LAKEPORT — A judge Friday scheduled an August start date for the civil trial involving the Lake County Correctional Officers” Association (LCCOA), Sheriff-Coroner Frank Rivero and the County of Lake.
The LCCOA is the petitioner in a civil case filed March 29 in response to Rivero”s decision to recognize the officers as custodial officers, not peace officers. Rivero and the county are listed as respondents in the case.
The Lake County Sheriff”s Office began identifying its correctional officers as peace officers in May 2008, following an amendment to the California Penal Code that redefined the authority of deputy sheriffs assigned to custodial duties.
Rivero has argued that the correctional officers have not completed minimum peace officer training and therefore should not be identified as such.
The LCCOA asks the court, in part, to order Rivero to recognize county correctional officers as peace officers.
Judge William McKinstry presided over Friday”s brief trial-setting hearing at the Lake County Courthouse. Rivero, members of the LCCOA and attorneys for both parties appeared in Courtroom A for the hearing.
McKinstry scheduled the estimated two-day, non-jury trial to occur Aug. 16 and 17. The judge encouraged the parties to pursue mediation in the meantime to potentially reach a settlement.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
