The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

We congratulate Sheriff Hutchens, we just hope she has not made any deals with the devil – although we hear the devil is jumping for joy

The traps were perfectly laid out, the only thing required was for Sheriff Hutchens to trip and she would then have to agree to one or all of the following:

There is no 100 Days SMART Plan
There is no need to change the OSCD’s culture
The OCSD is running efficiently, hence additional safety costs more money
Political environment in contracted cities is the same as in private (CID) communities – aka as the Public Safety Orphan
There is Strategic technology plan (including forensics)
The process used by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to come up with Magic Nine (number of candidates to interview), then with a “BMA score” of six, out of nine, jump to the Elite Two to finally select the new Sheriff, was severely flawed.
And the piece du resistance was to use the OJ Glove Analogy: Does the glove fit? That is, is the current OCSD organization and the Sheriff's capabilities an ideal match, or a forced-fit?

Like a good cop, Sheriff Hutchens was able to disarm us, faster than a Coto kid can hack a computer, with her excellent communication skills and apparent command of the issues. It is clear Sheriff Hutchens expects accountability throughout the department, starting from the top. She describes herself as a consensus-driven transformational leader, and expects the rank and file to embrace change – those who do not will be opted out.

Although the Sheriff does not have a 100-Day plan, we are expecting to see a 120-Day plan shortly.

Given the time constraint and the “chat format”, we were unable to be as confrontational, err…. make effective use of our watchdog journalism skills. The Sheriff knows her performance is now closely coupled to the political future of supervisors Moorlach, Bates and Nguyen. She appeared not to want to rock the boat with the OCDA’s office.

We did get to ask the Sheriff a rhetorical hypothetical question: If the initial list of candidates had included Hilary Clinton, Condalizza Rice, Carly Fiorina, General Collin Powel, who would have fared better against Sheriff Walters? – Of course, the BMA matrix would have eliminated all the aforementioned with the exception of Sheriff Walters. On the other hand, we did not get to use our favorite line so far: "We congratulate Sheriff Hutchens, we just hope she has not made any deals with the devil – although we hear the devil is jumping for joy!"

All in all a journalistic failure – but not a waste of time – quite the contrary, a breadth of fresh air!

Buzz: What did you expect when interviewing a politician and the Sheriff is a politician that will need to run for office? These people are used to giving answers that play all sides against the middle so that they don’t have to commit to anything. One of the best politicians I ever see run for office was a school board candidate that answered every question by asking the questioner, “Now what do you think about that issue” to which she would just say “Oh really” making the questioner think she was in complete agreement when in fact she said nothing at all. It was brilliant. She got elected that year. People loved her even though she was an empty headed ditz. Joseph Morabito, former member of the CZ Master Association board of directors.

Right you are – consider that it could have been much, much worse. So far, Sheriff Hutchens seems to be doing the right thing, albeit it politically predictable.

Pat Bates and her people do not respond to constituents. She is useless and she has done nothing I can see for Coto even though she was endorsed by Bob Varo as President of CZ. She got elected and got a nice salary and the county car and other benefits at our expense and we got bupkiss. Has anyone seen the Sheriff in Coto lately? Do we have any county funding to maintain our Sports Park which is essentially a public park?. Again bupkiss. Mr. Varo could not bring home the bacon on any of these issues because the county never had any intention of giving us additional services. To be frank, Bob’s “friends” at the county have always played him for a old fool. Perhaps, Bob has seen the light because he has every right to be mad as hell concerning his interaction with the county over the years. If he is not mad as hell then he really is an old fool. Joseph Morabito, former member of the CZ Master Association board of directors.

P.S. At least the Glisson Board got $120,000 out of blow dryed Tom Wilson to fund the first year of the CHP. Nothing like it has ever happened again.

Related Stories

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

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...

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...

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