The Orange County Sheriff’s Department was sad to announce the passing of Reserve Sergeant Kendall M. Sanders Jr.   After suffering the prolonged and devastating effects caused by H1N1 virus, Ken passed away on October 22nd, 2009.  While in ICU at Kaiser Hospital in Riverside, Ken’s family and closest friends maintained a steady vigil at his bedside as he fought this battle for almost three months.  With permission from the family, and after discussing all options with Ken’s physician and hospital administrators, Ken was removed from all life support measures.

Ken is survived by his wife Karen and sisters Kathy and Karen.

I’ve been a close friend of Ken’s for the better part of 22 years.  He was “best man” at my wedding and he was the brother I never had.  If you ask anyone who knew Ken, you would consistently hear stories of how he went above and beyond to help anyone in need, no matter the problem, no matter the time.  He always seemed to give more than he received yet he never kept score.  He just did it because he felt joy by helping out not only his friends, but others he hardly knew.

Ken was born on August 14th, 1963 in Terre Haute, Indiana. 

·         He was sworn in as Reserve Deputy Level -III on 1-22-92.

·         Promoted to Level-II on 1-26-93.

·         Promoted to Sergeant on 10-14-2002.

Ken’s most recent assignment was Investigations Reserve Unit, where he was assigned to Special Investigations.  Other assignments include:

·         The Special Enforcement Team for the city of San Juan Capistrano.

·         The mounted unit.

Just in the past four years alone Ken donated almost 2,000 hours of his own time.  Over the course of his 18 years of service to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the citizens of Orange County, Ken has donated thousands more.  All of this was in addition to his regular full time job.

Ken was also a county employee, working at John Wayne Airport, as a “Shop Planner”.  His responsibilities required him to arrange construction projects, locate and hire construction personnel and order the materials required to complete these projects.  At the airport Ken’s affable spirit and winning personality earned him many loyal and steadfast friends.  Several of these friends were at Ken’s side even in his final hours.

Ken was not only a gun owner, he was a gunslinger, who loved horseback riding and visiting Tombstone Arizona.  He also loved Starbuck’s coffee, by the gallon, and good cigars… usually not more than one at a time.

Ken’s love and friendship will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

With Respect,

Dominic Montalbano

This just in from Court Operations:

On October 12, 2009, Sheriff’s Special Officer James (Jim) Wallace of the Court Operations Division received a very special and well deserved honor.  Jim was named “Bailiff of the Year” by the Orange County Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.  Jim received his award at the Newport Beach Pacific Club in front of a packed house of Trial Attorneys, Bench Officers, and other Orange County Law Officials. 

SSO Wallace began his career in Law Enforcement in 1983 as a Reserve Officer with the Orange Police Department.  He performed duties as a Level 1 Reserve Patrol Officer and donated thousands of volunteer hours to the community and police department.   He was hired in 1998 by the Orange County Marshall's Department and began serving as a Court Services Officer.  He later became a Sheriff’s Special Officer when the agency merged with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

SSO Wallace spent the past eight years assigned to Division L73 at the Lamoreaux Justice Center.  He provided Bailiff Services to Judge Gerald Johnston within the Orange County Probate Court.  He performed his duties with distinction and states “it was a privilege to work with Judge Johnston". He was recently re-assigned to Judge Cheryl Leininger in Division L-53 which he enjoys very much. 

In 2005, SSO Wallace received the “Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year Award from the Orange County Victim Witness Program.  He developed a program for frightened youth who were testifying in court against someone who had harmed them.  The program was designed to familiarize the victims with the court process and ease their fears.  Jim states, “One of my goals working in the court is to make the experience a positive one.  I try to let people know that it is a professional process and can be fun.  It shouldn’t be something to fear.”

Court Operations Lieutenant Brad Virgoe was pleased to see SSO Wallace receive his award.  He states, “Jim is a very special person and has a heart as big as the court house.  He does an outstanding job as a bailiff, but it’s the other things that I notice.  He’s always the one to buy the cards and flowers when an associate loses a family member, or organize and collect money when someone is in need.  It happened way too many times last year, but Jim was always there for everyone.”

SSO Wallace was a valuable asset during a recent high profile case that occurred at the Lamoreaux Justice Center.  He had an established rapport with the involved attorneys and maintained contact over a several week period.  He received updates and information that was necessary to the event planning and security of the Justice Center.  Jim’s involvement directly contributed to the safe and efficient handling of the incident.

SSO Wallace has a long history of service and is a proud Air Force and Viet Nam Veteran.  He is married to his wife Ginger, and enjoys every minute of time with his two sons David and Brian, and grandchildren Ryan and Katie.