2008-05-20 21:09:47 -
- Echo Media Group Leslie Licano, 714-573-0899 ext. 23 leslie@echomediapr.com With more than 29 years experience in high-profile leadership positions with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Sandra Hutchens is poised to take over as Orange County's next sheriff. One of nine candidates vying for the position, Hutchens is the only woman. If appointed early this June, she
would become the first-ever female sheriff in Orange County's history - a milestone for which Hutchens' experience has more than prepared her.
With ambitions of restoring integrity to the Office of the Sheriff, Hutchens' platform is focused around the implementation of new solutions to old problems, as well as the reinvigoration of the department and its local jail systems.
"After more than 29 years experience with the largest sheriff's department in the nation, I believe strongly that everything I've done in my career up to this point has prepared me to assume the position of sheriff for Orange County," says Hutchens. "My goal is to restore public trust to the position and to provide the good men and women of the department with the effective leadership they need to provide the best and most efficient law enforcement services to the people of Orange County."
In her most recent position as the Division Chief for the Office of Homeland Security of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Hutchens oversaw more than 1,000 personnel and the following bureaus:
-- Contract Law Enforcement Bureau - responsible for the administration and oversight of all Sheriff's Department contracts, including 40 cities with combined annual revenue of $400 million.
-- Operations Safe Streets - gang enforcement, investigations and prevention.
-- Aero Bureau - providing airborne support for patrol and search and rescue operations.
-- Special Enforcement Bureau - overseeing SWAT operations, K-9 services, mountain search and rescue.
-- Emergency Operations Bureau - involved in preparation and response to large-scale emergencies, disasters and complex events and counterterrorism initiatives.
-- Transit Services Bureau - including transit policing for MTA and Metrolink covering 1,433 square miles of patrol services.
-- COPS Bureau -overseeing countywide COPS teams dedicated to problem-solving in partnership with communities on quality of life issues, including involvement with Community Impact Teams, which provided targeted enforcement, as well as the Crisis Negotiations Team, Mental Evaluation Team and career criminal apprehension team.
-- Reserve Forces Bureau - overseeing more than 800 reserves.
In this position, Hutchens was also involved with the Community Law Enforcement Partnership Program, responsible for coordinating crime prevention, town hall meetings, community relations, CERT training, and 2,000 volunteers; as well as Field Operations Support Services, responsible for policies and directives related to field operations including officer safety bulletins, terrorism training bulletins and case law reviews.
Hutchens' broad scope of experience spans jail operations, patrol, investigations and administrative assignments. Throughout her career, she successfully moved through the ranks of the sheriff's department as deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, commander and eventually chief - experience that offers her intimate knowledge of the department and what the organization truly needs from its leadership.
A transformational leader, Hutchens is no stranger to creating positive change within law enforcement. She was recently an instrumental leader in the development of the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, a convergence of the Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles Sheriffs, LAPD and the FBI - which created a much-needed central repository for intelligence information.
In addition, her experience working in the Los Angeles County jail system for more than six years at the ranks of deputy, sergeant and lieutenant, has prepared Hutchens for the myriad of issues faced by the Orange County jail system, including: overcrowding, supervision, efficient management of limited resources and accountability. This keen insight into the system has driven her desire to implement new solutions - including the application of technology and proven "best practices" in the worldwide law enforcement community.
Hutchens is further set apart from her competition by her service as Legislative Liaison in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.; her cross-cultural and community relations skills; and her extensive education, including counterterrorism training in Israel, FBI National Academy training, participation in the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Program at Harvard University, and Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. A frequent speaker, teacher and presenter, Hutchens will offer an oral interview at the May 27 Board of Supervisors meeting. Community comments will be welcomed at the end of this public event. A final selection is expected to be announced June 3.
Editor's Note: For more information, or to arrange an interview with Hutchens, contact Leslie Licano at 714-573-0899 ext. 23 or e-mail
leslie@echomediapr.com.
Experience in LA Sheriff's Department, Local Jail Systems,
Sacramento and D.C. Prepare Hutchens for Position as First Female
Sheriff of Orange County
