring the department operates with professionalism, efficiency, and integrity.