1oldsarge
08-23-2007, 10:43 AM
Sheriff Doyle resigns post
County's top cop goes to parole board
Colin Atagi and Erica Solvig • The Desert Sun • August 23, 2007
Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle has resigned to take a position with the state's parole board.
Doyle, elected sheriff in 2002 and again last year, has been credited with boosting the department's staffing and reducing emergency response times. He's also helped create a specialized anti-terrorism unit and cracked down on methamphetamine production labs.
"It's just a shock," Supervisor Marion Ashley said Wednesday, as reported on mydesert.com.
"We're gonna certainly miss (him)," Ashley said of the county's 12th sheriff. "He's been a great sheriff through a period of growth. He's really had a lot of challenges he stepped up to."
Though there had been "hiccups early on" in Doyle's first term and some disagreements with supervisors over jail issues, Supervisor Roy Wilson said "that's all been ironed out.
"We were all on the same page," he said. "We had no disagreements."
Doyle, who's been with the sheriff's department since 1975, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
County Executive Officer Larry Parrish said he also is surprised.
"He'll be around, as I understand it, another couple months," Parrish said. "It's his understanding the governor was going to announce it (Tuesday), so he wanted people to be aware."
Doyle told Parrish it is a done deal, he said. Parrish did not know when the search for an interim sheriff would begin.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office could not confirm the appointment Wednesday evening.
Palm Desert Mayor Dick Kelly said "the sheriff has done an excellent job for us.
"He takes the time to be places where it's valuable for the sheriff to be there," he said. "On behalf of the community, he's very available and reachable. It's a big tough important job, and he takes the time to be at community events."
Ashley said the county Board of Supervisors will have to select a replacement for the next three years, as soon as the state confirms Doyle's appointment.
"We have to look for somebody who would be a good long-term choice," he said.
Undersheriff Neil Lingle will likely run the department in the interim, said Wilson, who also said he was "shocked" by the announcement.
"I had no indication that he has any intentions of not completing his term of office," Wilson said.
"We hate to see him go," said Wilson, who added that Doyle has had a "long and distinguished career with the county of Riverside."
The state's parole board advises the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the governor's Web site.
County's top cop goes to parole board
Colin Atagi and Erica Solvig • The Desert Sun • August 23, 2007
Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle has resigned to take a position with the state's parole board.
Doyle, elected sheriff in 2002 and again last year, has been credited with boosting the department's staffing and reducing emergency response times. He's also helped create a specialized anti-terrorism unit and cracked down on methamphetamine production labs.
"It's just a shock," Supervisor Marion Ashley said Wednesday, as reported on mydesert.com.
"We're gonna certainly miss (him)," Ashley said of the county's 12th sheriff. "He's been a great sheriff through a period of growth. He's really had a lot of challenges he stepped up to."
Though there had been "hiccups early on" in Doyle's first term and some disagreements with supervisors over jail issues, Supervisor Roy Wilson said "that's all been ironed out.
"We were all on the same page," he said. "We had no disagreements."
Doyle, who's been with the sheriff's department since 1975, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
County Executive Officer Larry Parrish said he also is surprised.
"He'll be around, as I understand it, another couple months," Parrish said. "It's his understanding the governor was going to announce it (Tuesday), so he wanted people to be aware."
Doyle told Parrish it is a done deal, he said. Parrish did not know when the search for an interim sheriff would begin.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office could not confirm the appointment Wednesday evening.
Palm Desert Mayor Dick Kelly said "the sheriff has done an excellent job for us.
"He takes the time to be places where it's valuable for the sheriff to be there," he said. "On behalf of the community, he's very available and reachable. It's a big tough important job, and he takes the time to be at community events."
Ashley said the county Board of Supervisors will have to select a replacement for the next three years, as soon as the state confirms Doyle's appointment.
"We have to look for somebody who would be a good long-term choice," he said.
Undersheriff Neil Lingle will likely run the department in the interim, said Wilson, who also said he was "shocked" by the announcement.
"I had no indication that he has any intentions of not completing his term of office," Wilson said.
"We hate to see him go," said Wilson, who added that Doyle has had a "long and distinguished career with the county of Riverside."
The state's parole board advises the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the governor's Web site.