“Members of the board were concerned that things were beginning to implode at the Sheriff’s Department,” said Supervisor John Tavaglione.
“I was released because I wanted to be sheriff some day,” Sniff told supervisors, arguing that that was among the chief reasons he should be chosen to replace Doyle and change the department’s culture. “I was a direct threat to [Andrews] because of my stature in the department and in the community.”
Sniff said that, during a department retreat in Lake Arrowhead in November 2006, a memo from Doyle was read in which he threatened to dismiss any member of his management team contemplating a covert run for sheriff. Doyle’s memo explicitly stated that loyalty would be valued over competency, he said.
Doyle said Monday night that his words were taken out of context.
“Both are important to any CEO,” he said of loyalty and competency. “In the context it was put in — it was ridiculous.”
He said Sniff was fired “for cause” but declined to elaborate because it was a personnel matter.
Another candidate, Assistant Sheriff Valerie Hill, who currently heads the department’s corrections division, confirmed the existence of Doyle’s memo on loyalty. She told supervisors that the memo also included a list of people with whom executive staff members were not allowed to speak, including union leaders.
“An underlying message was loyalty is the most important thing — above all else,” Hill said. “I was offended. . . . We owe our loyalty to the community.”
Hill said she was promoted to head the corrections division only after promising Doyle that she would retire after a year — a requirement she viewed as part of the plan to remove any threats to Andrews.
Doyle said he was not surprised by the description of his department.
“You’ve got two people on the inside who want the position — they have got to separate from the administration, and bad-mouth and carry on,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s what happens. I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
He noted that under his leadership, the department had attracted some 500 new deputies to staff unincorporated areas.
“Look at our retention rate. They are not going other places for greener grass. . . . That doesn’t add up with having a morale problem,” he said. “The only issue here was the union board that was driving the misinformation. They put it out and fed it to the board.”
Several supervisors were sharply critical of Doyle on Monday and said they hoped Sniff could mend the rifts.
Let’s unpack this
Sniff was retaliated against for having ambition. Sound familiar?
Doyle demanded loyalty. Sound familiar with Sniff?
Doyle touted how he had a ton of deputies to patrol unincorporated areas. Today, several news stories reference how gigantic areas of Riverside County could have no more than 2 deputies on a shift.
Doyle touted the retention rate under his tenure. Under Sniff since 1/1/2017 some 250 deputies have left the department.
In 2007, the board of supervisors said they hoped Sniff could mend the riffs that exist. Taviglione and Washington have inexplicably endorsed Hemet Dave. Only Kevin Jeffries has endorsed Sniff for Re-election. My how times change, yet stay the same.
Stan Sniff didn’t plan to fail. It became all about Stan and that is a ticking time bomb.
Keep up the good work ROD. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly, but expecting a different outcome. Sounds like a serial groper, and megalomaniac who rides around in a choppa, who thinks he’s Bond.
Welcome to the wacky world of “Insane Stanley”. He will be remembered for his legacy of low morals, and low morale. And instituting a circus on the second floor. Where you could find jackasses, sheep, snakes, moles, rats, hippos, and monkeys.
Hey Stanley when the lights go down on the three ring circus on June 5th, you will be left with your peanuts in your hand and a confused look on your face. Then you’ll drown your sorrows in a bottle of vodka, hoping it’s all an alcohol fueled delusion. Instead you’ll wake up on June 6th and realize that you were hit by a dose of karma. So get on your Hoveround and drive off the edge of the Grand Canyon.
Word is Stiff wants to win but won’t ride the next term to completion. He wants to pass the torch much like it was rumored Doyle would do for Andrews before that kingdom imploded.
We need fresh people in there. This crew stinks and are in it for themselves.
Sniffles is getting desperate….PE posted an article today that RSD is holding try-outs tomorrow for new deputies. The pic speaks for itself. It shows a fat deputy standing over a young stud who’s doing push-ups.
Stan Sniff is a corrupt liar and a cheat, and that is not what the public wants or needs in a Sheriff. He is in that glass tower sweating bullets right now and his marionettes are sweating with him. Many people believe if there is a runoff, Stanley won’t even make the cut and that he will be sitting on the sidelines with his puppet Miguelito watching the parade go by.
I can picture the old guy now sitting there with his mouth wide open wondering what happened. Once Stanley is ousted, Sheriff-elect Bianco will have to start the long arduous process of putting the pieces back together.
One thing about Old Stanley, he is a master of deception, just ask Tavaglione and the rest of them who appointed this crooked son of a bitch. Boy did he fool them….
We can turn this thing around by voting for Chad Bianco!!
For all of you new readers that the Desert Sun article sent to us, we are the cops of the RSO who work hard at keeping your streets safe so you can sleep comfortably at night and we welcome you into this venue we use to vent our frustrations. We would like you all to know how bad the morale is throughout our department because of this corrupt politician we currently have as a sheriff.
We ask you all for your help to vote Stan Sniff out of office by casting your votes for Chad Bianco for Sheriff. Please disregard the lies that Stan Sniff is trying to feed you as he attempts to stomp on the members within his own department. Stan Sniff accepts bribes from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors, he lies like a rug and he is a terrible steward of taxpayer’s money. We are public servants who are always willing to risk our lives for you and your families. We are asking for your support by voting for the leader who we are willing to follow into any battle. That leader is Chad Bianco
We thank you for your votes
@JAdams
I went on a ride a long in Palm Desert a few years ago that ended about 11pm or midnight.
I was very impressed, emotionally moved by the deputies , dispatchers, correctional officers and CSOs. What you say is true. More civilians like myself do need to know this. I saw all these people working behind the scenes around the clock to keep us safe. Much of what goes on is invisible to us. We take it all for granted.
When I see Sheriff Sniff and his Captains they are usually at galas, luncheons, rubbing elbows with rich and sometimes infamous or scandalous business people. The dialogue is very political. They do not seem concerned about the community at all. More about promotions and elections.
Side note- Sniff even took money from the lawyer of a cop killer. Then spoke at his so called law school. How disgusting is that. I am a lawyer myself. I called out the cop killers lawyer for being shady in how he is representing the cop killer. His group of lawyer friends got mad at me and thats fine with me. They refuse to speak with me at court. Thats fine. Personally, I prefer to go early to court and talk with the deputies. Prefer to talk to people with morals that shady lawyers. Then I see your boss Stan Sniff kiss this the ass of this cop killers lawyer. Disgusting.