LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two sheriff’s deputies have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging gang-like lawlessness by a clique of Los Angeles County jailers.

The suit was filed Wednesday by deputies Chris Vasquez and Elizario Perez, who say they were attacked by fellow deputies during a Christmas party at a Montebello banquet hall.

The Los Angeles Times says the lawsuit alleges illegal acts and excessive force by an aggressive group of third-floor deputies at the downtown Men’s Central Jail.

The Sheriff’s Department won’t say if the deputies identified in the lawsuit are among the six deputies the department decided to fire in March.

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore denies the department fosters lawlessness among jail employees.

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