And it hit the Press Democrat as well..

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111129/articles/111129539&tc=yahoo?p=2&tc=pg

Though, their story is a pretty flimsy one.

THE report is finally out.

E.Larson gives an extremely detailed report of the report, unlike the Retched Bee.

The district attorney said he is not pursuing criminal charges against anyone in the case, noting, “At this time it has not been determined that any criminal activity took place by any law enforcement personnel that could be prosecuted at the state level.”

However, Anderson suggested that there may be possible federal civil rights violations related to First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble, Fifth Amendment rights not to be deprived of life or liberty without due process, and the 14th Amendment right not to be denied of the right of equal protection under the law.

Additionally, Anderson said a possible violation of Title 18 U.S.C Section 242 – deprivation of rights under color of law – is a federal crime which his office can’t prosecute.

Anderson said the Federal Bureau of Investigation has requested a copy of his report for review.

The parkinglot at LCSO on a clear day....

And NO, it's not shift change.  How does a parkinglot full of empty patrol cars make YOU feel?  It makes ME feel glad I live inside the city limits.

Sheriff Runs Out of Gas Across the Street From Gas Station, Calls for Tow...

Check the location on this tow receipt guys....Rivero ran out of gas right by Rotten Robbies...and called for a $70 tow, instead of getting $10 worth of gas in a gas can and putting it in his car, then driving to Helm's.

It was nice of Rich to not charge this as an SO Rotation Tow, that would have been about twice the cost.

Check out the LCSO stamp on these documents, it's no wonder that Lovelace doesn't "disparage spelling errors".

Breaking News: Our New Undersheriff

Our new undersheriff is Pat Turturici.  Just putting his name in google leads you to a wealth of links and controversy.  I don't know how much of it is true.  It seems he ran, as undersheriff, for sheriff in San Benito County for the 2010 election.  It was a really nasty/dirty campaign (sound familiar?). 

He was accused of fraternizing with a known felon, and accepting campaign contributions from the same felon.



The only thing I do know for a fact is that he was hired by an unqualified oral board.  Not a single member that sat on the oral board meets the qualifications on the job notice for undersheriff.  From what I have read, Mr. Turturici has no street experience at all.  San Benito County put him through POST (academy) while he was working at their jail as a CO.  He was never actually assigned a beat.  All of his experience, before his first undersheriff position, was in corrections.  This could be good news, if he is put in command of our now commanderless, dangerously understaffed jail.  If this is the case, I can only hope that it all comes back to him quickly, and he's able to pull things out there together, without feeling like he needs to be friends with the inmates (like Mr. Rivero).

I will do my best to keep you updated as this story developes.

The Hell's Angels, a Vagos, and a Tattoo Convention

See the LCN story here.

Ø Deputies promptly arrived on-scene to investigate the incident between members of the Hells Angels and Vagos outlaw biker gangs.  Among the initial deputies to arrive were Deputy Frace and Deputy Barreto.  At the time, these two deputies were the only patrol deputies assigned to the Lake County Gang Task Force (LCGTF).   Sheriff Rivero arrived soon after and immediately issued orders regarding this case and its investigation to both Deputy Frace and Deputy Barreto.  The Sheriff ordered that deputies Frace and Barreto not speak to anyone regarding the investigation whatsoever—not even to EACH OTHER.  He offered no reason or explanation for his order, but he made it perfectly clear that Frace and Barreto could not speak to each other about this case despite the fact that they were to assist each other on the investigation.

Ø As a result of Rivero’s gag order, Frace and Barreto were prevented from seeking any gang intelligence or outside assistance during the first 48 hours of the investigation.  In any investigation, the first 48 hours is the MOST CRUCIAL time period of the investigation.   Suspects flee, witnesses can be threatened or dissuaded, and evidence is often lost or destroyed by natural or unnatural means.

Ø     Sheriff Rivero’s gag order essentially crippled the investigation.  Potential suspect identification was made virtually impossible without the ability to share information among investigators.

Ø     This investigation eventually included detectives, a sizable portion of the LCGTF, and the Sheriff’s Department as a whole.  A lot of time was wasted trying to piece together what actually occurred on June 4th, 2011.  We may never have the complete story of what happened that night.


Ø     Rivero’s orders run the scale from incompetent and inept to potentially criminal (interfering with a felony investigation).

Ø     Despite Rivero’s bumbling interference, this particular criminal investigation was eventually wrapped up.  It took the dedication of local deputies who took on the hampered investigation along with help from investigators from the DA’s office, Lakeport Police Officer Norm Taylor and law enforcement professional gang units in Sonoma County.  Without the constraints that were constantly imposed by an inexperienced, incompetent Sheriff, perhaps this case would have been solved much swifter than the nearly three months that it took.

Ø     Rivero has mistaken the citizens of Lake County as lemmings who will believe his lies, and accept his incompetence.  His visions of grandeur have become dangerous.  While it is the responsibility of each person to consider whatever is shown to them, staff at the sheriff’s office are still dealing with the same idiocy that they’ve been experiencing from day-one.  Sheriff Rivero has no training in management and has been ostracized by his peers and staff.  Sheriff Rivero shows us that under pressure he continues to struggle with making appropriate decisions.

A Better Explanation of the Interview Process for Undersheriff.

It is long-standing practice that the selection process for a high-ranking commander include a comprehensive interview conducted by experienced law enforcement professionals. Common sense dictates that the interview panel should be comprised of those who hold the same (or higher) rank than that of the candidate! Additionally, it's common practice to draw upon the experience of those who live and work for nearby agencies in order to accomplish this objective. Unfortunately, our current sheriff has decided……..once again…….to re-invent the wheel. He continues to make his own rules and practices—as convoluted as they are—in defiance of industry protocols. After all, it serves HIS purposes, and that’s all that seems to matter.

The undersheriff is a very important position. Interviewing oral board participants should have many years of management experience in law enforcement. Sheriff Francisco Rivero has decided that HE will interview the applicants for undersheriff along with two civilians--one of whom served as his campaign manager. We should all be concerned that neither of these civilians have ANY experience in law enforcement. They have no knowledge of laws pertaining to search-and-seizure, evidence, warrants, grant-writing, jail operations, supervision or management. We should also take notice that Sheriff Rivero himself has only a high school diploma, Intermediate POST and virtually no experience in these areas.  He is, essentially, still a rookie.

Once again, we’re left with his unprofessional excuse……

"Some people may put protocol in front of action, but that's just not my style."
Sheriff Frank Rivero