Sheriff Frank Rivero's public information officer, Capt. James Bauman, issued the statement after 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The statement was in response to stories posted earlier in the day in Lake County News and other local media regarding the lawsuit filed against Rivero and the county of Lake by Sgt. Corey Paulich, a 16-year veteran of the sheriff's office.
Paulich is alleging that Rivero repeatedly violated his peace officer due process rights in a March investigation into a high speed chase involving two deputies under his supervision, as Lake County News has reported.
In the suit Paulich is seeking $150,000 in civil penalties – $25,000 for each of the six alleged violations under the 34-year-old Peace Officer Bill of Rights (POBR) – along with attorney fees, court costs and writs seeking to have the disciplinary investigation put aside.
Rivero had not responded on Monday to Lake County News' request for comment on the case.
In the Tuesday evening statement issued by his office, Rivero said neither he nor the county had been served with the suit.
“We honor and respect the procedural rights of any deputy under investigation. However, we are equally obligated to hold our law enforcement personnel strictly accountable for their actions,” Rivero said in the statement.
The statement went on to say, “Internal Affairs investigations, personnel issues and disciplinary actions involving law enforcement personnel are held in strict confidence. Irrespective of the union lawyers’ attempt to taint public perception in the media, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Unit will adjudicate this case in its proper venue.”
Christopher Miller, who is general counsel for the Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association and is representing Paulich in the case, could be reached after business hours on Tuesday to respond to Rivero's statement.
However, on Monday Miller had accused Rivero of showing a “blatant disregard for the due process rights of his employees.”
“He appears to be unwilling to follow the law, so this court action was necessary to protect and enforce Sgt. Paulich’s rights and indeed the rights of all of the county’s peace officers,” Miller said.
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