Hundreds of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies are boycotting this year’s “Baker to Vegas” Challenge Cup Relay, a major annual law enforcement event, in protest of the recent ‘excessive force’ conviction of Deputy Trevor James Kirk.
Kirk was found guilty in February of using excessive force during a 2023 robbery investigation at a WinCo grocery store in Lancaster. During the incident, he violently detained Jacy Hueston, a woman filming the arrest of another suspect. Bodycam footage showed Kirk grabbing her phone, slamming her to the ground, and pepper-spraying her. He also used his radio to falsely report that he was in a “fight,” according to the jury’s findings.
Kirk was charged in September 2024 with excessive force and violating Hueston’s civil rights. He faces up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for April 21.
In response to the conviction, more than 20 LASD stations—about half the department—are refusing to participate in the Baker to Vegas relay. The boycott is being organized to express solidarity with Kirk and push back against what deputies claim is a politically motivated attack on law enforcement.
“It’s a historic stand and a line in the sand,” said Cesar Romero, President of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Professional Association. “Because this isn’t just about Trevor. It’s about every deputy who wears the badge.”
The Baker to Vegas relay is one of the largest law enforcement athletic events in the world, drawing participants from police departments across the U.S. and abroad. This year’s relay will proceed without a significant presence from one of its biggest local contributors.
