LAKE COUNTY — On Friday Sheriff Frank Rivero announced the selection of Patrick Turturici for the position of Lake County Undersheriff.
Rivero said Turturici brings more than 26 years of law enforcement experience to the post, including six years as undersheriff for the San Benito County Sheriff”s Office.
“Patrick Turturici is a highly-credentialed law enforcement officer with experience in both corrections and patrol operations. I am pleased to bring him onboard and have every confidence in his leadership and management abilities. The people of Lake County can rest assured that as undersheriff, Mr. Turturici will serve our community with the enthusiasm and integrity befitting the office of Sheriff,” Rivero said.
Turturici served as undersheriff in San Benito and recently ran for Sheriff.
News reports from October 2010 in San Benito appearing in the Central Coast News, presented allegations of Turturici threatening people in his department during his campaign for Sheriff.
Additionally, The Hollister Freelance reported: “There are allegations of the undersheriff harassing employees in relation to his race against Darren Thompson. Current sheriff, Curtis Hill, is retiring and refused to say why he hired an investigator to look into Turturici”s campaign, who is currently undersheriff.”
Rivero told Record-Bee staff Friday, “He (Turturici) passed a carefully vetted POST background investigation.” Rivero said he is not aware of any investigation, but said that he heard “allegations were made by the head of the Deputy Sheriff”s Association.” Rivero said he “stands behind Turturici 110 percent.”
Rivero said he chose Turturici “because he was the most qualified of the four applicants for the position.”
Turturici holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from San Jose State University and a Master”s degree in public administration from Golden Gate University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia. He holds POST certificates in basic, intermediate, advanced and management, according to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff”s Office.
Monday is Turturici”s first official day on the job with the Lake County Sheriff”s Office.
Rivero would not disclose who the other applicants for undersheriff were, or if any of the applicants were Lake County residents.
