Penalty for Sheriff’s Captain Revoked

The sheriff’s captain who supervised the El Cajon jail where the so-called “Rambo Squad” allegedly abused inmates had her suspension revoked Wednesday by the county’s Civil Service Commission.

But Sheriff John Duffy called the commission’s ruling improper. He said he will reinstate the suspension, or greater punishment, after his internal affairs division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation examine new allegations of civil rights violations that might have occurred against inmates under the captain’s watch.

Capt. Maudie Bobbitt, who supervised the jail from July, 1986, to February, 1988, was one of 10 deputies and senior officers Duffy disciplined for their actions at the jail in 1987 and 1988.

The other nine cases, which involved five deputies, two sergeants and two lieutenants, had been resolved. Although Duffy promised the grand jury that some of those involved would be fired or demoted, he handed out no worse than suspensions.

Bobbitt was unable to resolve her November, 1989, suspension with Duffy and insisted on a civil service hearing. Duffy was subpoenaed to Wednesday’s meeting but did not appear on the advice of his attorney, Irving Berger.

Richard Lyon, the commission’s hearing officer, asked Berger to offer evidence at Wednesday’s hearing but Berger declined, saying the hearing was unnecessary because Duffy had rescinded Bobbitt’s suspension last Friday.

Bobbitt’s attorney and husband, Everett Bobbitt, said his wife’s suspension should be revoked by the commission since Duffy provided no evidence.

The commission agreed with Bobbitt and ordered Duffy to award Maudie Bobbitt some $8,000 in back pay.

After the hearing, Maudie Bobbitt said she had hoped Duffy would appear, so she could hear him explain the suspension. Bobbitt said no superior officer has ever personally explained to her why she was punished. When it came time to deliver the news last November, a sergeant under her command explained the suspension, she said.

“John Duffy has not spoken to me in three years,” she said. “He didn’t have the guts to face me today.”

Everett Bobbitt called Duffy “a bully and a coward . . . John Duffy’s bullying days are over.”

After the commission voted to grant Maudie Bobbitt’s appeal, she and her husband embraced and wept as well-wishers congratulated them.

Maudie Bobbitt’s suspension has become part of bitter political feud that spilled into the sheriff’s race that is to be decided in two weeks. The Bobbitts support sheriff’s Capt. Jim Roache. Duffy supports Assistant Sheriff Jack Drown.

Duffy and his attorney, Martin J. Mayer, have accused Everett Bobbitt of using his wife’s hearing to hurt Drown’s political chances after Bobbitt subpoenaed Drown to testify at Wednesday’s hearing. Drown appeared but was not asked to testify.

Duffy and Mayer said last week that Everett Bobbitt, in legal papers filed with the commission, raised allegations that his wife ignored or overlooked inmate abuse because Duffy and other top administrators “condoned or encouraged the mistreatment.”

Bobbitt said the legal papers were purposely misinterpreted.

Last week, Duffy revoked Maudie Bobbitt’s suspension for the purpose of reopening an investigation by his internal affairs staff into those allegations. On Monday, he asked the FBI to join the investigation to determine whether any high-ranking officers violated the civil rights of inmates. The FBI has not yet decided whether to investigate.

An incensed Everett Bobbitt said the investigation was political retaliation against him for supporting Roache.

Duffy said Wednesday Bobbitt has used his wife to further Roache’s political goals.

“I really do feel sorry for one person in all this: Maudie Bobbitt,” Duffy said. “I think she’s been done in by her husband. I believe he loves his wife dearly but has lost his objectivity that any attorney has to maintain.”

Duffy said the commission ruled improperly Wednesday and should not have held a hearing once Duffy had rescinded the suspension.

He vowed to reinstate the 35-day suspension if his internal affairs staff and the FBI determine that he and top administrators were blameless in the problems at the El Cajon jail. If they determine that top officials deliberately allowed inmate abuse, Duffy said officials, including Bobbitt, will face more serious discipline.

“The minimum (Maudie Bobbitt) will get out of all of this is her suspension,” he said. “Although the notice of suspension was rescinded, the charges against her were not.”

Meanwhile, Everett Bobbitt has filed a $10.5-million claim with the commission charging sheriff’s administrators, including Duffy and Drown, with political retaliation and sexual discrimination.

Bobbitt said he is waiting for the county Board of Supervisors to evaluate the claim. If they reject it, he said he will file a lawsuit in Superior Court.