Building Will Be Named for Brad Gates

The Orange County Board of Supervisors, overriding its own policy of not naming buildings after county officials still living, unanimously agreed Tuesday to put the name of former Sheriff-Coroner Brad Gates on a crime lab building constructed under his tenure.

Gates, who pushed for funding of the state-of-the-art forensic science center, retired at the end of last year from the post he had held for 24 years.

“I can think of no more fitting tribute to Brad Gates than to name the sheriff’s forensic building after him,” said Chairman Charles V. Smith, who joined Supervisor Jim Silva in supporting the measure.

Silva said that Gates had sought high standards for the department and promoted plans for a lab with high-technology equipment like that used to analyze DNA, Silva said.

DNA is a component of all organic tissue. Its analysis may be important in solving crimes or identifying victims.

Gates also showed exceptional leadership after the 1994 county bankruptcy in his role among the county’s top three managers, Silva said.

Supervisor Cynthia Coad, who had doubted whether she could approve the measure, changed her mind during the meeting after a liberal interpretation of the board’s 1995 policy was given by County Counsel Laurence M. Watson.

Watson told supervisors they had authority to repeal the policy or “make an exception.”

In the aftermath of the bankruptcy, the board adopted a policy against naming buildings and parks after living county officials. The policy was spurred by residents who blamed the supervisors for the county’s financial crisis.