Vanessa Bryant ‘devastated’ over reports deputies shared photos of helicopter crash site

by: CNN Newsource

Posted: Mar 1, 2020 / 06:59 PM EST / Updated: Mar 1, 2020 / 06:59 PM EST

(CNN) – Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s widow, said she is devastated over reports that sheriff’s deputies shared photos of the helicopter crash site.

Bryant died in a helicopter crash in January, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others.

Through her attorney, his widow said, “This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families.”

View this post on Instagram

CORRECTED: The department at issue is the Los Angeles County Fire Dept (LACoFD) NOT the LAFD KANSAS CITY, Mo.–(repost: BUSINESS WIRE)–Statement From Gary C. Robb, Legal Counsel on Behalf of His Client, Vanessa Bryant: Our client, Vanessa Bryant, is absolutely devastated by allegations that deputies from the Lost Hills Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department publicly disseminated photos from the helicopter crash site. Mrs. Bryant personally went to the Sheriff’s office on January 26th and requested that the area be designated a no-fly zone and protected from photographers. This was of critical importance to her as she desired to protect the dignity of all the victims, and their families. At that time, Sheriff Alex Villanueva assured us all measures would be put in place to protect the families’ privacy, and it is our understanding that he has worked hard to honor those requests. First responders should be trustworthy. It is inexcusable and deplorable that some deputies from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s substation, other surrounding substations and LACOFD would allegedly breach their duty. This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families. We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated. We are requesting an Internal Affairs investigation of these alleged incidents. Mrs. Bryant is grateful to the individual who filed an online complaint exposing these acts of injustice, and for the choice to protect human dignity. We ask that anyone else who has information as to the facts underlying these alleged grievous and shameful incidents contact our office at 816–474-8080 or email via www.robbrobb.com

A post shared by Vanessa Bryant 🦋 (@vanessabryant) on Mar 1, 2020 at 8:22am PST

She added, “We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports that crash scene photos had been shared by saying, “The facts surrounding these allegations are currently under investigation.”

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