O.C. sheriff reaches outside agency to fill some top posts

Orange County’s newly appointed sheriff reached outside her department to find two of her top five commanders, further distancing the law enforcement agency from the scandal-plagued administration of former Sheriff Michael S. Carona.

During a news conference this afternoon, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens named longtime Los Angeles County Sheriff’s division chief John Scott as her undersheriff. Scott will be second in command in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He most recently oversaw jail operations in Los Angeles County.

Hutchens also selected longtime Los Angeles Police Department veteran Mike Hillmann as one of her four assistant sheriffs. Hillmann, a 41-year veteran of the LAPD, most recently served as deputy chief. He oversaw security for the 2002 Democratic National Convention.

Orange County’s new sheriff did retain one member of Carona’s command team: Jack Anderson, who served as interim sheriff after Carona was indicted on corruption charges, will also be an assistant sheriff, in charge of administration.

Two other veterans of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Mike James and John B. Davis, will round out the team of assistant sheriffs. James, a 23-year veteran, managed patrol operations in Lake Forest. Davis has been with the department 27 years and previously oversaw patrol operations in San Juan Capistrano.

In June, the Board of Supervisors appointed Hutchens as Carona’s replacement. Carona resigned in January to concentrate on his upcoming corruption trial.

Carona’s command staff choices were among the biggest problems in the nine years he served as sheriff. Former Assistant Sheriff George Jaramillo was convicted of misusing public resources, and Assistant Sheriff Donald Haidl pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Both are expected to testify against Carona at his trial, now scheduled for Oct. 28.

 stuart.pfeifer@latimes.com