Here is the real issue.  The Democratic Party got him elected. Then they tried to jerk him around and make demands, which he refused to bend to unless he agreed with it. So they abandoned him to show him they could get rid of him.  He is now aligned with Republicans but they don’t all support him because of his previous ties. So he may be ousted.  He has strong competition.

LAist

Dumped by Democratic Party, Sheriff Villanueva Will Headline LA County GOP Winter Wonderland Party

The sheriff faces a tough re-election battle next year, with eight challengers seeking to unseat him.

Read more from LAist

Yeah, this is one of the articles I came across.

He may have done that to avoid losing officers. Many of them refuse to be vaccinated. They have already had Covid,