Senate’s chief sergeant-at-arms steps down amid controversy

Turmoil continued to plague the California Senate on Tuesday with Chief Sergeant-at-Arms Tony Beard Jr. stepping down after withholding information from the Senate leader about cocaine use by one of his officers.

“To leave a lifelong career is not an easy decision,” Beard wrote. “But nature itself suggests to us when it is time to go. A new eye is needed. A fresh start is necessary.”

On Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) announced he had fired a Capitol peace officer after learning that tests found cocaine in the officer’s system after he was involved in a fatal shooting in front of his home in 2012.

Gerardo Lopez was a 15-year veteran employee of the sergeant-at-arms office, which provides internal security for the Senate.

Beard heard about tests, showing cocaine use, six weeks ago as part of a confidential investigation but did not report it to Steinberg, according to Mark Hedlund, a spokesman for the senator.

“He believed incorrectly that he couldn’t disclose that. In hindsight, he realized he made an error in judgment.” Hedlund said Beard, who has 46 years of government service, was going to retire later this year anyway but decided to step down now “for the good of the house.” His retirement will begin in August.

In a statement, Steinberg said Deputy Chief Sergeant-at-Arms Katrina Rodriguez would become interim chief until the Senate elects a new chief sergeant-at-arms.

“Tony Beard has served California’s Legislature with great distinction and honor for more than four decades,” Steinberg said. “Throughout his tenure as chief, he has raised the standards of the Senate sergeants-at-arms office and brought more diversity to his staff. His exemplary service deserves recognition and celebration, which we will do at the appropriate time.”

The Senate is already reeling from the suspension two months ago of three state senators, all Democrats, facing criminal charges in unrelated cases.