When the driver of an Hummer parked illegally in a handicap parking spot threatened Alice Chandler last week, she called 911. Three Deputies responded to the scene. They gave the man a ticket and suggested Chandler call them next time before she confronts a parking violator.

The feisty lady, five days shy of her 80th birthday, informed the deputies that she had once been a Special Deputy for the Orange County Sheriff's Department and she still had her badge and gun.

"The one deputy gave me look," she said later. "It got me wondering whether I should turn it in."

She went home and wrote a letter to Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. She congratulated Sheriff Hutchens as the first female Sheriff in Orange County. Former Special Deputy Chandler wondered whether she may have been the first female Deputy Sheriff in the Department.

"I am not sure if there was ever another woman deputy at that time, at least I never met or heard of one," she said in her letter.

Department records reviewed so far were unable to determine whether or not she was the Department's first female Deputy.

Although Department records indicate she was Special Deputy, she was given a Deputy Sheriff's badge.

"I was told by Sheriff Musick that I had the full responsiblility of a deputy sheriff and could be called at anytime should they need me and I felt so proud to have my badge and the responsibiity," she said in the letter.

She came to the Division Commanders meeting on Thursday, her 80th birthday, and formally turned her badge, identification card and gun, a .32 caliber long revolver, to Sheriff Hutchens and Captain Davis Nighswonger. She was given a birthday cake and a rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" by all who were present.

To read a Los Angeles Times account of the story click here.   

Sandra Hutchens was sworn in as Orange County Sheriff on Thursday. A ceremonial swearing in will take place on Tuesday.

Chairman John Moorlach of the Orange County Board of Supervisors had this to say of the swearing in:

On March 17, 1995, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint me to the vacant position of Treasurer-Tax Collector.  I was sworn in immediately following the vote.

We appointed Sandra Hutchens with the provision that she successfully pass the required medical and psychological tests.  Consequently, she was not sworn in at the June 10 meeting after our 3-2 vote.  Not knowing how long the process would take, we scheduled a public swearing-in ceremony for the June 24 Board meeting.  You should have already received my personal invitation.  If the e-mail failed to reach you, please consider yourself invited.   

We extended an offer to Sandra Hutchens to swear her in earlier, after the successful conclusion of the tests, if she so desired.  She did.  The Board offices were invited to the meeting three days prior.  Several of them sent representatives, including Supervisor Norby’s office.

I had the pleasure, as Board Chair, to perform the swearing in.  Judge Kirkwood was in the Hall of Administration for a Commission meeting and dropped into my office.  I invited her to stay a few minutes in order to meet Ms. Hutchens and Judge Kirkwood stayed to attend the meeting.

To read the newspaper accounts of the swearing in click More...