Los Angeles Police Officers Attended Crowded Indoor Party Despite Statewide COVID-19 Restrictions

The Los Angeles Police Department is facing new criticism after a viral video showed members of the force attending a July 31 private gathering for "first responders" inside Hollywood’s Sassafras Saloon despite bars and restaurants being closed across the state amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, activist media group Knock.LA shared a video on Twitter that showcased multiple people saying they were at the location in order to attend an "LASD party," which referenced the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The video can be seen in the tweet below.

CNN reports that dozens of people inside the Sassafras Saloon did not wear masks or adhere to the CDC's social distancing guidelines. According to the publication, a spokesperson for the Hollywood bar had later stated that the intention of the gathering had been to give first responders a way to celebrate their profession.

Initially, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had denied that any of its employees had attended the party and were not involved in hosting duties. In a Facebook post on Saturday, the LASD had called the reports "categorically false" and said that they appeared "to be a hoax perpetrated by social activists."

However, the Los Angeles Police Department told USA Today on Thursday that two of its officers had, in fact, been present at the party.

Prior to the confirmation, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health had told CNN on Sunday that they were looking into the social gathering.

"We are investigating reports of a private indoor party and remind all businesses that have been ordered to close indoor operations that there are no exceptions. This is exactly the situation that puts our entire community at unnecessary risk," they stated.

At this time, no further details have been released, and it remains unclear if the two officers will face additional punishment.