RE: [TSCM-L] {1877} Re: Sealing a Room

From: Reginald Curtis <reginal..._at_hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:47:57 +0000

>From - Sat Mar 02 00:57:15 2024 Received: by 10.35.37.18 with SMTP id p18mr397207pyj.6.1208881631016; Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:27:11 -0700 (PDT) Return-Path: Received: from swip001.ftl.affinity.com (lvs00-fl-swip001.ftl.affinity.com [216.219.253.11]) by mx.google.com with ESMTP id x46si19810390pyg.2.2008.04.22.09.27.09; Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:27:11 -0700 (PDT) Received-SPF: neutral (google.com: 216.219.253.11 is neither permitted nor denied by best guess record for domain of jm..._at_tscm.com) client-ip=216.219.253.11; Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=neutral (google.com: 216.219.253.11 is neither permitted nor denied by best guess record for domain of jm..._at_tscm.com) smtp.mail=jm...@tscm.com Received: from [70.22.191.105] ([70.22.191.105]:13320 "EHLO Raphael.tscm.com") by swip001.ftl.affinity.com with ESMTP id S382233AbYDVQOt (ORCPT ); Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:14:49 -0400 Message-Id: <7.0.1.0.2.20080422120621.23aed838_at_tscm.com> X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 7.0.1.0 Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:09:04 -0400 To: TSCM-L From: "James M. Atkinson" Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Bugging_report_is_in_state=92s_hands?= Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/317553.html Sheriff's Department Bugging report is in state's hands Officials are studying the results of SLO County's inquiry on Pat Hedges; details of the report are unknown By Leslie Parrilla The results of a county investigation into possible misconduct by Sheriff Pat Hedges were being reviewed Friday by state officials who are continuing their criminal probe into the county's top law enforcement official. Investigators in the state Attorney General's Office said they are still conducting interviews as part of their investigation into alleged illegal eavesdropping by Hedges but are not certain when they will finish, according to spokesman Gareth Lacy. "We have a copy of the (county's) report," Lacy said Friday. "We'll look at it, but our investigation is independent." The County Counsel's Office denied The Tribune access to the report based on its interpretation of state laws that protect peace officer personnel records, but said it would review a public records request sent Friday by the newspaper, according to acting County Counsel Wyatt Cash. Hedges is an elected official and county employee. County Supervisor Jerry Lenthall said the report should not be released now because it would be premature and could jeopardize the state probe. He explained that if the state does not file criminal charges, then portions of the report could be released to the public, if the law permits. "I think you have to follow the letter of the law," Lenthall said. "We have to complete an internal personnel process. ... It's based on the totality of the circumstances, and it's on a case-by-case basis." If the state does file criminal charges against the sheriff, Lenthall said he believes the county report should not be released until the conclusion of the investigation or the trial. Lenthall said he had not seen a copy of the report. The sheriff did not return a phone call late Friday. It was unknown whether he had reviewed the report. The county and state investigations were triggered after Hedges taped a meeting between Chief Deputy Gary Hoving and a subordinate Oct. 13, 2006. Hedges and Undersheriff Steve Bolts were responsible for installing video and recording equipment in Hoving's office at the sheriff's station to record the conversation. It is illegal in California to tape a conversation unless all parties agree, except in certain criminal investigations or if the parties do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Hedges has admitted to the eavesdropping and said it was done as part of a criminal investigation that he was conducting. The county appointed retired Superior Court Judge James Warren to conduct its investigation into possible misconduct by Hedges after it learned about the bugging, according to court records. Since the taping, Hoving has filed a federal lawsuit against the county, Hedges and Bolts, alleging his right to privacy and due process were violated and that the incident caused him emotional distress and illegally used taxpayer money, according to the complaint. The lawsuit asks for an unlimited amount in damages that exceeds the $1.25 million listed in Hoving's initial claim against the county. Hoving has been on administrative leave from the department since Aug. 29 after asserting that the taping ruined his ability to work there after 28 years. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- World Class, Professional, Ethical, and Competent Bug Sweeps, and Wiretap Detection using Sophisticated Laboratory Grade Test Equipment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James M. Atkinson Phone: (978) 546-3803 Granite Island Group Fax: (978) 546-9467 127 Eastern Avenue #291 Web: http://www.tscm.com/ Gloucester, MA 01931-8008 E-mail: mailto:jm..._at_tscm.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We perform bug sweeps like it's a full contact sport, we take no prisoners, and we give no quarter. Our goal is to simply, and completely stop the spy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Received on Sat Mar 02 2024 - 00:57:15 CST