O.C. Sheriff's Department cuts 24 positions, including assistant sheriff [Updated]

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has announced another round of layoffs in an attempt to grapple with massive budget shortfalls.

The cuts include a member of the sheriff’s command staff, Assistant Sheriff Michael Hillmann, and 23 personnel staff, said Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. In addition, 15 members of the sheriff’s staff have been asked to take on extra responsibilities without pay increases to make up for the loss of personnel.

“Every laid-off individual does represent a loss of service,” Hutchens said, “but I’m doing everything I can not to impact the emergency services we provide.”

Last year, Hutchens made $28 million in cuts, including a 41% reduction in command staff and 24 layoffs, only to later find out the department would need to cut an additional $24 million in the first six months of this year.

The cuts are due to continuing declines in Proposition 172 revenues – the ½-cent sales tax that helps fund public safety in the state, Hutchens said.

[Updated at 1:33 p.m.: Hillmann, a 42-year LAPD veteran, came to the department to assist Hutchens after she was appointed in 2008 to help the department rebuild from scandal and fill out the term of Michael S. Carona, who stepped down after being indicted on federal corruption charges.

Hillmann ran into controversy early on when he was caught sending text messages mocking activists and board members during a Board of Supervisors meeting on the department's gun permit policies. He later apologized.

Hillmann, 64, said Friday's announcement was “bittersweet.”

“I’ve had a career,” he said. “I want to be able to save some cops.”

In addition to rebuilding the department, the new sheriff has faced a wave of increasingly drastic budget cuts, which have forced her to reorganize again and again. The picture for the future is bleak. In fiscal year 2010-11 the department expects a $60-million budget shortfall.]

-- Paloma Esquival

Comments

[Smi2le]

Most police agencies in California are both over-paid and over-staffed. The same is true for most California fire departments.

[brian clarke]

most government agencies are completely bloated. these agencies need to practice some efficiency like those of us in the private world. police/fire/teachers and the lovely SEIU(DMV employees) or completely overpaid and totally inefficient.

[Debbie]

How many "people" got laid off? Positions are one thing and people are another. How many of these positions are actually people being bumped down to a different title? Did those at the top bump those at the bottom and that is who got laid off?

[Mary]

While many in the public think that police officers and firemen are over paid, just think what your family might feel if every day you walked out your door to go to work might be the last day they would see you. Police and firemen get paid for the dangerous job they work. Now days, even giving a traffic ticket might get you killed.

[Ron]

Smi2le - I agree with you 100%! The Police and Fire Departments are usually overpaid, not to mention overstaffed. There is no reason why the work that is currently being performed can't be done by 1/4 of the current staff. But of course the remaining Police on staff in this department will be complaining about being overworked, which is typical of any Government job.
By the way, before anybody calls them heroes, think again!! A true hero goes above and beyod the call of duty! Police and Fire Fighters DON'T do this!

[August]

Government employees are the only employees allowed to say "That's not my jobs and I don't have to do it" without a chance at getting fired!

[A Concerned American]

Smi2le, would like to see YOU run into a burning building or take on an armed man.

[jacksplat]

Good grief. This is way beyond awful.

[jacksplat]

Good Grief, this is beyond awful.

[Eddie Ortiz]

This is a major loss of expertise to the O.C. Sheriffs Department as it was back then when he left The Los Angeles Police Department in 2008. Asst Sheriff Michael Hillman is definitely a true "Silent Warrior."

Eddie Ortiz

[publicus]

I guess there will be a lot less traffic tickets.

[publicus]

I guess there will be a lot less traffic tickets.

[Chuck]

What happened to all the stimulus money that Obama has been telling the world saved police officers jobs? Is our President capable of telling the truth about anything??

[Old School]

I miss the good old days way back in the 80's when life was much simpler!! Everyone had a job and there wasn't so much corruption and rules that have complicated our society.
Back in school if you had a problem with a classmate, you fought after class, not shoot them. If you got out of hand with dad, he'd be allowed to discipline you without the fear of him being called an "abuser". What's wrong with this world???

[Dr. PAR]

Smizle, got it all figured out have you? What's your kids life worth when he falls in the pool, is not breathing and you are screaming for the paramedics? What's the safety of your family worth, when at 2 AM someone kicks in your front door looking for some easy money? "Don't have a family," you say? Ok, how bout this; it is the middle of the night and an electrical plug overheats, starts a fire and before you can blink an eye, your house/apartment is engulfed in flames. You are upstairs asleep and the smoke detector in your bedroom goes off. There is so much smoke, you are quickly disoriented and pass out. You come out of it and find yourself being carried out the front door by one of those overpaid fire guys. What is your life worth? Yea, I know most of you will kiss this off saying, "That could never happen to me?" Some of you will understand, because it has already happened to you and you are not a believer. Be thankful there are men and women in Public Safety who will without hesitation step into harms way on your behal and put your life ahead of their own. There isn't any price too high for that?