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Veteran Contra Costa County Sheriff Warren Rupf has announced that he will not be seeking another term in office, sparking discussions over who will seek the position of the county’s Top Cop.
Rupf made his announcement Tuesday, with more than a year left in his current term in office. The 66-year-old has been with the Sheriff’s Office for over four decades, starting as a deputy and working his way up through the ranks.
The Sheriff’s Office has come under heavy criticism in the past several weeks, after it was learned that a deputy failed to follow up on a citizen report that could have led to the discovery of recovered kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard three years ago.
Rupf offered a public apology after the information came to light, but has said that the incident and its negative impact on the department are not the reasons that he will be stepping down.
“This early announcement should not be taken as evidence that I’ve lost interest, enthusiasm or that I will not participate in a very direct and active fashion in all of our business,” he said.
He explained that making the announcement early will allow members of the Sheriff’s Office to prepare for a change in leadership and to allow those members of the law enforcement community interested in taking the reins of the department ample time to express that interest.
“It is, however, timely that I do this so that the organization – after all our business is our overriding concern – will have an opportunity to make those adjustments in anticipation of a change at the highest level of the organization,” he stated.
Appointed in 1992, Rupf was re-elected in 1994 and has been in office ever since. His decision to step down will mean that an election will be held in June 2010. The candidate elected to the Sheriff’s post would take office in January 2011.
Rupf said he had been considering retiring for some time, but setting down and actually making the announcement was hard for the career lawman.
“The decision was much more difficult than I had ever imagined,” he offered. “But it is time; 45 is not only a good caliber, but it’s a good number in describing years of a career.”
David Livingston, the Concord Chief of Police, is an excellent and qualified law enforcement officer and would be a terrific choice for County Sheriff.
We will miss Sheriff Rupf, and are very grateful for his years of service.
Guess you did not know him Dawn. Service is the one of many things he was short on. An oversized ego was not.
Many of us are so glad to see him go. If there is any doubt check out the CC times blogs on his departure.
Good riddance to Rupf.
Well, reading a blog should remove all doubt.
Dear Dolores,
E-exchanges were taking notice today of the contributions of CCC Sheriff Rupf in the Diablo Vista (Alamo) region. Through the work of P-2B and Elmer Glasser, Alamo and its region have enjoyed a police service level and community involvement that warranted recognizing Elmer Glasser as 2009 Citizen of the Year and P-2B committee members in previous years.
Neighborhoods noted Ron’s support of Chief David Livingston in the commentary in this e-exchange and have fully profiled David for neighbors consideration. With Sheriff Rupf’s recommendation of David Livingston as CCC Sheriff, neighbors are reviewing David in-depth and planning Iron Horse corridor distribution for consideration by neighborhoods in the corridor.
With the exceptional talent of the P-2B committee, we could hope each as independent citizens would provide their views on the next sheriff. It will be important for communities and neighborhoods to choose who shall be elected rather than the politics of CCC-BOS’ and supporters’ influence.
Hal
Wow…Hal you really overthink things. Are you ok?
Really, You may want to seek some professional help or find a life outside of this blog.
Yes, the P 2 committee has done things the same for many years: even though the population in Alamo has nearly doubled, crime has changed, and sheriff cuts continue. They recommend the same program with Alamo tax money as ten, fifteen or twenty years past rather than adapt to better police practices which might result in at least some property recovery or crime prevention. Elmer Glasser as liaison to that committee has not led the way to innovation as cuts continue for the sheriff’s force, but has been a swell guy for the committee to work with. In doing his job he became Alamo Citizen of the Year (though he like some prior recipients do not live in Alamo).
needed here
It is the coolest site, keep so!,
Rupf has done a fine job. Alamo likes Glasser, are you kidding me, he spent more time at home in Danville than out in his beat in Alamo. Plus he was politicking for a promotion instead of protecting the streets of Alamo, all after being terminated for his lack of truthfulness on the stand.