Countywide : Sheriff’s Desktop Publisher Honored

Trudi Fellbaum wears no badge, but she has done work for Orange County sheriff’s investigators and the Harbor Patrol, among others. And although she has worked with several crime scenes, her job rarely entails leaving her computer keyboard.

Fellbaum is the founder and sole full-time employee in the desktop publishing unit of the Sheriff’s Department, a small operation that generates big-time results for the department both around the office and in the field.

The quality of that work last week earned Fellbaum the county Employee of the Month commendation from the Board of Supervisors.

Besides drafting renditions of crime scenes for the courtroom, Fellbaum also does layout and production work on five newsletters, countless office forms and flyers, public education brochures and wanted posters.

“Basically, I do stuff for everyone,” the five-year county employee said, rattling off the names of the varied divisions she has helped with her two computers. “I love it. Since Day One, my goal has been to see desktop publishing grow.”

Before Fellbaum changed from a data processing post, the department used private contracts for publishing needs on an as-needed basis. But the cost became prohibitive as more and more opportunities for publishing aids arose, said Fellbaum’s supervisor, Capt. Jack Devereaux.

“It’s been a win-win situation for us,” Devereaux said. “She’s an accomplished worker, and she’s been the type of employee that you just tell her what you need, turn around and let her loose.”

While there is a certain gratification that comes from producing the commendations or certificates that honor deputies for outstanding achievements, Fellbaum said, the work she does for the department’s investigative branches provides more excitement, even if it is from the office.

“I don’t see the outcome of my work in those instances, but the investigators are pretty good about letting me know about how things go and thanking me for the help,” Fellbaum said. “One time, they passed on that a judge had complimented the elaborate work, and that made me feel great.”