AG Review Clears Sheriff
FRESNO (Feb. 10) - Fresno County Sheriff Richard Pierce said that he and his department have been cleared by the state Attorney General of any wrongdoing for his involvement as a consultant to a private security firm.
"I admitted many, many months ago that my consulting position with the security firm was a mistake. I did not exercise good judgment and it should have been clear to me since the beginning that I should not have participated," Pierce said. "Unfortunately, and with good reason, the perception was there that there was something wrongful."
The sheriff ended his relationship with the private security firm in April 2004, and contacted Lockyer a month later to discuss whether any criminal wrongdoing bad occurred.
"1 appreciate the time and effort put into this issue by the Attorney General and his staff. Now, it’s time to put this behind us and move on. The department’s mission to fight crime and to make our homes and streets safe is still our number: one priority," said Pierce.
Pierce made his comments in response to a letter he received from Attorney General Bill Lockyer in which Lockyer said in part "We conclude that the evidence does not establish any criminal wrongdoing on your part." The AG also noted that " . .. we have serious concerns about the propriety of certain acts by you and your staff from an administrative standpoint."
Lockyer referred to the sale of surplus sheriff department vehicles to the private security firm, the placement of a sheriff’s department criminal histories and records computer at Harris Ranch’s west valley plant, and the awarding of a contract to transport inmates.
The Attorney General determined that while the vehicle purchases "were irregular from an administrative standpoint," the purchase prices did not unfairly take advantage of the county. At the same time, he said, Pierce was unaware of the transaction and "could not have violated any criminal statutes in any event." The three vehicles were eventually returned to the county.
Lockyer also said "We could find no wrongdoing on your part regarding the placement of the department computer at Harris Ranch" which the sheriff ordered removed as soon as he was advised of its placement.
Lockyer said that in order to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, the sheriff should have recused himself from any part in forwarding to the Board of Supervisors a review committee’s recommendation that a private company be contracted to transport inmates. Lockyer said although Pierce did not have a financial stake either directly or indirectly with the proposed transport company, he did have a business relationship with the principal who was also an investor with the private security firm.
LARSON TO HEAD BOARD
Westside Supervisor Phil Larson (Dist. 1) was named chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, during reorganization at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Other boardmembers are Vice Chair Bob Waterson (Dist. 5), Member Susan B. Anderson (Dist. 2), Member henry Perea (Dist. 3) and Judity G. Case (Dist. 4).
SHERIFF WILL NOT SEEK A THIRD TERM
Fresno County Sheriff Richard Pierce has announced that after 40 years in law enforcement, the last seven and one-half as Sheriff, he will not seek a third term in the June 2006 election.
The Sheriff's Department oversees the county jail system, with over 3,100 people in custody, provides security for the superior court system and administers a largely rural police force. The department current has more than 1,100 employees and a budget of $130 million.
Pierce was sworn in as a deputy sheriff in 1966, and was elected sheriff in 1998. In a statement last week he thanked his family for its patience and understanding, and the members of the Sheriff's Dept. He singled out two appointments as being especially noteworthy: the 2004 appointment of Margaret Mims, a 21 year veteran of the department, to captain and subsequently to assistant sheriff - the first woman in the department's 148 years in either position; and the 2005 appointment of Steve Forker to a newly created civilian oversight position.