Duffy Challenged : 2 May Join Race to Be Next Sheriff

Two veteran police officials said Wednesday they are seriously considering challenging John Duffy for San Diego County sheriff, raising the possibility of a four-man race next year.

The two potential candidates--Sheriff’s Capt. Jim Roache and Escondido Police Chief Vince Jimno--said they will announce soon whether they plan to join former San Diego Police Chief Ray Hoobler in filing to run against Duffy, who has been the county’s top law enforcement official for two decades.

Roache will not make a formal announcement until he resolves “an obvious impediment,” referring to a Sheriff’s Department policy that prohibits staff members from running against the incumbent.

“At this point, there appears to be a department policy provision that requires me to resign my position before I could become a candidate for sheriff,” he said.

“The issue has to be resolved, as to whether or not I can legally as well as practically run while still employed as a member of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.”

Roache, who was elected to the San Diego school board three years ago, said he is unsure how long the provision had been a part of the Sheriff’s Department policy. But he said he may pursue his candidacy even if forced to resign.

“That’s something that is an alternative that has to be considered,” he said.

Roache, 44, is an 18-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department and is captain of the Lemon Grove station. He declined to discuss issues in the race, including Duffy’s vulnerability and the other potential candidates, until his research into the policy provision is completed.

But Jimno, who has served as Escondido police chief for last two years, said that the Escondido city manager will not inhibit his filing for the sheriff’s seat and that he also expects the support of the Escondido City Council.

“I’m real close” to announcing, Jimno said Wednesday, although he had earlier said he would not run against Duffy. “I’m leaning heavily on running, but I’ve not finalized that decision.”

He pointed out problems that Duffy has had in dealing with the county Board of Supervisors, crowding in county jails and an overall image problem the Sheriff’s Department has experienced since the county grand jury documented abuses by deputies in various detention facilities.

“It’s time for a change,” said Jimno, 47. “It’s time to get some things done. We need to provide some answers to some of the serious problems.”

Although he has never run for political office before, Jimno cited his 12 years as a California police chief--in Escondido, Carlsbad and Pinole--and said it is that kind of leadership experience that can stand up well against the recent allegations of mismanagement in the sheriff’s office.

“The organization (in the Sheriff’s Department) needs some fresh air,” he said. “The organization seems to be struggling right now.”

Asked about other possible candidates, Jimno said that Roache “is inside the system” of the Duffy organization and has never supervised an entire department. And he said that Hoobler, who resigned as San Diego police chief in 1975, is “out of the mainstream of what’s going on in law enforcement today.”

“He’s been retired for a long time now,” Jimno said of Hoobler. “The issues in law enforcement are much more staggering in size today.”

Hoobler this summer was the first to announce that he would file for the sheriff’s seat, and he attacked Duffy for having a poor management style and spending too much time away from San Diego.

Duffy quickly counterattacked by contending that Hoobler has “no significant record as a problem solver or as an administrator.”

Duffy could not be reached Wednesday for comment on the other two potential candidates for his job.