ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : The Sheriff and the Supervisors

Last week, a federal jury awarded $246,000 to two private investigators who charged that Sheriff Brad Gates had improperly issued concealed weapons permits to friends and political supporters. But although that award brought to well over a million dollars the amount that Orange County has had to shell out for various claims brought against the sheriff, the loudest sound from the county to date has come from its cash register, ringing up the cost of the damages.

On Wednesday, a separate civil- rights hearing will be held before the same jury in U.S. District Court to determine whether Gates himself will have to pay additional punitive damages. That will be the first time in a series of claims that the sheriff’s personal finances will in any way be tied to the conduct of his office. Other than that, the tab for sheriff’s free-lancing has been bankrolled by a benefactor, an all-too-quiet county.

Last week, in the face of court evidence gathered from Gates’ own records that political supporters and allies were given preferential treatment, the sheriff continued his poker-faced denial of misusing the power of his office. Of course, he is directly elected by the voters and thus accountable only to them for his tenure. They will have to make their own decision about what these findings suggest. But the sheriff does owe this constituency a fuller explanation of his department’s conduct in the areas covered by these settlements. His answers so far do not cut the mustard.

The Board of Supervisors has no statutory authority to call the sheriff to task, but it’s time it recognized a moral obligation to do so. Simple arithmetic shows that Orange County has had to pay out almost $1.3 million for out-of-court settlements and court-awarded damages in the past four years. In addition, county officials have estimated that defending the sheriff in court has cost another $1 million.

Yet the board, which ultimately pays the bill, has only one member who had much to say about the recent verdict. That was Supervisor Roger R. Stanton, who defended the sheriff to the hilt. That could be construed as encouraging more of the favoritism toward political contributors that got Gates dragged into court. Board Chairman Don R. Roth has grumbled about the cost to the county in tough financial times, but it’s just a grumble. And the rest of the board has been conspicuous for its quiet response.

One thing is certain: The county can’t expect a better standard from its sheriff unless the supervisors insist on it.