Hutchens sworn in as sheriff
Sandra Hutchens was quietly sworn in Thursday as sheriff of Orange County during a small, private ceremony. A public swearing-in ceremony is planned for next week.
Hutchens, the 12th sheriff in the county’s history, has been eager to begin rebuilding a department tarnished by federal corruption charges against former Sheriff Michael S. Carona and a series of other scandals. But she could not officially take over until results of psychological and medical tests were complete.
“That’s why she was sworn in today, because [the results] have come in,” department spokesman John McDonald said. “She passed the psych the day she took it. For the medical, they had to wait for some lab results.”
Orange County Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kirkwood performed the ceremony at the office of the clerk of the board. Board of Supervisors Chairman John Moorlach was the only supervisor to attend.
On Tuesday, a ceremonial swearing-in will be held at the Old Courthouse in Santa Ana.
Hutchens, 53, was appointed sheriff last week in a 3-2 vote by county supervisors, punctuating an unprecedented process that was set in motion in January, when Carona resigned to fight charges that he misused his office to enrich himself and others, including his wife and former mistress.
Hutchens was chosen over Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters, the other finalist from a national pool of about 40 candidates. When she applied to replace Carona, Hutchens was barely a year into retirement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where she had risen through the ranks from secretary to division commander.
Hutchens will serve the balance of Carona’s third term, which ends in 2010. She plans to run for sheriff in the next election.
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