Board Takes Over Security

[Harry Carry]

Board takes over security of its meetings | security, board, supervisors, norby, county - News - OCRegister.com

[THE Gimper]

Originally Posted by Harry Carry

Board takes over security of its meetings | security, board, supervisors, norby, county - News - OCRegister.com

Posted.

[Poogsdad]

Commented and Recommended.

[RickD6023]

Posted a call to resign. What an embarassment the Sheriff is to all.

[steadyrock]

Posted.

Poogsdad, your comment was excellent.

[PirateQueen]

Originally Posted by Poogsdad

Commented and Recommended.

Very nicely stated.

[IAmASensFan]

Awesome...simply awesome.

[Poogsdad]

Originally Posted by steadyrock

Posted.

Poogsdad, your comment was excellent.

Originally Posted by PirateQueen

Very nicely stated.

Thank you both.

Just telling it like it is.

Thanks again,

Poogsdad

[Slabsides]

Read your comment...well said sir.

[Poogsdad]

Originally Posted by Slabsides

Read your comment...well said sir.

Thank YOU, Sir.

Poogsdad

[Gladiator]

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Board takes over security of its meetings
Supervisors react against sheriff's surveillance in boardroom.
By Norberto Santana Jr.
The Orange County Register
Comments 24 | Recommend 9

Orange County supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to seize back control of security at their meetings after deputies swarmed the boardroom earlier this month, intimidating gun activists from speaking out against Sheriff Sandra Hutchens’ new concealed weapons policy.


“It is to assert our authority that we’re ultimately in charge of security,” said County Supervisor Chris Norby, who sponsored changes to the board’s meeting rules along with County Supervisor Janet Nguyen.


Board members also voted unanimously to request that Chief Executive Officer Tom Mauk look into contracting out the security at the Hall of Administration, which is currently patrolled by the sheriff’s department at an annual cost of $813,000.


Supervisors also delayed approval of the sheriff’s request to set up an Intelligence Assessment Center until they get a full update, noting that the battle over boardroom security has made them reluctant to expand the department’s intelligence gathering. They did however, vote to accept more than $7 million in federal Homeland Security funds, with Norby dissenting.

The controversy over boardroom security stems from a Jan. 13 board of supervisors meeting where gun activists were confronted by placards at the board meeting warning people against bringing firearms into the building. In addition, numerous SWAT deputies and plain clothes officers were in the audience and questioned three activists.


That triggered deep concerns among county supervisors who had never seen such security for one of their meetings. Most have said the reaction seemed over the top. Activists reacted by requesting a copy of the meeting tape through the state’s public records act. After that, Hutchens informed the two supervisors – Nguyen and Norby – that an investigator at the meeting had used the department’s security cameras in the board ceiling to focus on their notes for up to a minute.


Last week, both Nguyen and Norby demanded copies of the security recording but were denied by Hutchens, who cited an unfolding investigation into the matter. She also said any disclosure of the tape could hinder her undercover officers. Hutchens did offer to have the supervisors view the tape, but she wouldn’t hand them over. Both supervisors refused and pressed forward arguing board ownership of the tapes.


Norby and Nguyen said they were considering legal action, and even Hutchens said she was considering hiring her own lawyer.


On Tuesday, in a messy legislative blitz, supervisors came out of a lengthy closed session and began amending their board rules to deal with the issue.


In the end, they adopted rules that stipulate only the chairperson of the board of supervisors has the power to implement and approve heightened security measures. Any attempt by the sheriff to beef up security, such as on Jan. 13, would now have to be approved by the chairperson of the board of supervisors. The new rules also stipulated that all security camera recordings are the property of the board.


However, County Counsel Ben de Mayo said he wasn’t sure if the board rules applied to previous recordings because board members didn’t stipulate that from the dais.
“I don’t know since it wasn’t discussed,” de Mayo said.


But Norby said the intent was clear to him. He said he will be asking for a copy of the tapes immediately.


“I’m confident that the top law enforcement official of the county will abide by the law,” Norby said after the vote.


Hutchens wasn’t available for comment but a department spokesman said their position hasn’t changed. The tapes are the property of the Sheriff’s department and they don’t see Tuesday’s action changing anything.


“It’s not our understanding that this would be retroactive,” said sheriff’s spokesman John Mcdonald.

[Tom98915]

Originally Posted by Poogsdad

Commented and Recommended.

Poogsdad, very well put. now if only the Feds would sit up and take notice of her...

Makes me glad we live way up here in a county with a decent sheriff.

[Superchief]

Headline: Kicking the Sheriff out of the BOS meetings, YA!

Headline II: "Sheriff fired from BOS meeting security duty"

What will the OC SWAT Team do on Tuesday's now?

Maybe Mike Hillman can be the chief greeter, like at Walmart.

[YankeeDog]

When the BOS vetted Hutchins, what depth was the process? People rarely change in the their beliefs, habits or outlooks, particularly as they get older. This behavior by the sheriff has its rooted in past experiences and behaviors. This was out there somewhere, obviously missed by the BOS processes in vetting the candidates.

my .02
YD

[glbtrottr]

Originally Posted by RickD6023

Posted a call to resign. What an embarassment the Sheriff is to all.

Also posted.

RickD - look at that big ole F4 picture: true testament that you can make a brick fly. Who'd you fly for?