Sheriff Rod Hoops
10:47 PM PST on Sunday, February 7, 2010
By PAUL LAROCCO
The Press-Enterprise
In his first year as San Bernardino County sheriff, Rod Hoops hasn’t had to lead a department shakeup or champion sweeping policy change.
“The organization was in great shape when I became sheriff,” he said.
But in more subtle ways, Hoops has begun to adapt to the 156-year-old institution.
He said he’s committed to turning over more day-to-day decision-making — as it relates to personnel and budget — to individual stations and divisions that stretch across the nation’s largest geographic county.
“Too often things are done here on this floor,” Hoops said late last month, from his office at San Bernardino headquarters. “I want people to feel a little less stressed.”
He’s cut the overtime budget by more than 50 percent per pay period, allowing the hiring of 25 new deputies. Without the new class of recruits, the department was nearing vacancies in 150 sworn positions.
A Decision on Badges
The moves that have brought Hoops the most attention have been his focus on diversity and education in recent promotions, and his decision to begin adhering to a 2007 state attorney general’s opinion on honorary badges.
That advisory opinion stated law enforcement agencies providing badges to non-sworn peace officers could be breaking the law. It prompted Riverside County officials to quickly start collecting the badges it had handed out to supporters and elected officials.
Under past administrations, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately act. But Hoops said that after consulting with county counsel, he began issuing badge recall letters last month to people with no sheriff’s job connection.
“Although some may not be happy about it, they understand,” Hoops said.
Elected officials and other unsworn individuals will instead receive sheriff’s identification cards, not to be mistaken for badges. Others who work for the department, such as jail cooks and uniformed volunteers, will still retain badges marked with their positions.
“Times change,” said sheriff’s Lt. Rick Ells, who served as Hoops’ public affairs commander until his transfer to Highland this month. “Thirty, forty years ago, the sheriff used to give guns to people.”
Eye on Diversity
Community leaders said Hoops’ positions and visibility has impressed them. Frank Stallworth, an associate pastor at Loveland Church, one of the county’s largest, said he spotted the sheriff seated at one of his services early in his tenure.
Hoops, who was appointed sheriff upon Gary Penrod’s retirement last year, is seeking his first elected term this June. But Stallworth said doesn’t feel Hoops is doing things for political reasons.
“He’s made me feel like he’s chasing down and locking up the bad guys, but at the same time recognizing his responsibility to the community, in terms of outreach,” Stallworth said. “It’s a cocktail that’s well balanced.”
Stallworth and Al Garrett, another leader in the African-American community, noted Hoops’ recent promotion of Ron Cochran, a 25-year veteran, to one of seven deputy chief positions. That makes him the highest-ranking African-American in department’s history.
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” said Garrett, president of San Bernardino’s Westside Action Group. “But now a young deputy graduates from the academy and they walk into the building and see a black guy’s picture near the top of the wall.”
Education Encouraged
To read entire story, click here.
I am glad Cochran got promoted, I know a few who might raise their eyebrows at this promotion.
This guy does have a heart, has taken the bull by the horns and done the right thing on more than a couple occassions. Personal observation.
Wish I could tell you what they were but I don’t know if he would catch heat for it. Nothing illegal, very posative and caring conduct.
Unless he has changed it will be interesting to see what he does for the good of employees under his command.
Hopefully he will feel free to do the right thing without looking over his shoulder.
Like I have said before there are more than a few that I have had the pleasure to work with or come into contact with, who have shown they have honor under fire. This guy is one of them.
Good luck Chief Cochran.
I have known Hoops since his days as Rancho chief. Great guy, great leader, we are fortunate to have him.
Sheriff Rod Hoops is the same individual as a deputy chief oversaw and condoned the malicious prosecution of several 11 year old boys and girls for injuring another player during a game of Dodge-Ball at an elementary school in Rancho Cucamonga. In a city where Asian gang members drive around the city in stolen Acura’s with impunity, and actually own and reside in 2 homes in the Deer Creek area of Alta Loma, Sheriff Rod Hoops did not possess the leadership skills, or integrity to stop such nonsensical abuse by his deputies. He felt resources were better suited going after children. Political Correctness and fear drive such ludicrous enforcement tactics. Going after easy targets such as children playing ball on the playground increases prosecution statistics while those truly doing harm to us go unchallenged. Sheriff Rod Hoops does not properly train his front line supervisors to intervene when his deputies are making poor choices. They are simply reactionary after something has become a problem. His alliance with PORAC Police/Sheriff Union President Ron Cottingham enables him to successfully engage in selective enforcement in cases of deputy misconduct, and successfully terminate those deputies he does not like. PORAC President Ron Cottingham is charged with the employees legal defense and has direct influence on the level of legal defense the employee ultimately receives. If Sheriff Hoops remains in office, you can count on this type of selective enforcement, and Good Ole’ Boy politics to become the norm, and overall proper law enforcement service more antiquated.
I heard Hoops say that Devereaux was good for public safety. That statement speaks volumes that the Sheriff is just another one of the Good Olde Boyz club getting comfortable snuggling up to the rear of the new CAO.
Intersting you speak of PORAC Mr. Schneiders. Their biggest test on this very issue you speak of is sitting in their laps as we speak.
I would hold some PORAC attorney’s more responsible for covering up the Sheriff’s Department misdeeds in order to keep their contract with SEBA.
Hoops is only doing what he has been exposed to for decades as he has come up through the ranks to his present status.
Dear AntiCorruptionUnit,
In case you were not aware, W.Abernathie, Jr. of SEBA is also an executive board member of PORAC with President Ron Cottingham. He is the Region IV director at large. This is why Sheriff Rod Hoops has done his best to buddy-up with Cottingham seeking his endorsement for sheriff and Abernathie is fascilitating it. You will notice Abernathie is no where to be found in the defense of Cheryl Ristow. Abernathie is connected to Cottingham, who is also an appointed board member of Calpers. They also get most of their marching orders from the California League of Cities.
Yes Carol I knew of Abernathie’s association with PORAC.
Abernathie is no where to be found on behalf of anyone who has issues with any politician or official in this County if it means he has to take any action against them.
The evidence of that is overwhelming. EVERY dog has it’s day though.