Orange County CEO Thomas Mauk gave a presentation to the Board of Supervisors on the operation of the Orange County Crime Lab since it came under the auspices of a Trilaterial Committee that includes Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, CEO Mauk, and District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. The committee was established within days of Sheriff Hutchens taking office in June 2008.

To view the PowerPoint presentation click: COOP DEPT HEAD BOARD UPDATE 2-9-2010 (2).pdf (663.57 kb)

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens joined Tustin Police Chief Scott Jordan, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and other law enforcement officials Thursday to announce another first by the County Crime Lab. The arrest of a serial rapist who had fled to Austria was the first DNA related arrest through Interpol by a California crime lab. 

DNA evidence obtained by the lab in a 2004 Tustin rape case led to the arrest in Austria of Ali Achekzai, a former Ladera Ranch resident. Here are some of the remarks made at the press conference by Sheriff Hutchens to recognize the good work of lab staff and Tustin Police Department detectives. 

"A work request was sent to the OC Crime Laboratory on February 19, 2004 by the Tustin Police Department. The case was assigned to Forensic Scientist Annette McCall. She requested the evidence which consisted of the victim’s clothing and reference standard. Forensic Scientist McCall examined the clothing for body fluids and found semen on the victim’s underwear. She extracted DNA from the semen and typed it. A single male DNA profile was obtained. McCall entered the male DNA profile into CODIS on March 16, 2004 where it was searched locally against other Orange County crime cases and then uploaded to the State and National DNA databases. There were no CODIS hits at that time.

 On July 1, 2004, the OC Crime Laboratory CODIS Administrator was informed by California DOJ that the male DNA profile in this case matched a male DNA profile from a San Diego Police Department rape case.  Contact and an exchange of information were made between the two police departments. No suspect was identified at this point.

In December, 2009, the Tustin Police Department requested that the Orange County Crime Laboratory submit the male DNA profile from their case to be searched against the Canadian DNA database. Following National CODIS procedures, the profile was submitted to the California Department of Justice for review and was subsequently forwarded to an Interpol liaison by Cal. DOJ to be searched. The profile was searched not only against the Canadian National Database but also against the DNA Databases of the other CODIS participating countries in Interpol.

The Orange County Crime Lab was notified on January 5, 2010 that the evidence profile matched a DNA profile in the country of Austria. The DNA match information including the suspect’s identity was forwarded to the Tustin and San Diego Police Departments. Detectives from these agencies were also requested to contact the Interpol liaison to exchange information."

To see the Orange County Register's story on the case click here. 

To see the Los Angeles Times story on the case click here.

 Dean Gialamas, Director of the nationally acclaimed Orange County Crime Lab has resigned from the Department to accept the position of Director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Crime Lab.

Under Dean's leadership the Crime Lab has been recognized as one of the top forensic science facilities in the country.  The Lab has claimed many firsts in the use of DNA and other forensic technologies.

Dean Gialamas

Dean first joined the Department as an intern with the Trace Evidence Section in February of 1990. He graduated from UCI with degrees in biology and chemistry in 1992. He earned a Masters in Criminalistics from UCI in 1999. He is also a graduate of the West Point Leadership and Command Academy and the Orange County Leadership Academy.

While still studying at UCI for his undergraduate degrees, Dean joined the California Laboratory of Forensic Science as a lab technician. He was promoted to Criminalist in June 1992.

In 1996 he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Scientific Services Bureau as a Criminalist and rose to Assistant Crime Laboratory Director before he left to join the OCSD.

Dean has served as Director of the Orange County Sheriff’s Forensic Sciences Division since July of 2004.  Director Gialamas has a long list of personal honors due to his work in the forensic science community.

                                              ***********************************************************************

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has announced that Thomas J. Nasser will serve as Acting Laboratory Director of the Orange County Crime Lab Division. Tom came to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 2000, after a distinguished career with the Michigan State Police and California law enforcement.  

Thomas J. Nasser

Tom graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in both chemistry and biology from Madonna University in Michigan and he completed course work for a Masters in Criminal Justice from the University of Detroit.

He is a Fellow of the Academy of Forensic Sciences

Tom rose through the ranks of the Michigan State Police, attaining the rank of Captain. He commanded the State Police Crime Laboratory System, which consisted of seven crime laboratories with a staff of nearly 200. He retired from the State Police in 1990, after serving 26 years.       

From 1983 to 1989, he served as Chairman of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.  The Board accredits law enforcement crime labs and is independent of the American Society of  Crime Laboratory Directors.      

He served as president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors from 1991 to 1992.      

After moving to California, Tom served as Director of the Long Beach Police Department Crime Laboratory and the California Department of Justice Crime Laboratory System in Santa Rosa and Eureka Laboratories.  He also served as Assistant Laboratory Director at the California DOJ Crime Lab in Riverside for nine years.      

He came to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 2000 as one of then two Assistant Directors and was in charge of Criminalistics.      

While serving with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Tom was President of the California Association of Crime Lab Directors from 2006 to2007.

In 2004, he received the ASCLD Douglas M. Lucas Distinguished Service Award for exemplary service to the profession.

Tom is married with four adult daughters, an adult stepson and an adult stepdaughter. 

“I’m honored the Sheriff asked me to serve in the capacity of Interim dDrector until a permanent Director is selected. I’ll do my best to honor that trust,” he said.

Robin Kott

Robin Kott was licensed by California as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine but she pursued a successful career as a forensic scientist for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Her death on December 1, 2009, after a long bout with cancer, saddened her co-workers.

Lab Director Dean Gialamas said Robin was widely admired throughout the lab and her death at the age of 47, although not unexpected, had hit the staff nearly as hard as would a death in the line of duty. 

Robin had received degrees from UCI and Purdue.  She was assigned to toxicology where she worked on major criminal cases and with the Coroner. 

“She was very intelligent, very smart and up to the challenge,” said Forensic Scientist Ines Collison.

Robin was certified as a Diplomat of the American Board of Criminalists.

She joined the Department in 2001 and was diagnosed with cancer in 2003. She went out on sick leave for extended treatment on several occasions and always did her best to return to the Department Crime Lab.

“She was always able to have co-workers donate time for her catastrophic leave,” said Forensic Scientist Mary June Stanford. “That shows how much everybody thought of her.”

When not solving crimes, she played golf, practiced magic tricks and read, watched movies and worked in her garden.  Not surprising, she loved to solve puzzles. [more]

She also helped raise funds as a cancer survivor at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

Here are what some of her co-workers said recently.

Forensic Scientist Julie Buckenberger:

“I will always remember Robin as this positive ball of happiness, always with a smile on her face.  I knew she was a vet before her career as a forensic scientist, and that led me to seek her advice when my cat’s paw got injured and infected.  She was happy to help out, and gave me some tips on how to get my furry friend back on all fours.  I gave her a picture of my cat once she was all healed, and I always remember seeing it hanging in her cubicle here at work.  One year she was my secret Santa, and she wrote me a four-part poem; one line each week with a small gift.  I’ll always remember her clever poem, and the effort she put into being such a great secret Santa.  Robin had a beautiful heart and a truly gracious spirit.  The world was a better place when she was part of mine.”  

Forensic Scientist Robert Bunney:“The thing I remember most about Robin was her positive attitude – always upbeat and optimistic. She never had a critical thing to say about anyone. Whether we were talking about cars, golf, or other topics, Robin was always enthusiastic, interesting, and a great listener. She was such a joy to know and work with - she will be sorely missed. 

Assistant Director Bruce Houlihan:"Robin was a very positive and energetic person to work with. She was always constructive, kind, collaborative and engaged with the work at the crime lab. Her intelligence was wrapped in a happy and extremely pleasant demeanor; even during her medical challenges she remained the kind of person you always wanted to be around and work with. She brought a refreshing commitment to do her best and keep a wonderful outlook while doing so. She contributed significantly to the quality and morale in the Toxicology Bureau of the crime lab, and her contributions (including her warm disposition) will be missed. 

Senior Forensic Scientist Kenny Wong:

From  Forensic Scientist Qui Dang:

"I remember the good times we shared with Robin at lunch at the lab as well as at the restaurants around here.  She loved life and she loved her friends’ company.

Robin was a rising star in our Toxicology section.  She was doing case work and was training in the most difficult methods in Toxicology.  She also had the responsibility of being a case manager for postmortem cases.  Her doctorate degree put her at the level of the pathologists as the Tox-Path team worked together to resolve the cases.  I thought she was a perfect candidate to be a supervisor in Toxicology when the former supervisor retired.

I had the privilege to be her neighbor in Yorba Linda.  It was a pleasure to bring to her house her mail as well as the goodies her co-workers sent to her during her sick leave.  I always hoped she would recover and come back to work.

I’ll miss her."

Forensic Scientist  Robert Reckers:

"Robin loved cats. She was a veterinarian in her life before the crime lab and her license plate on her Nissan 240 SX was either “CAT DR” or “A CAT DR”. She also loved golf. In fact earlier on, during her chemo, she would sometimes golf on her “good days”. She golfed with us in our one and only crime lab golf tournament a “few” years back. She attended a golf class with Ren and I at Saddleback College (also a few Years back).Ren and I will sure miss her."

Sworn personnel and professional staff accomplished a lot in 2009, despite the unprecedented challenge of a budget-tightening that caused the first employee layoff in the Department in recent memory. 

Here are some of the highlights of 2009, as reported on the Department Blog:

1.       Deputies continued to make life tough for criminals; after all that is one of our core services. Here are a few examples of excellent police work: 

  This Week's Score: Deputies 2, Bank Robbers 0.

Quick Response to Home Invasion Robbery Nets 4 Suspects in San Juan Capistrano.

Motorcycle Deputy Arrests Bank Robbery Suspect.

2.       For criminals who managed a quick getaway, they then had to face top investigators and the best crime lab in the country and, for graffiti vandals, the innovative TAGRS program that won national recognition. Coroner’s investigators are now being trained on a life-like mannequin: 

Department's Crime Lab Breaks Its Record on DNA Hits in 1-Day.

DNA Lab Hits Again and Again and Again.

DNA Lab Honored by National Association of Counties.

TAGRS and DNA Case Management Programs Recognized.

TAGRS is Embraced by Costa Mesa Police Department.

Called Dummy by Some, Manny Helps Train Coroner's Investigators.   

3.       The Department is going from good to great and the process entails a few innovations.  Here are some of the biggest:

  The new S.A.F.E. Division  (later reduced to the S.A.F.E. Bureau due to budgetary constraints.)

Sheriff Hutchens Introduces Department's Mobile Field Force.

New Era, Big Savings.

Testing Starts for First Class of Correctional Services Assistants.

Classes for Department's First Correctional Services Assistants.

500 Apply in Latest Recruitment for Correctional Services Assistants. 

Class 1R Graduation Heralds a New Era of Training at Sheriff's Academy. 

4.       Heroism is part of the job in the Department.  Sometimes it comes with the training and sometimes it comes from a person who just has a lot of heart:   [more]

Sheriff's Explorer Saves Woman from Burning Building.

Baby Boy Born in the Central Women’s Jail. 

Department Honors 42 for Valor, Courage, Lifesaving and Meritorious Action.

Air and Ground Efforts Coordinated to Rescue Man Lost in Remote Canyon.  

5.         The County Budget crisis, coupled with an unexpected decline in the inmate population, caused some major cutbacks and changes:

 Supervisors Take Straw Vote to Impose "Draconian" Cuts in Public Safety Services.

Sheriff Hutchens Seeks Support to Cushion Public Safety Cuts.

Tents Housing Inmates are Vacated in Economy Move.

Sheriff Hutchens to the Department: Women's Jail Must Be Closed.

6.       One Division in the Department celebrated three quarters of a century of serving the public:

Presentations at Commemoration of 75th Anniversary of Communications and Technology Division.

Orange County Communications Turns 75.

7.       And new forms of communication were begun in 2009:

Sheriff Hutchens Answers Questions in Online Town Hall with Orange County Register.  

8.       For some Department members it was a year when they received national recognition for their athletic achievements:

SSO Tanya Reed Sets Three World Power Lifting Records.

Deputy Shane Ellis.

9.       The Department claimed national attention, too:

Sheriff's Department Helped Protect President Obama, Town Hall Participants.

10.    And we all took a moment to recall those we lost:

Mission To Honor Fallen Oakland Police Officers Accomplished.

Sheriff Hutchens Orders Black Bands Worn to Honor Two Fallen Firefighters.

Orange County Sheriff's Detail Will Honor Four Fallen Officers.

11.   The Jails continued to impress all of those who inspected:

Grand Jury Finds OC Jails are Well Run and in Good Overall Condition.

Statistics Show OC Jail Death Rate Lowest of 30 Largest Jurisdictions.

Chinese Delegation Tours IRC. 

12.   For pure fun, who can beat this episode, which drew international press attention:

 Ahoy: Where'd You Learn to Steer a Fireboat?  

It was also a year that saw a Swine Flu Pandemic cause a quarantine in the jail (Swine Flu Quarantine at Men's Central Jail Lifted after Six Days) and cause the death of Reserve Sergeant Kendall M. Sanders Jr., Helped Those in Need.  

Some of the honors for 2009 included:

Deputy Lance Christensen is California's School Resource Officer of the Year and the Board of Supervisors Honors Lieutenant Mullen - Command College Graduate.

SSO Jim Wallace is Bailiff of the Year and Traffic Safety Programs Coordinator Will Funk Honored.

And finally  Aviation Support Unit Welcomes Three New Fliers.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens recently recognized the National Association of Counties Awards given to the Department for excellence in the T.A.G.R.S. program and the DNA lab staff for their case management achievements.

    Sheriff Hutchens with T.A.G.R.S. Team

Sheriff Hutchens with DNA Case Management Team

In a related development, the City of Lake Elsinore just praised it's participation in T.A.G.R.S.

Here is an excerpt:

To do it right, the City’s Graffiti Task Force first studied what other cities have done to deter and reduce graffiti vandalism successfully. Increasing communication between the Lake Elsinore Police Department, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Code Enforcement and Information Technology Divisions, and boosting cooperation with schools and local utilities, is the first lesson learned by the Graffiti Task Force. Proposing a graffiti action plan to guide the City's anti-graffiti efforts
was accomplished earlier this year.

The plan incorporates new technology in the fight against graffiti vandalism. For example, City crews will use new data devices to photograph, detail and submit incident reports electronically into a graffiti database.

This powerful database was developed by the Orange County Sheriff and Coroner’s Department for tracking and compiling evidence against taggers and
other vandals.

To view the Lake Elsinore article click: OutlookWebV9N2[2].pdf (753.76 kb)

To see the Department Blog story on the National Association of Counties award for T.A.G.R.S. click here.

For the Department Blog story on the National Association of Counties Award for the DNA Case Managment Program click here.

When DNA Laboratory Supervisor John Hartmann was asked what he wanted for his retirement gift, funded by the  passing of a hat among his generous colleagues, the image of a miter saw popped into his head, the gift of choice for a recently retired lab worker.

What he really wanted was to help somebody.  For several years John and his wife Kathryn have worked as volunteers for Corazón, an organization that helps to house and educate the poor of Tijuana and Tecate.

The Hartmann’s have helped build their share of houses, more like a dwelling than a house, according to John. The simple structures are put up in a day by a team of volunteers, not much more than walls, windows, a door and a lock.

“I remember one family living in the hills near Tecate, a couple and their three children living in a mini-camper shell.  By the end of the day, they had a home.”

John Hartmann had been one of a small group of people who established the Department's DNA lab in the late 1980's and helped make it one of the most respected DNA labs in the country.  He worked in the Department for 30 years.

As his retirement approached, John Hartmann knew what he wanted as a parting gift from his co-workers. He wanted to help educate a child in Mexico.

The money was raised and donated to the education of Roberto Mendoza Carrizoza.

“One of the effects of economic poverty is that many children drop out of school at an early age due to a lack of family resources,” said Corazón scholarship coordinator Cindy Stephen in a thank you letter to the Department. “This lack can manifest itself in the family not having enough money to pay fees, buy uniforms and supplies, or buy books in the upper grades.  It can also manifest itself in the child having to go to work to provide for the necessities of the entire family.  We see a significant decline in school attendance as the children get older.”

She said the group’s motto is: "Feed me today, and I’ll be hungry tomorrow. Teach me today, and I can feed my family forever."  "Your generosity has helped a child to have a life-changing opportunity to remain in school during an economic time that is especially difficult in Mexico.”

For more information on Corazón click here.  

To read the Corazón thank you letter click: hartmann Scan001a.pdf (74.98 kb)

Here are some pictures of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano working on Corazón houses last month.

hartmann Scan001a.pdf (74.98 kb)

While nearby jurisdictions face criticism and controversy over growing backlogs for DNA testing, the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Forensic Science Services Division has received recognition with a 2009 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. The Award honors the effort that processes violent crime evidence without a backlog despite increasing numbers of requests and no increase in staff.

The award had not been reported in the press but a case in the news this week spotlights the importance of the work done by the Forensic Sciences Divison. An emergency room worker at Mission Hospital was arrested and charged with the rape of a patient.  The DNA sample was taken from the suspect just one week before the DNA test was completed and the subsequent investigation resulted in the suspect's arrest.

To see the Orange County Register's story on the case click here.

The National Association of Counties selected the Orange County DNA program for it's award based on the following representation:

While the DNA unit of OCSD-FSS has been successfully operating for many years and is well respected in the forensic community, OCSD-FSS anticipated and responded to the challenge of processing more cases and answered the rapidly increasing needs of the criminal justice community. The DNA Case Management System improved the efficiency and quality of all DNA evidence handling and processing in Orange County, California. OCSD-FSS serves over 100 police agencies in the County, several contract law enforcement agencies in neighboring counties, and other state and federal agencies. By improving case productivity, decreasing case turn-around time, and improving quality with minimal cost impact to the County of Orange, DNA technology can be utilized in as many cases as possible, directly and positively impacting the safety of the citizens of Orange County. OCSD-FSS is proud to be nominated for a 2009 Achievement Award.

To read the full entry for the award click: National Association of Counties 2009 Application DNA Case Management.pdf (236.19 kb)

The National Association of Counties also honored the Department's T.A.G.R.S. program this year. To see the Blog story on that award click: http://blog.ocsd.org/post/2009/06/11/TAGRS-Wins-Award2c-Now-Linked-to-Lake-Elsinore.aspx

Dear Department Personnel:

This afternoon, prior to their final vote on the 2009-10 budget, I addressed the Board of Supervisors to again express my concerns on the recommended budget for the Sheriff-Coroner Department. We cannot absorb a $30.7 million dollar budget cut without it having an impact on public safety services.

Over the last year, we eliminated 67 vacant positions in the department and cut 150 extra help positions. We reduced overtime usage by 18 percent, cutting 6,000 hours of overtime from each two-week pay period as compared to the previous year. We eliminated hospital security for outside agency arrestees, we limited annual leave pay-downs, ended gunshot residue testing, reduced helicopter flight time, and we closed 360 jail beds at the James A. Musick Facility.

We’ve also deferred equipment purchases, reduced the utilization of take-home vehicles, and deferred capital projects. Unfortunately, these reductions do not close the budget gap we’re facing. This is why I asked the board for $7 million to fund us for the next six months, while we continue to move forward with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a deal to house their detainees.

The board voted unanimously for the budget that the CEO’s office recommended, which means that we must begin the process of laying off and/or eliminating a total of 30-50 positions. I shared with the board that I do not have the option of not staffing a jail or a patrol car so we would have to look at investigators, dispatchers, Forensic Scientists and crime lab services. These positions have a direct impact on our contract cities, our unincorporated communities, and the entire county.

Each member of this department is important to us and integral to our operation and we will do our best to find positions for those affected as we move forward to ensure we are working within the limitations of our budget.

Sincerely,

Sandra Hutchens
Sheriff-Coroner

A power outage that lasted more than four and a half hours left the Men’s Central Jail and the Women’s Jail with limited lighting and no air conditioning.

Other Sheriff’s facilities in Santa Ana were impacted less because of greater backup generator power.

The Men’s Central Jail and the Women’s Jail had just 30 percent power during the outage and movement of inmates was kept to a minimum, said CJX Department Commander Lieutenant Roger Neumeister.

“Our sworn and professional staff rose to the occasion, pitched in and worked extra hard to see to it that our inmates were safe and secure,” said Lieutenant Neumeister.

One of the biggest impacts was that lunch was served an hour early. It had been prepared but because of the lack of power the meals could not be kept hot until the traditional meal hour and so they were served while they were still hot.

The impact at IRC was less severe because that facility has 80 percent backup from emergency generators.  Air conditioning was minimal but their booking operations continued as normal.

At the Coroner’s Office, operations were continued by backup power but their clerical and admin stations were closed down, along with the offices of the pathologists.

At the Brad Gates Builidng, only one elevator was in operation and many computer stations were shut down. Power was restored to the Gates Building at about 10:30 a.m.  It was restored to headquarters and the jail at about 1:30 p.m.  The Coroner’s Office remains on backup power.

The cause of the power outage remains under investigation. It impacted a large area of Santa Ana and forced the closing of the Orange County Central Justice Center.

For the Orange County Register’s story on the outage click here.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department Crime Lab reported that the Garden Grove and Newport Beach Police Departments were among the first agencies in California to obtain DNA hits on unsolved crimes from samples obtain under recent provisions of Proposition 69. The evidence was processed by the Sheriff's Crime Lab.

Voters passed Proposition 69 in November of 2004. A provision of the proposition was that California began collecting DNA samples in all felony arrests. 

Director Dean Gialamas of the Forensic Science Services Divison said in a letter to the two city police chiefs that, "due to the diligent efforts of your officers and staff in collecting DNA from qualified arrestees, coupled with the efforts of our crime lab and the State DOJ crime lab, Garden Grove PD and Newport Beach PD are among the first agencies in California to collect samples from arrestees that provided a DNA hit to previously unsolved cases. 

"I am providing this information to not only recognize the efforts of your agencies and personnel but also to serve as a reminder to your personnel that their efforts with this new responsibility have made a significant difference in two unsolved burglary cases and one unsolved attempted homicide case from other local agencies in Orange County.

"Please accept my thanks and congratulations on a job well done."

Details of the cases were not disclosed because they are open cases.

The lab was also credited in a recent homicide arrest reported by the Orange County Register.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Man charged in murder of high school friend in 1988
Investigation went cold until defendant's DNA was entered in database.
By LARRY WELBORN
The Orange County Register

SANTA ANA – A Long Beach man has been charged with stabbing and murdering a high school friend and setting the body on fire to destroy the evidence in 1988.

Paul Gentile Smith, 48, faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison if he is convicted of murdering Robert Haugen, 29, a suspected marijuana dealer, in the victim's Sunset Beach apartment.

Please accept my thanks and congratulations on a job well done.

This just in from Dean Gialamas, Director of Forensic Sciences Division:

Burglary/Larceny/Theft:  21

Robbery:  5

Homicide:  3

Sexually Motivated Crime:  1

Arson:  1

Assault:  1

The Lab is one of the most renowned in the country and last year won International Accreditation.  To see the Blog story on that accrditation click here.

The Orange County Register reported this morning that testimony by Sheriff's forensic identification technician Sandy Abrams helped a judge order a trial for the defendant in the county's oldest cold case homicide case. There was no suspect in the case until a fingerprint from the decades old crime scene was matched by new technology to the defendant.  

1964 murder case to go to trial

Oldest cold case homicide probe – at 44 years – in O.C. history to result in arrest and prosecution.

By LARRY WELBORN
The Orange County Register

SANTA ANA – A 68-year-old Phelan man sat in a wheelchair without emotion Monday as he was ordered to stand trial on a charge that he bludgeoned and strangled a Santa Ana hotel manager nearly a half-century ago.

Superior Court Judge John D. Conley ruled after a two-day preliminary hearing that there is sufficient evidence to try Charles Edward Faith Jr. for the Feb. 16, 1964, slaying of Christine Elizabeth Vono Wariner.

It is the oldest cold-case homicide investigation – at 44 years – in Orange County history to result in an arrest and prosecution.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin contends that Faith, who was not a suspect in 1964, was matched to the fingerprints on Wariner's hotel door through advances in forensic technology.

On Monday, Sandy Abrams, a forensic identification technician for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, testified that in February 2002 she matched two bloody fingerprints left on the door of Wariner's room to Faith.

To read the entire story click here. 

There is alot of bad news out there: from war in the Middle East to financial carnage on Wall Street stretching to Main Street and lots of other awful things we'd rather forget.

Here is our list of stories from 2008 that will make you glad you're with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.  

10. Women’s Running Team Places First in Baker 2 Vegas Run, inspired by the untimely death of their coach, Retired Sheriff's Lieutenant Darrell “Guy” Poncy.

Click: Sheriffs-Womens-Team-is-Tops-at-Baker-2-Vegas-Run

Click: County-Supervisors-Honor-Departments-Womens-Running-Team

9.   The Department Crime Lab Won Prestigious Accreditation and a special acclaim from the Department of Justice.

Click: Coveted Accreditation

Click: Justice Department Kudo

8.  A search team made up of Deputies, Reserve Deputies and Professional Services Responders found a woman who had been missing for three days in Tijeras Creek. 

Click: Searchers Find Woman in Tijeras Creek.

7.  TAGRS Program developed by Department personnel helps nab Taggers across jurisidictions.

Click: TAGRS

6.   Deputies Rescue Woman from Overpass

Click: Rescue 

Click: Heroism Cited

5.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement applauded Department for the Cross-Designation Program that helped prevent illegal immigrants jailed for crimes from returning to further victimize our community.

Click: ICE Credits OCSD Cross Designation Program 

Click: ICE Cross Designation Program Thrives

Click: Five Deputies Join ICE Program

4.  The Saddleback Presidential Forum was the first joint public appearance by Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. It drew hundreds of protestors from both sides but the OCSD kept all peaceful and safe.

Click: Demonstration

3.    Crime rates are lowest in cities policed by Sheriff’s Department.

Click: Sheriff's Jurisdiction Safer

2.  Kidnap victim Ryan Ramos found safe In Juarez, Mexico after all-out effort by OCSD.

Click: Amber Alert for Kidnapped Boy

Click: Aero Squadron Pilot, OCSD investigators retrieve Kidnapped Boy

1. Sandra Hutchens sworn in as Orange County Sheriff

Click: Swearing in Video

Click: Hundreds Witness Swearing In

Click: OCSD Welcomes Sheriff Hutchens

By Jason Felch and Maura Dolan
December 14, 2008

In June, Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas made a bold grab for a crown jewel of local law enforcement: the DNA unit of the sheriff's crime lab.

With the lab's director out of town and the sheriff recently deposed by corruption charges, Rackauckas submitted a brief agenda item to county supervisors two business days before their regular meeting. 
 
"Our aim is to make significant changes in the way forensic DNA analysis is conducted," Rackauckas wrote. The D.A.'s office is "the only organization capable of harnessing the vast potential of forensic DNA technology."

The move capped a three-year tug of war for control of DNA analysis in a historically conservative county where putting criminals behind bars can bring substantial political rewards.

"I have never experienced anything like it in more than 30 years of law enforcement," recalled Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, who took over the department in the midst of the battle. "I couldn't get my brain around it, and no one I've spoken with could either."

To read the whole LA Times story click here.

Eight Marines were given commendations from the Department, presented by Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson, for their efforts that were credited with saving as many as 100 lives in a hotel fire that took place on November 9.

One of the Marines is Pfc Adam Reidling, son of Lead Forensic Specialist Michael Reidling, of the Department's Crime Lab.

The eight Marines are all recent boot camp graduates now assigned to Company B, Infantry Training Battalion, based at Camp Pendleton.

The Marines were on leave and staying at the America's Best Value Inn on Lake Center Drive when they smelled smoke on November 9, 2008. They spotted smoke coming from a vending machine but recognized the danger it presented to the hotel complex. They immediately began warning residents that the building was on fire, going door to door and assisting in the evacuation of the parking lot.

The Orange County Fire Authority responded to the fire, which destroyed three of the hour buildings in the hotel complex.

"Due to the extent of the damages, it is clear that the actions of the Marines saved the lives of numerous hotel guests," Lt. Don Barnes, Chief of Police Services reported to the Lake Forest City Council.

The Department, the city and the Orange County Fire Authority have all given the Marines commendations.

The Reidling Family: Lead Forensic Specialist Mike Reidling, his son Marine Pfc Adam Reidling and Cathy Reidling

Assistant Sheriff Anderson invited the Marines to apply to join the Department should they decide on a new career following their enlistment in the Marines. Assistant Sheriff Anderson acknowledged that the Marines had received recognition from the Orange County Fire Authority earlier but pointed out that firefighters have to all ride together in the same firetruck. With the Sheriff's Department, they would get their own car. The audience broke out in laughter.   

"We're always looking for heroes," Assistant Sheriff Anderson said.

One of the Lake Forest City Council members played an electronic rendition of "The Halls of Montezuma."

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.

The PowerPoint presentation that was given the the board follows:

State of the Department - Oct 7 2008.pptx.swf (2.75 mb) 

For the Orange County Register's story on the Sheriff appearing before the Board of Supervisors click here.

Sheriff Hutchens held a press briefing on her presentation to the Board of Supervisors.

For the Orange County Register's story on the briefing click here. 

For the Los Angeles Times story on her briefing click here. 

The Coroner's Division hosts its annual open house for the community on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The Department has one of the most advanced Coroner facilities in the state.  Those attending the open house will be given and inside look at exhibits which include: Anatomical Plastination, Anthropology, AutopsySuites, Excavation of Skeletal Remains, Cadaver Canine, California Coroner Training Center, Forensic Evidence & Specimens, Homicide Viewing Rooms, Jane & John Does, Mass Fatalities Management, Organ Donation and Simulated Death Scenes.

For more information click: Coroner Division Open House.pdf (211.41 kb)

  
SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT
COUNTY OF ORANGE
CALIFORNIA

550 NORTH FLOWER STREET – P.O. BOX 449
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702-0449
(714) 647-7042 
 
   Sept. 24, 2008
 PRESS  RELEASE 

 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE AWARDS GRANT TO SOLVE COLD CASE VIOLENT CRIMES WITH DNA

Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens announced Wednesday that The National Institute of Justice has awarded the Sheriff's Department a $295,742 grant for Solving Cold Cases with DNA.

The selection process was one of the most competitive seen to date and the award was credited to the high caliber of the Department’s forensic scientists and investigators available for the program.

The Department has already cleared Cold Case Homicides as a result of their comprehensive investigation and additional tests using new DNA technology. The Cold Case Investigators typically use DNA collected at the crime scene to determine if it matches any individuals in the state or national database.

The new award will allow the Department investigators to expand the Cold Case program to help solve violent crimes other than homicides. This funding and the associated essential resources will bring closure to victims and victim's families and prevent these violent crimes from causing additional ongoing emotional distress.

“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is proud to accept this grant which awarded after a highly selective process. It is a credit to the investigators and forensic scientists who help make this Department so successful,” Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said.

For more information contact Sheriff’s Department Media Relations at (714) 647-7042.

The Orange County Register recently had a story about Department Investigators Joe Gaul and Joe Hoskins working to solve a 43-year old homicide. 

By KIMBERLY EDDS
The Orange County Register

The dusty orange grove where the body of Jesse Martinez Jr. was discovered is long gone, paved over by progress. An out-of-business car dealership now sits there – at a dead end.

Forty-three years later, Jesse's killers think they got away with murder.

Joe Gaul showed up at the Orange County Sheriff's Department homicide unit in 2005, the newest transfer and the odd man out. Without a partner and with little experience in homicide, he was handed the department's oldest unsolved slaying. See what you can do with this one.

A lot happens in 43 years. People get married, and divorced, and die. They tell lies, hoping to hide from reality. And they numb the pain any way they can.

To see the full story click here.

The Department Crime Lab is in the news again, this time due to their helping solve the murder of a elderly couple in their Santa Ana home. The case went unsolved for more than a year when DNA left on a soda can was matched to the defendant, Carlos Martinez, 32, of Santa Ana. Martinez could receive a death sentence if convicted. 

For the full Orange County Register story click here.

The press was given a rare look inside the Department's Forensic Science Lab on Wednesday. An Orange County Register Reporter and Photographer took the tour and published their findings in today's edition of the paper. For the online version, which includes 22 pictures of the lab and the presentation of the Lab's International Accreditation, click here.

PREPARING BLOOD SAMPLES: Orange County sheriff's crime lab forensics scientist Kari Sterling prepares blood samples to be tested for the presence of alcohol.

BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Department Photographer Jerry Manson also took a series of photographs of the tour. [more]

Some of Jerry's photographs.

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors / Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) has completed an indepth audit of the Department Crime Lab and found that it worthy of accreditation.

The accreditation, the first in California for a full service Crime Lab under the latest International criteria, provides an independent review to help meet the quality assurance goals of the Department. It also helps establish creditablity for the lab when evidence is presented in court.

The accreditation, which cost the county about $22,000, is as requirement of eligibility for federal grant funding. The Department lab received more than $2 million in federala grant funding over the last two years. 

The Department Forensic Science Service Division has its own Website. To view it, click here.

To learn about the board that accredited the lab click here.

                                                                         Authorized By:  Jim Amormino

A burglary that has remained unsolved for more than 3-years may have been solved due to the good work of the Department's DNA Lab, Irvine police reported in an Orange County Register story.

The DNA evidence used by Irvine to link the suspect to the unsolved burglary was also matched to burglaries in Lake Forest and San Clemente.

To read the Orange County Register story click here.

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.