The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

July 2008 ISSUE

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and CID/HOA board of directors and report the facts!

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Ain’t No OC Sheriff

Perhaps Sheriff Arpaio would not have even made the Orange County Board of Supervisor’s paper cut.

June 24, 2008

We continue to make the point that the OSCD is in dire need of an extreme cultural make-over. In contrast, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, is not putting up with Shaquille O’Neal’s, antics as Shaq apparently will lose his special deputy’s badge in Maricopa County because of language he used in a rap video that mocks former teammate Kobe Bryant

Given that observable signs of an organization's culture include organizational stories and legends, rituals and ceremonies, language, physical structures and symbols, self-described “America’s Toughest Sheriff”, Sheriff Arpaio, who is known for feeding jail inmates green bologna, clothing them in pink underwear, and making them work on chain gangs, said he didn’t expect his actions would teach Shaq a lesson. But he hoped he learns that as a role model who wants to someday be a full-time sheriff, he needs to know his words matter, according to an AP article titled Shaq gets slapped by sheriff for rap about Bryant published earlier today.

Compare that to the recent stories about the OCSD’s culture described by deputies as a frat-house, or even a high-ranking married official sharing a document describing his amorous accomplishments. But then of course, Orange County is a much more progressive county than Maricopa. Perhaps Sheriff Arpaio would not have even made the Orange County Board of Supervisor’s paper cut.

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...

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