Gates, Carona: It’s Time to Talk

Outgoing Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates and incoming Sheriff Mike Carona need to get together and discuss the operations and future of the county’s main law enforcement agency.

Carona had planned to run against Gates, but when Gates decided not to seek reelection, Carona beat Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters in June. Gates stayed neutral in the campaign. Unfortunately, Carona, who currently is the county marshal, will not take office as sheriff until Jan. 4. That’s a long time to have the incumbent a lame duck and his successor eager to take over.

Carona says that when he has suggested possible dates for a sit-down, Gates told him the timing of the proposed days was bad. Gates has not commented. If this is really only about finding the right day, then a meeting ought to be arranged easily.

The kind of problem that a misfiring transition can cause became clear last month. Gates asked the Board of Supervisors to endorse his plan for a second sheriff’s substation in South County. Carona reasonably said he hadn’t been given enough information to decide if that was a good idea and he knew several reasons it might not be. The supervisors rightly sided with Carona on a 3-2 vote.

Carona said later that had he and Gates discussed the matter, they might have agreed to postpone the request. Or Carona might have decided Gates was right.

Carona said he did not think that Gates’ plan for a new substation in Lake Forest amounted to an attempt to expand the nearby James A. Musick jail. But he argues that the location might not be the best one in South County, which he agrees does need another substation.

The southern part of Orange County has experienced most of the growth in recent decades. The court facilities are outdated and overcrowded; the rat-infested trailers that served as the sheriff’s substation were replaced only three years ago with a $3.4-million facility in Aliso Viejo. But since deputies serve most of South County, another substation would be an asset.

The supervisors’ vote means Carona will have the chance to determine which cities would welcome a substation. He also can see if it should be part of a county civic center, including a new courthouse and other facilities.

The substation is but one of the issues facing Carona. He can benefit from Gates’ wisdom and experience in his long tenure as sheriff. Gates should be willing to share his insights, to benefit not just Carona but also the residents of the county he has served so long.