The Board of Supervisors conducted interviews this week for the position of Sheriff. Understandably, there was a lot of discussion about the problems we are facing in our department. Over the last few months we have acknowledged the many areas we need to fix, but we also realize that these issues are not systemic, but isolated and individual in nature. The negative will undoubtedly garner headlines, but we also need to make sure we’re taking inventory of what’s right with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Among the numerous awards and recognition we’ve received, we continue to provide law enforcement services to one of the safest areas to live, work and play in the nation. Our Coroner’s facility serves as a statewide training facility and is a model for the state. An assessment conducted by the National Institute of Corrections last year noted that we operate one of the most professional jails while maintaining low assault rates; and our LA HIDTA Joint Drug Intelligence Group received the Outstanding Investigative Support Center Award of the year.

A commitment to excellence continues to thrive within our department, even as we work to correct shortcomings of the past.  With your great work and dedication, we will continue to have the opportunity to accentuate the positive while we eliminate the negative as we move toward a promising future.

Thank you for all you continue to do to lead our department in our mission to serve.

Dear Acting Sheriff-Coroner Anderson:

I am writing to thank you for the contributions your agency has made to the “DNA Field Experiment,” which has turned out to be an historic and groundbreaking project.  It has revealed important ways law enforcement can use DNA to identify burglary suspects.  Many of the burglars arrested during the field test had long, serious arrest histories.  Other jurisdictions are likely to find similarly serious offenders.  You and your agency’s willingness to participate has been highly valued and will be even more so when law enforcement across the United States learns what we have accomplished together.

I wanted to give you advance notice that the Department of Justice expects to announce the results soon…Your team led by Dean Gialamas, has already reviewed the researchers’ report and given us valuable comments.  Their comments will be reflected in the final document released to the public.

I would like to especially thank the key members of your staff:  Elizabeth Thompson, Tom Nasser, Bob Blackburn, Mike Gavin and Paul Fuzzard.

Your partnership with researchers has been extremely valuable to your colleagues in law enforcement and is greatly appreciated by the Department of Justice.

Sincerely,
David W. Hagy
Director
U.S. Department of Justice

Two sergeants from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department have completed the Sherman Block Supervisory Institute, a program designed for law enforcement first-level supervisors to promote personal growth, leadership and ethical-decision making.

Sergeant Catherine Irons, administrative sergeant for South Operations, and Wayne Byerley, a supervisor with the South Operations Direct Enforcement Team were personally congratulated by Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson. 

““The sergeants in the sworn ranks have the most influence on deputies. They ensure not only that Deputies do their job but have a responsibility to mentor and prepare the line staff to be tomorrow’s leaders,” Acting Sheriff Anderson said after congratulating the graduates.

According to the Police Officer Standards and Training Website, the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute was designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals and top educators and trainers. The institute is an intense program based on experiential learning techniques. Students are challenged to learn new ways to resolve issues through group and individual work. More...