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Records show Carona’s PSRs mostly did nothing
August 27th, 2008, 5:00 am · 52 Comments · posted by Tony Saavedra, Register investigative reporter
Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has bent over backwards to say that the vast majority of “professional service responders” are hard-working volunteers who didn’t join merely to get a badge.
However, time sheets obtained by The OC Watchdog through the California Public Records Act indicate that the opposite may be true.
In 2007, the documents show, 201 of the 355 listed PSRs didn’t donate a single hour.
Zero. Zilch.
The 150 or so folks remaining accounted for all of the 16,941 hours donated by the group.
Among those getting goose eggs on their time cards were Nevada businessman Gary Primm, Santa Ana developer Michael Harrah and restaurant owner Anthony Cagnolo — all supporters of former Sheriff Michael S. Carona. Court documents related to the federal corruption case against Carona allege that the PSR group was created in 1999 as a fund-raising instrument for the ex-sheriff.
Primm and Cagnolo could not be reached Tuesday. Harrah hung up on the Watchdog when asked about his lack of volunteer hours in 2007.
The bulk of the PSR time was put in by people like Leeayn Chapman, a community relations manager for a trauma intervention program, who put in 305 hours with the coroner reserve unit last year.
Robert Bruns, a consultant, contributed 651 hours — the equivalent of 16 work weeks — as a volunteer at John Wayne Airport.
Jack Barth, a petroleum operation coordinator, gave 131 hours.
OC Watchdog thinks they more than make up for all the zeros.
See their timesheets for yourself right here.
UPDATE: The Watchdog has been informed that some people on the timesheets didn’t join until 2008. The analysis above has been changed to reflect this. Here is a list of PSRs with their appointment dates.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Could you post the names of those who did nothing yet complained the loudest when they found out that their badges were being taken away??? We’d love to see some names. Thanks!
August 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
“Zero. Zilch.”
Cute…
August 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Interesting that political operative Michael Schroeder logged very few hours until after Sheriff Carona’s October indictment and then put in 200 hours in December while Carona mulled over his decision to resign.
Perhaps Mr. Schroeder was volunteering at the airport?
August 27th, 2008 at 9:30 am
About as much as Carona did.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Thanks tothepoint. That was an awesome link!
August 27th, 2008 at 9:45 am
A real Sheriff like Huchens was long overdue. She couldn’t get here soon enough.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:50 am
No wonder she though these people were in it for the badge. Who want a bunch of people on the book that do nothing.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:55 am
raicha Says:
August 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Interesting that political operative Michael Schroeder logged very few hours until after Sheriff Carona’s October indictment and then put in 200 hours in December while Carona mulled over his decision to resign.
Perhaps Mr. Schroeder was volunteering at the airport?
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Yeah, that’s the equivelant of five weeks working 40 hours a week. Hmmm. Does that guy work or was he just working for the Sheriff.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Once again the “facts” are misleading.
It shows I didn’t put in any hours in 2007 so I’m a Carona flunky?
Think again!
I wasn’t appoint by Carona. I was appointed by Jack Anderson in February 2008. Since then I’ve averaged 24 hours a month. IIRC - about 70 PSRs were appointed in Feb. 2008.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:14 am
North County Voter Says:
August 27th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Once again the “facts” are misleading.
It shows I didn’t put in any hours in 2007 so I’m a Carona flunky?
Think again!
I wasn’t appoint by Carona. I was appointed by Jack Anderson in February 2008. Since then I’ve averaged 24 hours a month. IIRC - about 70 PSRs were appointed in Feb. 2008.
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Wait, you mean they didn’t corss reference this list with the appointment list that was printed in another article? You mean there are people listed here that weren’t even PSRs in 2008? HAHAHA. Research - learn it, love it, live it.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I meant PSRs in 2007, not 2008.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:15 am
North County Voter:
good. thanks for your service. you don’t need a stinking badge to perform your service, do ya?? what difference does a badge make? keep up the good work!
August 27th, 2008 at 10:41 am
No, I don’t need a badge. You don’t NEED one unless you are a LEO.
I think all badges should be taken away from EVERYONE who is not an active Law Enforcement Officer (LEO). Retired LEOs don’t need one. No flat badges unless you are an active LEO with 24 hour peace officer status. Chaplains, dispatchers, janitors, cooks, office staff, council persons, county supervisors, Sheriff’s Advisory Council and Mayors don’t NEED badges either.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:46 am
North County voter, call me with your name and I will check it out.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:59 am
This is not good PR for those going after Huchens. Its hard to care about the badge issue and its hard to believe that people who are associated with volunteer jobs that require a high degree of professionalism would whine and complain about such things in public. Maybe the ones actually out there doing something get all the admiration and respect they need from being seen doing it.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Tony Saavedra, Register investigative reporter Says:
August 27th, 2008 at 10:46 am
North County voter, call me with your name and I will check it out.
You want me to trust you after the OCR has printed my information several times with the innuendo that I’m somehow corrupt???
Do your own investigating and cross reference the names with the appointment dates on the other list.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Once again, bogus and misleading reporting. I too was not appointed until February 2008, so all of those “goose eggs” in 2007 are very accurate. It would have been a sham if I had any hours posted in 2007. Between the SHEriff and the OCR, they still continue the smearing of decent people, trying to serve their community. In the infamous words of Lawman, ‘”B.S.”.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hey - Nice to have something good said - THANKS!! I work hard. Had it not been for 3 months of family emergency at the end of the year last year, I would have posted more hours. Just to set the record straight, though - it looks like you Googled me and came up with some incorrect information. I no longer work with or for any trauma intervention service. Again, thanks for some positive words. They are appreciated.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Hey John, if you help out and donate your own time, my hat’s off to you. Had my butt saved a couple times by citizens who jumped in and threw some punches. Contact the reporter and TELL him who you are and what you’ve done. There’s no doubt in my mind that Hutchens is saying,”Hell with trying to repair someone else’s work. I’ll start over.”
I’ll see her tonight in Irvine at dinner and this’ll probably come up during the question and answer session.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:46 am
i’d like everyone to respond to this questioned:
what’s bigger crime ? the former sheriff getting some boxing tickets and a used boat etc… for free because he holds public office or the fact that federal prosecutors will spend over two million tax payer dollars to get a conviction that will probeley result in 2 year jail sentence but most likely a long probation and some fines?
August 27th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I donated lot of my time making the OC Jails accessible to deaf inmates and never got anything back. Not even a thank you letter.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Leeayn, your employment information came from the Sheriff’s Department.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
The headline is not the only problem with this article. If the 2007 “timesheet” includes people who weren’t even signed up until 2008, the entire article is misleading. It’s not “201 out of 355″ in 2007, it’s some other statistic altogether that appears to be unknown to the reporter. Then the reporter asks anonymous bloggers to check it out? Why doesn’t the reporter contact the source of the timesheet and ask whether it includes only people who were actually PSR’s in 2007? Geesh.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
The PSR program requires that a responder donate at least a set amount of time per year to the department. As is always the case in any program, there are clearly a number of people who are either working the system or signed up and then lost the interest or the ability to participate (what that number is remains to be seen, thanks to sloppy reporting on the Ragister’s part). All that needed to be done here is that those individuals should be dropped from the program for not being in compliance. Instead, Ms. Hutchens and the Register are trying to drag the entire program through muck and mud in order to make a name for themselves. It is both petty and weak-minded to use a few isolated cases as fuel to destroy an otherwise successful, nationally recognized, and innovative program like the Professional Service Responders.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Even after you adjust for 2008 names, there are still 32 more people listed on the timesheet than on the current reserve list.
Deceased? Resigned?
Who knows. But it would be nice for OCR to fact check before posting such inflammatory non-statistics.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I am on this list too and feeling very unhappy I ever volunteered. I gave back my “badge” three years ago when I married.
Instead of using my vacation days and weekends baking pies at Thanksgiving, volunteering to cook at youth camp events and being a “training actor” being shot at with simunitions, I “retired” to enjoy my time with my wife.
I was a Carona supporter in his first election run along with thousands of others. I was invited to join the PSR program however I never donated a dime to Carona. From Day One we were constantly reminded to never show your ID or badge to gain anything. Anyone who did, and there was at least one, was invited to leave. My class of PSR’s actually did approximately 60 hours of classroom, academy and range training. Got a physical exam, spoke with the counties shrink, had my neighbors interviewed, FBI tracked my fingerprints and took the PC832 exam. But we were not up to a full deputy’s level because we were not going to be Deputies and never had any illusions about it. I believe the plan was to do civilian+ work that needed trustworthy helpers..
Since leaving the active program and then somehow linked to Caronas’ screw-ups I have had LA Times reporters track me to my work and tried to paint me with the same brush. Again last weekend I had to refute the rumor of “A badge for everyone who gave $1000 to Carona” asserted by a friend. This is a bitter pill to swallow and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I learned my lesson of community volunteerism. Don’t do it. As you have seen from other responses to the Watchdog just showing no hours in 2007 doesn’t mean you got anything back or in return, or ever did.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
When the original list was published I felt perhaps the names should not have been released. But I did feel the new sheriff did have the right to abolish the program or retool it as she saw fit. I must say at the time of the original article I was curious about how much time many of the 355 had actually donated. Now to see it I respect the decision to revoke the badges 100%. All the “0″ hour members should be dropped from membership. The contributing members should be offering service for reasons other than a tin badge. I say a re-tooled program should be without badges, period. If the badge is the reason you are in there then you do have the right to withdraw yourself from volunteering. This badge thing was a Carona idea and his ideas are all bad so kill it once and for all.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
All you dorkheads out there, if you look at the list of PSR with hours, the year is 2007 this does not account for PSR’s that were appointed in 2008>>>> if you want to get an accurate account of hours…take 2007 and all of 2008 hours and add it up……..
August 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
THE LIST IS IN ACCURATE……..MANY OF THE NAMES THAT HAVE ZERO HOURS WERE APPOINTED IN 2008….THE LIST YOU SEE HERE IS 2007……..
August 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
tommigi Says:
Now to see it I respect the decision to revoke the badges 100%. All the “0″ hour members should be dropped from membership.
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Perhaps you are only reading the posts that you WANT to. Have you not read that the time sheet is INCORRECT. There were a number of PSR appointments made in February of this year (2008), that are being reflected in those “0″ hours that you are referring to. Stop being a sheep and educate yourself.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
There are people who came in mid ‘07 and didn’t get a whole year to demonstrate their willingness to serve.
There are also people on the list who were dismissed long ago.
I assume under status the letter “A” means active but what does “S” mean? How accurate is that data?
Why is there no public outcry to hold accountable the Lt. who is supposed to be holding the PSRs accountable? Or, the Captain who was recently transfered She he be held accountable for not holding the LT accountable?
Where is the Sheriff in all this non-sense. Why doesn’t she stand up for the program?
I could care less about the stinking badges. I’m really po’d about my good name and the other volunteers who’s good names are being dragged through the mud almost daily. It’s time to stop!
Print a retraction!
Print the truth!
Sheriff,
Can you explain?
August 27th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Or, the Captain who was recently transfered She he be held accountable for not holding the LT accountable?
Should read:
Or, the Captain who was recently transfered. Should he be held accountable for not holding the LT accountable?
August 27th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Are you getting it yet OCR?
August 27th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
North County Voter Says:
Are you getting it yet OCR?
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Getting it or not, the point is, I don’t think they care!
THEY CAN”T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I’m astounded with the finese the anointed Sheriff has handled this very serious public safety concern. I mean, I thought all along the problem was with the jails along with a very few rogue cops. I had no idea the PSR’s were running amok with badges, guns, bazookas, RPGs, machine guns, gummy bears, etc. Thanks Sheriff! I know now not to be “complacent” in South OC with these types running around town!
August 27th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
BTW. Concerning the CCW issue, place the picture of the hammer crossed with a sickle here :
August 27th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
hey i was appointed in 2008 and have close to 200 hrs
please get it right,and get over the badges, i have ,and i needed
it for my id in what i had to do, lets move on.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
The Captain who was recently transferred deserved to be transferred and his LT. is a complete idiot who also deserves to be transferred.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Hutchens is a pencil pusher who barely spent time in a patrol ….
August 27th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
plus she is not a Real Sheriff but a political Appointment
August 27th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I just got home from Irvine where the Sheriff spoke at a dinner function at Dave & Buster’s in the Spectrum. She’s impressive as hell. Very smart, very professional, yet very personable. Very easy to talk to. She really talked up the PSR’s and praised them effusively. But, she wants them to have a different form of I.D. as opposed to badges. Until tonight, I was unaware that PSR’s were wearing badges on their belts or on a chain around their neck like a detective. I can see her point.
As far as CCW’s are concerned, she said anyone who can show a demonstrated need for a CCW and pass a detailed background check will get a CCW. I don’t have to worry as I have CCW privileges in retirement, but there are people in the community who need one due to the type of business they’re in. Fine with me.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:41 am
John Hewitt among other commenting PSR’s seem to have to resort to name calling to make their point. I find that trend pretty funny. Frankly the portion of this group that has written here seems all consumed and fixated on this stupid badge. I have not heard one single reason by any of them explaining why their precious service hinges so greatly on “the badge.” My opinion is the sheriff has the right to take the badges and dump the program, she did it so deal with it. I support her decision. Like I said, if the tin badge is your motivation for joining then quit because you do have that right as service is not mandatory.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:58 am
tommigi says: “fixated on this stupid badge”
Hey tommigi, apparently you’re not a PSR……if you were, you would understand what’s going on. When a PSR is on duty, it’s all about having the public Respect for the Sheriffs Department, whether your sworn or non-sworn, or agent volunteer etc… Stop crying like a baby…….Sounds as if you’re looking for a position or a wanna-be Hutchens cronny/pet…….are you looking for a position?????
August 28th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Lawman says: “…… I was unaware that PSR’s were wearing badges on their belts or on a chain around their neck like a detective. I can see her point……”
Are you also unaware that civilian employees (non-sworn) have badges also, along with council members, board of supervisors etc…..
August 28th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Yeah, I’m aware of that. But the topic of discussion is PSR’s. Like it or not, that’s the political reality of the situation. You can thank Mike Carona who was never a cop in the first place.
And for the brain surgeon above who says the sheriff spent very little time in a radio car, you don’t know what you’re talking about. She worked patrol in Lennox, among other hot areas of L.A. County. Her and her partner were in an officer-involved shooting incident with some fool who pulled a gun on them in a garage. Hutchens fired three times and dropped him like a bad habit.
The family sued saying the deceased gave up a promising career as a busboy to pull guns on the police. The family did get a large sum of money, but Hutchens was totally justified in killing the scum. She knows exactly what the patrol cop goes through. She’s been there. I’m telling you, OC got a great sheriff. Give her half a damn chance to get her program rolling, wouldja??
August 29th, 2008 at 5:30 am
I find it interesting that the reporter and the OCR did not post the TRAINING records for all those professional volunteers. Are you aware that in many cases the volunteer must complete up to 100 hours of training, on their own time, before the can even begin their work? It is obvious the training hours are NOT posted in the attached list.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
>>># Dog Says:
August 27th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Hutchens is a pencil pusher who barely spent time in a patrol ….
# Dog Says:
August 27th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
plus she is not a Real Sheriff but a political Appointment<<<
You know, if you get any dumber, I’ll have to water you twice a day.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Mark Bergquist Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 5:30 am
I find it interesting that the reporter and the OCR did not post the TRAINING records for all those professional volunteers. Are you aware that in many cases the volunteer must complete up to 100 hours of training, on their own time, before the can even begin their work? It is obvious the training hours are NOT posted in the attached list.
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Do you know the training hours are in fact included for those who received training during 2007?
Do you also know that PSRs are required to take 32 hours of training within the first two years following their appointment?
Do you know they are only required to serve 16 hours a year to remain active after completing their initial 32 hours of required training?
August 29th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
tommigi Says:
I have not heard one single reason by any of them explaining why their precious service hinges so greatly on “the badge.”
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You don’t seem to grasp the language very well, do you? I’ve stated, repeatedly, “It’s NOT about the badge!” Read my lips, SCREW THE BADGE!!! All I’ve ever said was, “show some respect for the people that you reportedly value so much.” If I really wanted a badge, I don’t need to volunteer, I can get one at a surplus store, uniform store or even over the internet. GOT IT!!!?
August 30th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Someone needs a shot of heroin.
August 30th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I wonder if the OCR webmaster will delete this story because of it being a personal maligning of specific named people. I wonder if this can be done, since it is so wrong. It is as if the author didn’t even think to check up on the fact that some people were not even appointed until 2008. Wow. If I did a posting on this forum that had names and was this false, it would be removed right away. I just wonder if the webmaster can remove the actual story from the newspaper and not just postings, if they are this far off the mark? I can’t find the “report abuse” button anywhere on the story. Wait, there is not one. It seems that there is a double standard for online forum writers.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Has anyone stopped to think if these volunteers purchased their badges from Carona they are more reluctant to give them up…also they truly will not have completed 100 hours of training.