Democrats and progressives helped Alex Villanueva rise to power back in 2018, excited about his left-leaning campaign promises. But that support did not last long. The sheriff has been criticized over his response to issues including homelessness, COVID-19 and police brutality, as well as transparency and reinstating fired deputies.

The Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, a sitting county supervisor and the Democratic Party have called for him to step down. He’s up for reelection next year, and he doesn’t agree with the criticism.

Today, we run a condensed version of a conversation Villanueva had on “Los Angeles Times Today” with host Lisa McRee.

More reading:

Column: Sheriff Villanueva is angry — at elected officials, at the L.A. Times, at lawlessness

‘Running against the woke left’: Can Sheriff Villanueva’s shift to the right work in L.A.?

Op-Ed: Villanueva’s bogus Venice ‘outreach’ is just a cover for criminalizing homelessness