The Orange County Register
Interim
sheriff warned against political activity
AG says opposition to
San Clemente council's endorsement of Bill
Hunt is illegal.
By PEGGY LOWE
Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson broke a
state law that bars political activity on
the job when he appeared before the San
Clemente City Council in uniform last year
to urge them against endorsing another
candidate for sheriff, the California
Attorney General ruled Thursday.
But Anderson won't be prosecuted and was
instead issued a warning letter, asking him
to avoid "political activity of any
kind" in the future. Although he violated
the law in opposing the council's
endorsement of former Lt. Bill Hunt,
Anderson was told to wear his uniform by a
higher-up and he sincerely believed he was
"engaging in appropriate department
business," said a letter signed by Senior
Assistant Attorney General Gary Schons and
District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
"While as with any private citizen, you had
the right to address the city council and
oppose the resolution (or any political
matter) on whatever grounds you saw fit, you
did not have the right to do so in the
uniform of a public law enforcement
official," the letter said.
Although he dodged any criminal problem,
Anderson's violation may still be the
subject of a lawsuit or another proceeding
that could result in removal from office,
the letter said. Also unresolved is whether
Anderson used county resources for his
appearance, which could be another possible
violation, the letter said.
Anderson, who is now serving as acting
sheriff while the board of supervisors
searches for a replacement for former
Sheriff Mike Carona, issued a short
statement saying he acted in good faith but
will be guided by the letter's advice.
"I have always understood it to be perfectly
appropriate to appear before legislative
bodies such as the board of supervisors or a
city council while in uniform regarding
matters of public policy involving the
sheriff's department," Anderson said.
Despite Anderson's remarks at the Nov. 20
meeting, the city council endorsed Hunt, who
is also running to fill Carona's term. Hunt
said Thursday that he would like the other
possible violations to be pursued.
"Clearly (Anderson and others) were thinking
politically and that's what sent him down
this road," Hunt said.
During his prepared speech, Anderson
reminded the council of its contractual
relationship with the sheriff's department.
Many people believed his remarks were meant
to imply that police services to the city
"would be in jeopardy" should the council
endorse Hunt, the letter said.
###
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-anderson29feb29,1,6558468.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
From the Los Angeles Times
State rebukes O.C. sheriff
Anderson, in
an earlier post, wore his uniform in a
political context.
By Christine
Hanley and Stuart Pfeifer
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
February 29, 2008
The state attorney general has concluded
that acting Orange County Sheriff Jack
Anderson broke the law last year when he
appeared in uniform before the San Clemente
City Council and tried to discourage it from
endorsing a former lieutenant for sheriff.
In a warning letter released Thursday, the
attorney general's office informed Anderson
that his prepared remarks and purpose for
attending the council meeting were clearly
political and that he should not have been
in uniform when he made his presentation.
Anderson was an assistant sheriff at the
time.
The letter amounts to a public scolding and
does not suggest that Anderson committed a
crime.
But it could leave the acting sheriff open
to a civil lawsuit, according to the letter
written by Senior Assistant Atty. Gen. Gary
Schons. If county resources were used to
facilitate his appearance at the meeting, it
might have been a crime, Schons wrote.
The attorney general issued only a warning
partly because Anderson cooperated in the
investigation, appeared sincere in his
belief that he was engaging in appropriate
department business, and was told it was OK
to wear the uniform by his superior at the
time, Undersheriff Jo Ann Galisky.
Anderson, who was told in the letter to
refrain from such conduct, said in a
statement Thursday that Schons "correctly
noted that my intentions were in good
faith."
"I have always understood it to be perfectly
appropriate to appear before legislative
bodies such as the Board of Supervisors or a
city council while in uniform regarding
matters of public policy involving the
Sheriff's Department," Anderson wrote. "I
appreciate Mr. Schons' advice and will be
guided accordingly."
Anderson's appearance before the City
Council on Nov. 20 rekindled some of the
enmity that marked the highly charged
political race between former Lt. Bill Hunt
and then-Sheriff Michael S. Carona.
Hunt was chief of police services in San
Clemente under Carona when he ran against
his boss, using scandals dogging the
Sheriff's Department as an election theme.
The day after Carona was reelected, he
demoted Hunt for making statements in the
campaign that he saw as a violation of
department rules. Hunt chose to retire
instead and is now suing the department.
Carona was indicted late last year along
with his wife and a longtime mistress in a
federal corruption case. His trial is
scheduled to start June 10.
During the San Clemente meeting, the City
Council was considering sending a formal
letter to county supervisors, asking them to
appoint Hunt if Carona were to step down in
the face of the criminal charges.
Anderson told them Hunt was not qualified to
serve as sheriff and urged the council not
to endorse anyone.
The council voted unanimously to table the
matter after hearing from Anderson, but
after Carona resigned, the council endorsed
Hunt.
Anderson, Carona's hand-picked successor,
has since announced that he wants to be the
full-time sheriff and is competing for the
job against Hunt and several other
candidates. The Board of Supervisors will
have the final say.
Hunt supporter Tim Whitacre, who filed the
complaint leading to the review of
Anderson's conduct, said Thursday he was
disappointed that the attorney general did
not follow through with the second part of
his request, which was to determine whether
Anderson used his county-issued cellphone or
computer to discuss the appearance with
Carona, Galisky or anyone else in the
department.
Hunt said he would let lawyers handling his
retaliation lawsuit determine whether the
admonishment of Anderson could help his
case.
John M.W. Moorlach, chairman of the Board of
Supervisors, said he hoped Anderson would
learn from his mistake. He would not say
whether he thought it would affect
Anderson's candidacy.
"I think there's room for a little grace on
your first infraction," Moorlach said.
###
From:
Jack Anderson
Sent: Fri Feb 29 16:00:50 2008
Subject: Assistant Sheriff Steve Bishop
Dear Department Members:
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.
Here's Chief Bishop's letter: Assistant
Sheriff Steve Bishop's letter of thanks to
the department:
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.
