After 31 ½ years of service to Orange County, I would like to announce my retirement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, effective February 29, 2008.    I would like to thank all of you, the men and women who make up our great Department, for the opportunity to work with you.   You are truly the finest and have so many things to be proud of. 

I have had a wonderful career, filled with so many extraordinary opportunities and diverse assignments.  I have served three Sheriffs.  When I hired on in 1976, Sheriff Gates brought me into his office, had me sit down with him, and he gave me his vision of what opportunities OCSD would have for me in the next 30 years.  Looking back, he undersold those opportunities.  Thank you Sheriff Gates for the opportunity to serve as an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy.  When Sheriff Carona took over the helm, he continued to allow me to grow and develop.  Thank you Sheriff Carona.   As Sheriff Anderson now has the helm, he too has continued to allow me to work for this wonderful Department.  Thank you Sheriff Anderson.

Throughout my career, I have had many mentors and colleagues (too many to mention) who helped guide me in my career.  There are a few people who I must recognize for their guidance.  Assistant Sheriff Doug Storm, Captain Randy Blair, Capt. George Johnson, Capt. Andy Romero and Lt. Rex Hatch all were mentors and helped me in my career.   Thank you all.

Lastly, I want to thank my family for their love and support. Our family is a family of service and I am so very proud of each and every one of them.  My wife Tina and daughter Heather work at OCSD.  My other daughter, LynnMarie, works for a school district in Orange County and hopes to become a 2nd or 3rd grade teacher in the near future.  My son Daric is in the US Army and preparing to leave for his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq next month.  They have all supported me throughout my career, allowing me to be away from home and enjoying the ride at OCSD. 

I wish you all the very best in your careers and your lives.  My prayers will continue to be to keep you all safe in your daily activities and that you too will enjoy the happiness I found while working for the best law enforcement agency in this country, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.  Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of it. 

Below is Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson's message to the department:

Assistant Sheriff Steve Bishop has communicated his desire to retire effective today. He has submitted a letter of thanks, which has been posted on our blog.

Assistant Sheriff Bishop should be commended for his 31 years of service to the residents of Orange County. His contribution to our agency has helped to make the Sheriff’s Department the great organization it is today.

I wish him well in his much deserved retirement – as he begins a new chapter in his life.

Assistant Sheriff Charles Walters will cover Chief Bishop’s responsibilities until I name a replacement.