May 2009  

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

The OCSD Is Watching the BOS – Who IS Watching the OCSD?

Posted by CotoBlogzz 04/23/2009 3:00 PM  

The initial premise and intent of this piece was to ask the Orange County Board of Supervisors if they are representing the interests of taxpayers in law enforcement matters.

Since elected to the board of supervisors, now chairperson Bates has failed  to answer any of our questions.  So it is not surprising that we have not heard from the BOS – therefore, one conclusion is that The OCSD Is Watching the BOS – The BOS is NOT  Watching the OCSD!

Following is an excerpt of the missive to the Orange County Board of Supervisors:

OCSD Praise merited or hollow?
An OC Register  piece published February 3, 2009 titled  Sheriff department complaint program draws praise, the author writes that “..the new county mediation program that seeks to help sheriff's deputies and residents resolve differences  drew praise on Tuesday, with Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson saying the effort helps both sides better understand each other.”  Not only an endorsement of the program, but the implications are that the source of the praises may be from impartial observers – so much so, that the piece is replicated in the OCSD’s blog.

The praise in the piece comes from none other than chairperson Bates and Human Relations Commissioner Kenneth Inouye “While Pat Bates, chair of the board of supervisors, said the program was initially viewed with suspicion by department officials and their union, she credited all sides for working together. Such dispute resolution programs, Bates said, are key to building safer communities.” Reads the OCR article, adding “ "It's transparent and less likely to get stonewalled," said Human Relations Commissioner Kenneth Inouye, referring to the challenges of disclosure when formal complaints trigger legal protections for officers.

A piece posted in early January in the OCSD Blog declares that “the Office of Independent Review is completing its fourth month of providing full-time, independent civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Department,” and according to Stephen J. Connolly,  “I’m impressed with how helpful people have been about sharing information and answering questions.  And there’s been a very cooperative spirit as far as considering my input and trying new approaches.”

Is OCSD complaint process necessary and sufficient?
When The Los Angeles Times reported that the number of complaints filed by the public against Orange County Sheriff's Deputies  is less than five-percent the number of complaints when compared to Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputies, Stephen J. Connolly, recommended complaint forms  be made available online.

Is it fair to say that had it not been for the PRA requests from CCW activists neither the general public, nor the orange county board of supervisors would have known about the incident  where top officials disparaged activists and supervisors in text messages during the Nov. 18 board meeting or even the snooping incident where a Sheriff’s investigator looked at the supervisors notes during the January board meeting?

In any case, the board, in looking at alternatives has been systematic and methodical starting with first principles:  What is required?  Who can meet identified requirements?  How can the board maintain control?  How can the board make sure the service provider is meetings all its obligations? Or what about the recent Planned Parenthood debacle where Supervisor Moorlach writes that “In a corporate structure where trust and cooperation are critical to the overall success of the organization, it is disturbing to me, as a Supervisor, that someone would, intentionally or unintentionally, withhold critical information,” referring to tactics used to fund the organization with tax payer money.

Clearly Mr. Connolly has not had to file a complaint against a civil servant.  While an online form may be convenient. It does not necessarily follow that tax payers will complain – not if they listen to columnist and author Donie Vanitizan  Her recommendations:

Listen As If Your Life Depends On It
Individuals must retrain themselves to listen very carefully. Understand that “Very carefully” now means:
• Listen to every word that is spoken to you.
• Don’t interject.
* Don’t assume.
• Don’t presume.
• Don’t read into it.
• Don’t ask too many questions.
• Keep your questions at a minimum and make sure they are thought-out in advance.
• Ask only questions that are absolutely necessary.
• Watch your body language as it can easily be misinterpreted.
• Don’t give them a reason to do something to you.
• Respond carefully, if at all.
• When you enter a government office with a handbag, wallet, briefcase, file folder, or envelope, make sure it is empty.
• Once those officials think you are on a fishing expedition, it’s over for you. Many of these offices record every word, but even if you want a copy of that recording you won’t get it.
Know this: Sometimes it is better to cut your losses, say nothing, walk the hell away, and get outta dodge.

You get the point?

OCSD not responsive – lack of  willpower - not manpower

In additional to several senior abuse allegations, several Laguna Woods residents have been unduly subjected to implications of burglary as documented in my piece published March 8, 2009 in the Red County titled OCSD Obfuscation - When PRA stands for Purely Recycled Answers.   I filed  PRA request No. 1159 in attempts to wrestle basic information from the department, for not. It can be argued that the response from the OCSD to PRA1150 is not responsive as required by Government Code 6250.

Further, in reviewing contracts for law enforcement services between contracted cities and the county, there is no Statement of Work (SOW)and no compliance or accountability clause.  Apparently the compliance function is left to the state pursuant to government code section 8546.7  - however, records indicate the state has not performed any audits in this regard. On the other hand, service provided to the county generally have a SOW and performance requirements, and in some cases, even penalty clauses.

Is OCSD a Cost Center of a Profit Center
In promoting the OCSD’s Forensics Lab, Sheriff Hutchens likes to point out that the department provides services and training to any agency asking for it.  Every city which contracts with the county for law enforcement services must pay established fees, with NO measurable output.

MoveOn.OCSD
The Sheriff wants to move forward and table the department’s culture question.  But lingering questions remain. Just last week, the Orange County District Attorney’s  spokesperson Susan Schroeder blamed the department’s code of slice for  the dismissal of  felony assault counts against Christopher Hibbs, “Based upon the quality of the testimony by the deputy sheriffs, we decided we couldn’t secure a conviction even if we tried,”  Ms, Schoreder said.  Then there is the disarm, silence and ridicule episodes when Sheriff Hutchens tried to explain her rationale for adopting  LA-style  CCW policies.


Therefore, do these questions have any merit?

1.    Under these conditions and given the proliferation of  state intelligence agencies, which operate under concealed or obscure auspices, such as the Ohio Highway Patrol’s intelligence unit which claims to have recruited student informers on every campus in the state - According to the head of the unit, "We have actually had informers who are members of the board of trustees of various dissident groups."  - how can the board of supervisors assure taxpayers that the OSCD’s intelligence unit is operating within explicit boundaries and under proper oversight?
2.    What methods and or key business indicators does the board of supervisors use to make sure the OCSD is doing right by the taxpayers in general, and to comply with contracted cities’ law enforcement agreements specifically – that is, If the board of supervisors was surprised by the OCSD’s snooping incident, how does one know the OCSD is in fact complying with the contracted cities agreements without any pre-established comp[liance criteria?
3.    Does the county endorse a double standard?  Requires performance for services rendered, but is not accountable to taxpayers as in the OCSD law enforcement contracts
4.    Is the board comfortable with the current OCSD’s culture?  How would the board define the “new and improved” OCSD culture?
5.    Taxpayers and supervisors know the OCSD is watching them – Who is watching the OCSD?

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