An independent investigation commissioned by the Tehama County Board of Supervisors on Sheriff Dave Kain did not go well for him. The report centered around Kain’s conflicts with Chief County Administrator Gabriel Hydrick. A couple of years ago the two were engaged in a war of words being played out in the media. Sheriff’s Department Staff had been in stalled contract negotiations, leading the unions representing deputies and managers to claim harsh budget cuts and issue a vote of no confidence in Hydrick. He responded with a public statement countering the claims and detailing expenditures including carpeting, lighting, landscaping and 20 new cars. The Sheriff said Hydrick was being dishonest and budgeted funds were not keeping up with operating costs. In June a scathing Grand Jury Report accused Kain of creating a toxic work environment and damaging county government operations. The Grand Jury said they found evidence of intimidation, bullying, and retaliation against anyone who dared object to being treated unfairly. The report also accused Kain of nepotism, as there are 26 of his family members working for the Sheriff’s Office, including 2 immediate relatives who he hired himself. One of them is a Deputy who was involved in a collision last August, and the report says Kain used his influence to downplay the Deputy’s fault. The report commissioned by the Board of Supervisors says seven findings were found to violate county policies over performance, conduct and nepotism. The Board of Supervisors doesn’t have the power to remove the Sheriff from office. They say they’ll use the findings to try and improve professionalism in county government.
-Steve Gibson