LAKEPORT — Lake County Sheriff Frank Rivero responded Wednesday to what he called “absurd” criticisms and accusations made publicly by District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown during the Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting Tuesday.
“Those are false allegations, that”s all they are. They are just false and made-up allegations,” Rivero said during a phone interview Wednesday.
Brown criticized the sheriff Tuesday afternoon for alleged retaliations, lawsuits brought against the county, employees leaving the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) and Rivero”s work schedule.
Rivero, who was not present during the discussion, denied all accusations Wednesday and called Brown”s comments a “cowardly ambush.”
Brown made a motion Tuesday to issue a vote of no confidence for Rivero and to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Lake County Deputy Sheriff”s Association.
“He tried to sabotage that effort through his lies, so the board should not have any confidence in him whatsoever,” Brown said after the meeting. He added he believed the entire BOS had “ongoing issues with the sheriff.”
Rivero defended his actions regarding the contract negotiations.
“I”m trying to have reasonable and decent pay and working conditions for the deputies. I mean, there”s absolutely nothing wrong or odd or problematic with any of that,” he said. “If standing up for my troops is going to earn me a vote of no confidence from the Board of Supervisors, I”ll take one every day of the week.”
At least one supervisor seemed to share Brown”s sentiment Tuesday. District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock seconded the motion.
However, some of the other supervisors were apprehensive about deciding on a vote of no confidence Tuesday because it wasn”t an item specified on the agenda.
“I would prefer it be its own item. I think it”s more than just (the MOU) connected to it,” District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said during the meeting.
Brown ultimately amended his motion, removing the no-confidence request, and the BOS unanimously approved the MOU.
A discussion on a vote of no confidence for Rivero is tentatively set for the July 10 BOS meeting.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said in a follow-up interview that he believed “unequivocally” the BOS made the better choice by scheduling a specific no-confidence discussion.
“It also provides the opportunity for the public to attend if they have any input on the matter and also the sheriff, if he would like to attend,” Farrington said.
Rivero indicated he plans on attending the July 10 meeting and produce documentation to refute the accusations.
“Rob Brown has a personal vendetta against me and that”s the end of that story,” the sheriff said.
Rivero claimed Brown”s comments were driven, in part, because of a civil case the sheriff filed against the BOS in the spring.
Court records list Rivero as the petitioner and the BOS as the respondent, but the case file and documents were not accessible Wednesday afternoon at the Lake County Courthouse.
Rivero said the case stemmed from the supervisors” decision in March to deny his request for private legal counsel during a reported District Attorney”s Office investigation into a 2008 shooting Rivero was involved in while a LCSO deputy.
The sheriff said he requested the court order the BOS to provide legal representation, arguing it”s a California Government Code requirement.
A court hearing is set for July 20.
Rivero said he also has a pending Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint that has been discussed by the BOS in closed session. “I”m constrained right now from speaking about it,” he said.
