O.C. Register editorial about Sandra Hutchens misfired

Sandra Hutchens

When the Orange County Board of Supervisors chose retired L.A. Sheriff’s Division Chief Sandra Hutchens over Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters, the O.C. Register editorial board responded thusly, “The board passed over a more qualified candidate, Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters.”

I could not disagree more with whoever wrote that Register editorial. Why exactly is Walters more qualified? That is simply not true. Here are just a few of Hutchens’ qualifications:

  • After graduating from the Training Academy as a Deputy Sheriff in 1978, she worked at various assignments, including Sybil Brand Institute, Lynwood Station, and the Metropolitan Bureau.
  • Upon being promoted to Sergeant in 1986, Chief Hutchens worked at Sybil Brand Institute, Temple Station, Field Operations Region I Headquarters, and the Office of the Undersheriff.
  • When she was promoted to Lieutenant in 1994, she was once again assigned to Sybil Brand Institute before transferring to Norwalk Station, where she served as a Watch Commander and as the Operations Lieutenant.
  • Chief Hutchens was promoted to Captain in July of 1999 and assumed command of the Norwalk Station.
  • In 2001, Chief Hutchens was promoted to the rank of Commander and served as a Commander for Field Operations Region III and as Sheriff Baca’s Executive Assistant.
  • On July 16, 2003, Hutchens was promoted to Chief of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Office of Homeland Security.
  • As Chief of the Office of Homeland Security, Chief Hutchens was involved with all aspects of local homeland security for the County of Los Angeles and she was a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Emergency Preparedness Commission.
  • Additionally, she served as the Department’s Emergency Coordinator and was the Department’s liaison to the federal government for all matters relating to homeland security and the ongoing anti-terrorism effort.
  • Chief Hutchens received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne in 1998. She is also a 1992 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy and has served as an instructor for the Supervisory Ethics course taught at the Department’s Training Bureau.

Does that sound like an unqualified candidate for O.C. Sheriff? Hutchens’ background in Homeland Security is a huge plus for Orange County. Consider that former Sheriff Mike Carona fumbled the management of the Orange County Emergency Operations Center, at Loma Ridge.

According to the OC Weekly, Carona allowed a Lebanese huckster to film the Emergency Operations Center – and that guy “used film footage, including film Carona green-lighted at Loma Ridge, to convince potential investors he was well-connected to top law-enforcement officials. Two of Medawar’s associates have already pleaded guilty to operating a con game that stole more than $5.5 million from 70 individuals. He used the money to rent a $40,000-per-month Beverly Hills mansion and buy several luxury automobiles, according to the indictment.”

And recently the Orange County Grand Jury found that “Computer equipment and other essential items in Orange County emergency-control centers aren’t properly secured, meaning authorities could have trouble responding after a major earthquake,” according to the Capistrano Dispatch.

If anything Hutchens is far more qualified than Walters, who has done little to stop crime in Santa Ana. I recently compared Anaheim’s crime statistics to Santa Ana’s – the results were astounding. Walters, simply put, is doing an awful job.

Even more worrisome, Walters endorsed Carona in his last election – which resulted in Carona hiring one of Walter’s sons. And Walters was backed for Sheriff by none other than one of Carona’s political handlers, former State Senator John Lewis. And of course Matt “Jubal” Cunningham shilled for Walters like he used to for Carona. But somehow the O.C. Register editorial board concluded that Hutchens appointment was a political move. Not so! When both Lewis and Cunningham are pimping a candidate it is rather obvious who the good old boys want to put in power.

I think Hutchens is going to prove to be a great Sheriff. She will continue to get rid of the crooked Caronista Deputies – a process that interim Sheriff Jack Andersen started. Hutchens will finish this – I predict that within a few months all of the Carona baddies will be gone from the O.C. Sheriff’s Department. That would NOT have happened under Walters – guaranteed.

Hutchens is a breath of fresh air – and she has not only the experience but also the commitment to positive change that is so desperately needed in order to repair the mess Carona made at the O.C. Sheriff’s Department. The O.C. Register and indeed all of us ought to cut Hutchens some slack and give her time to assess the department and go about undoing years of Carona malaise and wrongdoing.

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"Admin" is just editors Vern Nelson, Greg Diamond, or Ryan Cantor sharing something that they mostly didn't write themselves, but think you should see. Before December 2010, "Admin" may have been former blog owner Art Pedroza.