I've covered law enforcement and politics in Los Angeles for more than 30 years, and I've never reported on anyone quite like Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

When he declared his candidacy back in 2018, he was a total long shot, an underdog with almost no leadership experience.

I'm Alex Vianuevaven, I'm candidate for sheriff

for Los Angeles County.

Well, my candidacy is about reforming, rebuilding,

and restoring the Sheriff's Department.

He ran on a platform of ending corruption.

And my intention is sheriff to wipe slightly

protecting immigrants.

I am not going to allow ICE physically be inside the jail system.

And progressive values.

There's been 103 years since the last Democrat was elected sheriff.

He was proud of who he was.

And voters loved it. And voters loved it. So we saw it as a Yes, word. You. What about you said, what's it in?

And voters loved it.

So we saw it as a signal of hope against Trumpism.

But almost immediately after taking office, things went off the rails.

I knew I was being threatened.

That was pretty clear.

But what exactly it was he was going to do to me was unclear.

It's like an enemy's list.

He was investigating anybody who was critical of him.

...