CSI -
OC Part Two
Significance
of OC Sheriff-Coroner ASCLD/LAB Accreditation - Part
Two
July
27,
2008
Congratulation to the
OCSD Forensics lab for having achieved a significant
milestone in the history of public sector laboratory
history. The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner
laboratory is the first local government,
full-service laboratory in California to be
accredited in the ASCLD/LAB-International
program, according to ASCLD/LAB-International
program manager John Neuner
Mr. Neuer told us that, "the laboratory has
satisfactorily demonstrated they are providing
forensic science testing services in accordance with
internationally accepted practices for a testing
laboratory"
In trying to understand the significance of the
ASCLD/LAB-International accreditation, we contacted
Mr. Neuner to obtain copies of the ASCLD/LAB site
inspections. Citing confidentiality issues,
Mr. Neuner referred us to the Orange County
Sheriff-Coroner Laboratory director Dr. Dean
Gialamas. After repeated attempts to reach Dr.
Gialamas, Captain Michael James sent us the
information we were looking for, under the Freedom
of Information Act.
Included in the information we graciously received
from captain Michael James were responses to a
couple of questions we had:
Question 1: Help us understand which
budget the funds came from, and who authorized the
program.
Response 1: Funds were
authorized by the Sheriff's Department, via a
procurement process, and were paid for by the
ForensicScience Services Division budget. The
program was authorized by the Laboratory Director.
Question 2: Did the ASCLD/LAB
accreditation team take into account that the lab is
not an independently managed
organization?
Response 2: Yes, and in fact it
is part of the accrediting standards to make sure
that the parent organization does not interfere with
or otherwise influence the technica1 operations of
the laboratory.
We also received confirmation from Mr. Neuner on
Question 2 as follows:
"The response
you received from the Orange County Sheriff's
Department laboratory is correct, and refers to an
ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation standard.
The standard establishes the requirement that
"If the laboratory is part of an organization
performing activities other than testing,"
there must be defined responsibilities for anyone
in the organization outside the laboratory who
could influence the testing activities. The
intent of the standard is for the laboratory to
identify potential conflicts of interest, and to
ensure there is no inappropriate influence on the
testing activities of the laboratory. This
was an element our assessment team considered
prior to ASCLD/LAB granting accreditation"
| Searching
for closure, we looked at ISO/IEC
17025:2005 requirements and two clauses
caught our eye:
|
|
 |
|
ASCLD/LAB
Certificate issued to OCSD Lab |
OC
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens |
|
Clause 4.2.3
"Top management shall provide evidence of
commitment to the development and implementation
of the management system and continually improving
its effectiveness."
Clause 4.2.4 "Top management
shall communicate to the organization the
importance of meeting customer requirements as
well as statutory and regulatory requirements."
Does top management in this case mean Sheriff
Hutchens? Captain James, or Dr. Gialamas?
Who is the customer in this case?
Taxpayers? The OCDA? The OCBoS? The
AOCSD? The press? Paul Morabito?
Taking into consideration the responses we have
received from captain James and Mr. Neuner, we are
still confused: How does the ASCLD/LAB (an
alleged independently managed organization) explain
that before the OSCD Forensics lab can spend
0.002857143% (ASCLD/LAB' accreditation invoice) of
the total OCSD department yearly budget, it had to
go through a procurement process ultimately
authorized by the Sheriff's Department? Or
what about that in order to respond to a simple
question addressed to the forensics lab, one has to
go through the Freedom of Information Act, then the
information must be approved by the Sheriff's Public
Affairs and the Support Services Division? - we made
it clear to Mr. Neuner that we understood the spirit
of the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard management
section was to not only establish boundaries
that can be used for accountability purposes, but
also document the forces of influence, including
corporate culture, that may veer the organization
away from the stated mission/vision/goals - that is,
not a simple paper exercise represented by an
organization chart.
Our second outstanding question to Mr. Neuner is:
What challenges, or opportunities for the ASCLD/LAB's
accreditation of the OCSD were created by Dr. Dean
Gialamas' previous association with the ASCLD/LAB?
We have yet to hear from the ASCLD/LAB-International
accreditation on the last two questions.
COMMENTS
CotoBlogzz
Tagzz
- use any number of social networking managers to share this (or
any other articles in the Internet) with others...click
here and select social bookmarkings threads
RELATED
STORIES
Sheriff
Hutchens Hires Chief Scott for Strategy Retired Los Angeles
Sheriff's Department Chief John L. Scott has been hired as a consultant by
the county to work with Sheriff Sandra Hutchens in her assessment of
Department operations. He will focus first on the Department's jail
system, with five jails and an average daily population of 6,500.
Serendipity
and OC Sheriff Paul Morabito
We have been critical of the process used by the
Orange County Board of Supervisors (BOS) to select a
sheriff to replace embattled Sheriff Michael Carona,
mostly because we think that the BOS had an Obama
Moment - a once in a life time opportunity to...
Sheriff
Hutchens - The Transformator
Sheriff Hutchens has billed herself as a
transformation agent ? she is indeed keeping her word!
Earlier today, she announced her new command staff
represented by:Undersheriff John S
Does
the new OC Sheriff Know Jack about Tech?
One of the major criticism levied against the process
used by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to
select the county?s new sheriff, is that the selection
criteria used all but guaranteed that most qualified
leaders to effect change would be...
The
Sheriff Comes to Town ? Is She, or Isn?t She? We do
not know ? she won?t say!
During our recent interview with newly appointed OC
Sheriff Hutchens, we asked her rhetorically, why
issues such as culture, budget and the flawed process
used by the board of supervisors to narrow down the
list of candidates dominated the public forum...
New
OC Sheriff to Host 4th Cruise for Make A Wish
Foundation
On Friday July 4, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., Orange County
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, the American Legion Newport
Harbor Post 291, The American Legion Yacht Club and
Electra Cruises, will co-host a pancake breakfast and
harbor cruise for ?Make?A-Wish? children and...
OCSD
Competitiveness as Public Safety Supplier and US
Competitiveness in Global Markets.
Concerned about the OCSD?s infamous culture, deputies
have described as a ?frat house?, and about the
process used by the Orange County Board of supervisors
used to select the new Orange County Sheriff, we asked
newly appointed Sheriff Hutchens about...
The
Start of a New OCSD Era: Will Sheriff Hutchens be more
accessible?
In less than a Coto kid can hack a computer to change
his grades, an aid to Sheriff Hutchens was able set up
a meeting so that the CotoBuzz Journal can interview
the Sheriff. Compare that to multiple unanswered
request to meet with interim Sheriff...
Gas
Prices Up, Accidents in Coto Down - An Accident?
Gas prices keep going up, up, up and traffic accidents
in Coto de Caza continue a downward trend that started
in 2005, shortly after the two traffic fatalities and
when the Coto de Caza board of directors was coerced
into bringing back the CHP for traffic...
In
Search of D-WOP Loopholes
As of July 1, 2008, California drivers must use
hands-free technology when talking on a mobile phone,
and drivers under age 18 may not use a mobile phone at
all while driving. Given that Coto Board of Directors?
love affair with Loopholes, we decided to...
Attorney
and Accountant Indicted in Largest Medical Insurance
Fraud Case in the Nation
The California Department of Insurance and the Orange
County District Attorney's Office (OCDA) announced
today the unsealing of criminal grand jury indictments
in what they characterize as ?the largest medical
fraud prosecution in the nation?, charging...
The
Orange County Sheriffs Department unveils the Avoid
the Ten? DUI CampaignX
The Orange County Sheriff?s Department today announced
the ?The Avoid the Ten? DUI Campaign as the department
joins other highway safety and law enforcement
officials statewide andthroughout the country to
remind all Fourth of July party-goers that...
Former
Haidl, Jaramillo Defense Attorney JG Cavallo Goes to
Jail
According to the OCDA, defense attorney Joseph Gerard
Cavallo, 52, Irvine, was sentenced today to six months
in jail after pleading guilty on October 12, 2007 to
three felony counts for conspiring to engage in
attorney capping and an illegal attorney...
CHP
Officer Arrested, Held on $4 million Bail at the
Orange County Jail.
According to the Orange County District Attorney (OCDA),
the OCDA and Santa Ana Police Department, in
cooperation with the California Highway Patrol (CHP),
arrested Joshua Blackburn, a CHP officer and recovered
several kilograms of cocaine that had been...
Coto
de Caza DUI Collision Lawsuit Notes
Case No 05CC02855 involves a traffic accident that
occurred September 22, 2004 at the intersection of
Vista del Verde and Mackenzie Lane (undisputed fact).
The defendant was visiting Coto de Caza as a guest of
Coto de Caza Gold Club, having earlier...
Coto
de Caza DUI Collision (Skendarian) Lawsuit Settlement
According to court records filed in Superior Court in
Orange County dated November 28, 2006, the Skendarian
lawsuit settlement worked out includes:
Call
911 to Report DUIs - ?Avoid the Ten? Holiday DUI
Crackdown in South Orange County- "Law
enforcement can only do so much" -
The Orange County Sheriff?s Department is preparing
for one of the State?s most aggressive impaired
driving crackdowns of the year, taking part in the
?Avoid the Ten? campaign as part of California?s
holiday DUI crackdown. California?s effort
coincides...
Loopholes,
the OCWWF and the next OCSD
You
cannot be part of the solution when you have been part
of the problem, as in Lt Hunt.
The
Spin Machines for Hutchens and Walters for OC Sheriff
are full throttle trying to persuade the Orange County
Board of Supervisors that their gal or guy is the
right person for the job. So much dirt is flowing in
both directions putting SUV commercials to shame.
Then, there are the Lt. Hunt supporters doing a
Hilary impersonation tying to get their guy the number
two spot, or any spot for that matter, in the new OCSD.
Star
Search – for the OCSD – The
Final Episode SetAlthough the process used by the
Orange County Board of Supervisors to winnow down the
number of candidates to replace much maligned OC
Sheriff Michael Carona was at best flawed, the final
two candidates represent not necessarily the best of
the field, but not necessarily the worst, either.
The
OCSD Culture Thing – It is not my Job!
- The
leading OC Sheriff candidates agree that the OC
Sheriff’s Department needs an organizational culture
makeover, the OC District Attorney finds the current
OCSD’s culture lacking, the Orange County Board of
Supervisors demand changes to the OC Sheriff’s
Department’s organizational culture, and the
President of the Association of Orange County Deputy
Sheriff’s Wayne Quint agree that a culture change is
required.
OCSD
Insiders Make Paper Cut - How? We do not know
We
understand
that a "paper cut" has been performed by Bob
Murray and Associates, the talent search firm being
used to hire the next OC Sheriff. We
have contacted a number of the cut candidates -
apparently, they did not know they were
no longer viable candidates.
Working
to Serve or Serving to Work? - AOCDS Fundraiser
The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS)
is launching a fundraising drive, for the first time
in the association?s history, according to a piece of
direct mail, targeting the communities they serve.
Working
to Serve, Or Serving To Work - Letter to OC Register
Columnist
Another good column. I was wondering if there was ever
any serious consideration to any non-union government
employee for the position of publicly elected Sheriff
by either the Register or Supervisors? That is all I
see in your Top Five selection and.
The
Coto de Caza Board of Directors to Help Hire the new
OC Sheriff?
A cursory review of the criteria used to winnow down
the Orange County Sheriff candidate?s list to seven,
(the seven are then to be interviewed by the Orange
County Board of Supervisors) indicates that Governor
Mit Romney, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,...
The
Three OC Blind Mice
OCDA's Rackauckas says that 9-month grand jury probe
of jail beating death did not find evidence of
criminal wrongdoing by sheriff's personnel, although
sheriff's personnel does only bare minimum to keep
their jobs.
The
OCSD Fox Guarding the Hen
According to the OCRegister, ?Thousands of pages of
transcripts released Monday by the Superior Court
showed a jail system out of control, with deputies
failing to perform even cursory patrols of the jail
barracks, instead relying on jail ?shotcallers? ?...
OC
Board of Supervisors Full Of Sound and Fury,
Signifying Nothing!
The Orange County Board of supervisors came into the
current term with a fiery agenda rivaled only by
Senator?s Obama?s spiritual advisor?s Wright ?s
rhetoric - ?Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, the
creeps in this petty county come to roost from...
Public
Safety Owners and Orphans
Invariably when we publish public safety statistics,
proponents of the status quo ridicule our analysis and
detractors use the law of attributions to invoke the
proverbial ?it?s not mine/their job?.
A
Chat with OC Sheriff Candidates - Coto de Caza's Own
Ralph Martin
We have offered the seven identified OC Sheriff
candidates; Jack Anderson, Bill Hunt, Craig Hunter,
Kevin Keyes, Ralph Martin, Ken Maddox and Paul
Walters, the CotoBuzz Journal as a platform to
communicate with their respective potential supports.
We...
OC
Sheriff personnel not criminally liable in death of
Chamberlain- OCDA
OCDA Tony Rackauckas announced today the conclusion of
the criminal portion of a grand jury investigation
into the beating murder of inmate, John Chamberlain
and the indictment against three former inmates. Nine
former inmates, in total now, face murder...
Winter
Cleaning at the OCSD Continues
The fallout of Sheriff Carona?s resignation continued
to unfold Friday, as his former second-in-command,
Assistant Sheriff Jo Ann Galisky was released, and
Assistant Sheriff Steve Bishop, head of
investigations, announced his immediate retirement
A
Chat with OC Sheriff Department Candidate: Craig
Hunter
What the OCSD needs is a new leader with a proven
track record in law enforcement who will be a strong
role model, lead by example with integrity and provide
a new vision of teamwork and accountability - Hunter
A
Chat with OC Sheriff Candidates: Kevin Keyes
The first and most important priority is to restore
honor to the office that was taken by its last office
holder- Kevin Keyes
>CotoBlogzz Tagzz
Use any of
the social networking managers below to share this or any other article with
others....more
bookmarking managers
| Newsvine |
 |
|
Backflip |
 |
| Google |
 |
|
del.icio.us |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
