SHERIFF ‘DISAPPOINTED’ BY DEPUTY ARRESTS
Martinez also says she is proud of keeping department accountable
After the arrests of four deputies over the last five weeks, new Sheriff Kelly Martinez said Thursday she is disappointed as a result of the arrests and misconduct allegations but is pleased with the department’s response in holding its own accountable.
The San Diego County Sheriff ’s Department has arrested four of its deputies since Martinez was sworn in Jan. 2 — two on suspicion of drugrelated allegations, two on suspicion of public intoxication after off-duty fight in a Ramona bar. Only one of
the four has been arraigned, the rest have not yet had their first court appearance.
“I’m extremely disappointed by all of the arrests or anytime that we have employee misconduct or a reason to conduct a criminal investigation into one of our own,” Martinez said in a brief interview.
“But I’m really proud of the fact that our detectives and our staff are supportive of holding (people) accountable, she said. “I mean, we all are accountable, probably more than anyone else in the public — and it should be that way.”
Martinez said she does not believe the arrests signal a trend or are any indication of the character of the department. And she said rankand-file deputies support holding their colleagues to account.
“No one hates misconduct or criminal activity by law enforcement more than people in law enforcement,” she said. “It’s not good for us, for the trust of our communities, and so we’re accountable.”
One of the recent arrests involved a deputy accused of having cocaine in his car on jail property. Authorities have not shared any details about that case, and the deputy has not made his first court appearance or been charged.
Concerns about drugs getting into the jails was one of several issues that arose during the election campaign last fall. The department has made changes in an effort to
“It’s not good for us, for the trust of our communities, and so we’re accountable.” San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez
stop illicit drugs from getting inside jails, including centralizing mail to better search for them.
There is no indication that the deputy accused of having cocaine on the property is accused of bringing it inside a jail.
Martinez declined to talk about that case — or any of the cases.
The most recent arrests happened Saturday, following a report of a fight in a bar in Ramona. Two deputies were
said to have taken part in the altercation and were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, the department said.
Deputies Shawn Kobs and Tara Heath were jailed overnight and released on their own recognizance. Both deputies were placed on paid administrative assignment.
On Friday, the department arrested Deputy Allen Wereski, 48, on suspicion of bringing drugs onto jail property after cocaine was found in his car at a San Diego County jail. He posted bail and is due in court Feb. 27.
In January, the department arrested a deputy they suspected had taken prescription drugs from a drop box in a sheriff’s station on several occasions. Deputy Cory Richey, 39, has pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court to burglary and drug possession charges.
During Richey’s arraignment Jan. 10, Deputy District Attorney Cal Logan said the deputy accessed a patrol station after hours on several occasions and took medications from a box where people can dispose of prescription drugs.
Wereski and Richey were suspended without pay.