Updated 0920, 07/24/08
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens announced her command staff, which includes former Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson, current Command Staff Members Assistant Sheriff J.B. Davis and Executive Director Rick Dostal, Capt. Mike James and two new faces: retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Chief John Scott and Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Michael R. Hillmann.
Chief Scott will serve as Undersheriff, Assistant Sheriff Anderson will head Administration, a new position; Assistant Sheriff James will head Jail Operations; Assistant Sheriff Davis will head Investigations; Executive Director Dostal will head Special Services and Assistant Sheriff Hillmann will head operations.
The Administration section is a new one and Sheriff Hutchens said that in the coming weeks she may make further adjustments in the Department chain of command.
She added that both Undersheriff Scott and Assistant Sheriff Hillmann are both long time veterans of law enforcment and will be part of her transition team. Ultimately, she said, their positions will likely be filled but promotions from within the Department.
Left to right: Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson, Assistant Sheriff J.B. Davis, Undersheriff John Scott, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Assistant Sheriff Michael R. Hillmann, Executive Director Rick Dostal and Assistant Sheriff Mike James.
Here is some biographical information on the new Command Staff:
Assistant Sheriff Mike James has more than 23 years in law enforcement experience with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He has served as the Captain for the Support Services Division consisting of Records and Information Services, the Property / Evidence bureau and the Information Services bureau. From 1997-2005 he served as the Lieutenant for Lake Forest Police Services. Among other assignments, Chief James has experience working in the Theo Lacy Facility and Internal Investigations.
Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson served as the Acting Sheriff from January 15 to June 10. Chief Anderson has over 24 years of law enforcement experience, including 21 years in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Chief Anderson has worked in Jail Operations, Training, Community Programs, Patrol, Professional Standards, and Investigations at the Joint Drug Intelligence Group-High Intensity Drug Task Force. Most recently, he served as the Sheriff’s Operations Commander.
Assistant Sheriff J.B. Davis has nearly 27 years of experience in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Most recently, Chief Davis served as the Captain of the Central Jail Complex Division. Prior assignments include serving as the Chief of Police Services for the City of San Juan Capistrano where he also served as the Director of the Sheriff’s Explorer Post and Commander of the Emergency Communications Bureau. Chief Davis has experience working investigations, jails, vice and narcotics detail.
Executive Director Rick Dostal has served as the Interim Executive Director of Special Services since March 2008. Prior to his temporary promotion, Rick served as the Director of Special Services, coordinating the department’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, developing the annual budget, overseeing purchasing, and developing agreements for law enforcement and security services. Rick has over 25 years experience working in the County CEO County of Orange.
Assistant Sheriff Michael R. Hillmann has over 41 years of law enforcement experience with the Los Angeles Police Department. Most recently, Chief Hillmann served as the Deputy Chief of Police, overseeing the Incident Management & Training Bureau, West Bureau Operations and Special Operations. Among his various assignments, Chief Hillmann has experience in Air Support, Patrol, and SWAT. Serves as an Instructor and Lecturer, including lectures at USC on “Police Response to Hostage Situations”; and “Counter-Terrorist Incident Response and Management” for the United States Department of State, Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program. In 2002 Chief Hillmann served as a Security Planner for the Democratic National Convention
Undersheriff John Scott has more than thirty-six years in law enforcement experience with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Prior to his retirement from the LASD, Undersheriff Scott served as the Division Chief of the Custody Operations Division commanding over 3,000 personnel, an average daily population of 22,000, and annual budget of $400 million. His past assignments include commanding patrol and detective services for the City of Carson and Unincorporated areas of LA County. Undersheriff John Scott also has experience in Labor Relations, Emergency Management, and Special Enforcement. Former member of the State Board of Corrections.