Lieutenant Rich Paddock [more]

It was in 1974. Gerald Ford was President of the United States and a young Rich Paddock was unsure how to get to Santa Ana for his oral boards, part of the process for becoming an Orange County Deputy Sheriff.

He arrived three hours early and hung around waiting for his turn. Every now and then an older man would walk through the office and everyone else would jump to attention. Who was that, Paddock asked one of the office staffers. Why that was James A. Musick, he's been Sheriff of Orange County since 1948, came the reply.

On his next walk through the office, Sheriff Musick asked Paddock if he had been helped. He said he was waiting to be interviewed and then he and Sheriff Musick chatted for about five minutes.

At the oral board, the final question had stumped several of the earlier applicants.

"Who is the Sheriff of Orange County," came in inquiry.

"Mr. James A Musick," Deputy hopeful Rich Paddock responded.

He was hired the following year by Sheriff Brad Gates.

His first assignment was in the then brand new fourth floor of the Main Jail. He was there before it held it's first inmate. He later became the first Investigative Sergeant assigned to the City of Stanton and the first Chief of Police Services for the City of Aliso Viejo.

Lieutenant Paddock is the longest serving Chief of Police Services serving one of our contract cities. He joined the Department on April 18, 1975. Of the 2230 sworn Deputies in the Department, no active member of the Departmen joined earlier than Lieutenant Paddock.  

He will retire later this month after serving with the Department for 34 years. The City of Aliso Viejo put out this on Lieutenant Paddock's retirement. 

Here is a short biography he prepared:

Lieutenant Rich Paddock as been a member of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, for 34 years and will retire from service on Thursday, February 13, 2009. Most of his career has been in the operations divisions where he has been an Investigative Sergeant, Patrol Watch Commander and deeply involved in Emergency Management.   Some of Rich’s career highlights have been: 

• Member of the Sheriff’s Department first gang unit, February 1985.
• Being the first Investigative Sergeant for the new city of Stanton police Services when the Sheriff’s Department assumed policing of the City in February of 1989.
• Assigned as one of four deputies to the Olympic Resource Center in August of 1984 and member of the In-Transit Security Team, responsible for the safe transport of the Turkish athletes to the Olympic Village in Westwood.
• Deputy Field Commander of the 125 member force sent to the City of Los Angeles during the riots of 1992.
• Deputy Field Commander of the 250 member force sent to the City of Laguna Beach during the October 1993 fires.
• Graduate of the State of California Peace Officer Standards of Training Center for Leadership Development Command College in January 1999.

• Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s) were added to every patrol car in the city.
• Aliso Viejo was the first City in Orange County enacting an ordinance making mandatory the installation of communications infrastructure in new commercial construction for police and fire emergency communications.
• The adoption of the National Incident Management System integrated into the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.
• Enacted a resolution authorizing Police Services to enforce local laws in the newest AVCA Parks.
• Initiated a program providing free education and child safety seats to persons cited for this type violation.
• One of the few cities in the Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction to purchase Electronic Control Weapons (tasers) for all deputies assigned to the City.
• Through Police Services’ Crime Prevention Program, the City of Aliso Viejo has one of the most aggressive cities in Orange County with the incorporation of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.
• Authored one of the most aggressive weapons ordinances for the City’s Municipal Code in 2002.
• His staff organized the volunteer Police Assistance Liaison Services (PALS).  These volunteers conduct patrols of the city and report any suspicious activity to the police.

Rich is also the Commander of the Sheriff’s Department Mounted Enforcement Unit, an equestrian based operation of 31 horses and deputies who perform public relations and operational duties for law enforcement missions.  Rich has lived in San Juan Capistrano for 25 years with his wife of almost 30 years, Becky.  They have three children, Lindsey (26), Bill (22) and Emily (16).  They also have two grandchildren, ages 6 and 10 months, who live with their parents in Laguna Niguel.  

Rich and Becky’s daughter Lindsey and her husband Tate are both Community Services Officers with the Orange county Sheriff’s Department and parents to their grandchildren, Clark and Alice. Their son Bill is an Eagle Scout and works for National Safety Compliance, a commercial safety and drug testing company.   

Their youngest daughter Emily is a senior at Dana Hills High School and is involved in the Orange County School of the Arts and is heavily involved in theater and choir.  Rich continues in scouting as the Eagle Scout Project Chairman for the El Camino Real District of the Orange County Council of the BSA.  He oversees over 47 Troops and Crews which include hundreds of scouts wishing to become Eagle Scouts. As of April of 2008, he has approved almost 275 Eagle Scout Projects and oversees the application and approval process for each project.  Since 2002, Rich as been involved in the Aliso Viejo / Laguna Niguel Relay for Life as either a team captain or the Logistics Chairman for this annual American Cancer Society fundraising event.  Rich’s hobbies are spending time with his family and grandchildren and riding one of the two family horses with his youngest daughter Emily. Rich was honored as the Legacy Award Winner by St. Mary’s and All Angels School in April of 2008 due to his work in the community.

The city issued this information on Lt. Rich Paddock leaving:

Aliso Viejo's top cop Lt. Rich Paddock

Aliso Viejo's top cop Lt. Rich Paddock will retire Feb. 13 after serving as the City's first chief of police services since its July 1, 2001 incorporation and after 34 years with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Paddock has spent much of his more than three decades with the department in assignments where he has served in many capacities, including the jail, investigation and field operations, which has given him some extraordinary opportunities in public safety.

Paddock, a fixture in the community, has been instrumental in strengthening the department's community policing program and focus on crime, traffic and neighborhood watch. He and his staff have established an excellent collaborative with the City's public and private schools, which has helped both organizations to tackle problems together.

Paddock has overseen a City policing staff of 29 and has been instrumental in adding many new beneficial programs and services, including new ordinances - both policing and emergency management in nature.

As the City grew, Paddock sought and received support from the City Council to meet the policing and emergency management challenges head-on.  Some examples throughout the years include the addition of motorcycle deputies to the City; the creation of the Special Enforcement Team; and automated external defibrillators added to every patrol car in the City. Under Paddock's leadership, Aliso Viejo was the first Orange County city to enact an ordinance making mandatory the installation of communications infrastructure in new commercial construction for police and fire emergency communications. The City Emergency Plan and the annual Citizen Emergency Preparedness Academy were created; and in 2002, the City of Aliso Viejo enacted one of the most aggressive municipal weapons in Orange County.   

Paddock, a 25-year San Juan Capistrano resident, is also the commander of the Sheriff's Department's Mounted Enforcement Unit - an equestrian-based operation of 26 horses and deputies.

During his career, Paddock has seen and experienced much. In 1985, he was a member of the Sheriff's Department's first gang unit. A year earlier, he was one of four deputies assigned to the Olympic Resource Center and In-Transit Security Team, responsible for the safe transport of Turkish athletes to the Olympic Village in Westwood. Paddock was the deputy field commander of the 125-member force sent to the City of Los Angeles during the '92 riots. He served in the same role a year later in the Laguna Beach fires.

Through it all, Paddock has served the department with strength, dignity and honor and is a true gentleman. He certainly raised the bar in Aliso Viejo. 

Paddock said that while he will greatly miss Aliso Viejo, the Sheriff's Department, City Council and staff, he looks forward to spending more time with his wife of nearly 30 years, Becky, three children and two grandchildren. An avid equestrian, Paddock also enjoys riding one of the two family horses with his youngest daughter, Emily.  

"This has been a great job.  The decision to retire was hard but best for my family," Paddock said. "I've had so much help from great professionals here in town and had great bosses at the Sheriff's Department and at the City.  The Police Services personnel are the best anywhere.  They are the ones out there answering calls at all hours making it work.  The City staff is second to none.  I've formed lifelong friendships in both groups.  Thanks to you all.

What's next for Paddock?  He mused that for the next month or two, he just wants to relax with his family and take one step at a time.

The Orange County Register published a story about Lieutenant Paddock's retirement. To view the story click here.