The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) sparked controversy on June 22, 2025, by posting a message on social media expressing condolences for “victims” of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, describing the event as “tragic.” The post, which read, “Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran,” drew swift backlash for appearing to sympathize with Iran, a nation often at odds with U.S. policy. Critics, including conservative commentators and groups like Stop Antisemitism, questioned why a local sheriff’s department was commenting on international military actions.

The LASD quickly edited and then deleted the post, issuing an apology stating it was “offensive,” “inappropriate,” and made in error, not reflecting Sheriff Robert G. Luna’s views. An internal review was launched to investigate how the post was published.

Here is the updated version.