The widow of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who killed himself last month has filed a $20 million claim alleging her husband suffered from deep depression after he was forced to work exhaustive, mandatory overtime for a dozen years at a jail facility.
The claim, filed Friday, Dec. 8, against the county, blames the Sheriff’s Department for the death of Deputy Arturo Atilano-Valadez, who died from a gunshot wound at his home on Nov. 7. He is among eight current or former Sheriff’s Department employees to die by suicide this year, according to the agency, the largest sheriff’s department in the nation.
“What has happened to my family is going to continue to happen to any other deputies forced to work (in the jail) all the time,” Michele Atilano said at a news conference. “My husband is just one of many, many who are sick and are being forced to work in the jail all of the time.”
As of Friday, the Sheriff’s Department had not received a copy of the claim, which is a precursor to a formal lawsuit.
In a statement, Sheriff Robert Luna called Atilano-Valadez’s death tragic.
“A loss of a department family member is extremely tragic, and our continued thoughts are with the family during this difficult time,” Luna said. “The department has not received the official claim but is deeply committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of all its employees. The department values its personnel who are dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”
The claim filed by attorney Brad Gage alleges Atilano-Valadez, a 21-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, often worked 12 hours a day or more at the jail, where he was “locked in like a prisoner” and was ordered to work even more hours of mandatory overtime.
“He asked to leave the jails, but his requests were repeatedly denied. He saw doctors and therapists, but the overtime and virtual imprisonment became too severe,” alleges the claim. “But for the intentional actions by the defendants, with forced overtime and forcing him to work in the jail for so long, he would not have been killed.”
Among the eight current or former L.A. County sheriff’s employees to die by suicide this year, four — including Atilano-Valadez — killed themselves during a 24-hour period in early November. Authorities have said the deaths are not believed to be related.
The number of suicides in unprecedented, according to Luna.
“We lost a sheriff’s commander, a deputy sheriff, a custody assistant and a retired employee, who are as just an important part of our family as anybody else,” Luna told KTLA in November. “As far as our records reflect, we have not seen anything like this.”
Atilano said the excessive mandatory overtime hours her husband was forced to work turned him into a “zombie,” adding that she believes LACSD’s work policies put other deputies and the public at risk. “The public is not safe,” she said. “All they have now is a bunch of deputies who are zombies walking around who are tired.”
Gage filed a similar $20 million wrongful death claim last month against the Sheriff’s Department on behalf of Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, who was shot and killed Sept. 16 during an ambush while waiting in his patrol SUV for a traffic light to change in Palmdale.
Kim and Michael Clinkunbroomer, the deputy’s parents, allege the killing could have been prevented if the Sheriff’s Department hadn’t required their son to work excessive overtime, which fatigued him and prevented him from adequately defending himself.
Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, 29, is charged with capital murder in the killing of Clinkunbroomer.