EXCLUSIVE: Outgoing Sheriff Stan Sniff speaks on losing election
It’s been just over a month since Election Day, the day longtime Riverside County Sheriff, Stan Sniff lost a very contentious race to Lieutenant Chad Bianco.
In an exclusive interview with the outgoing Sheriff, I-team reporter Karen Devine asked him about the loss, what he might have done differently, what decisions he’s most proud of and his plans for the future.
Nasty attack ads flooded the airwaves from both candidates for Riverside County Sheriff during the campaign. That didn’t sit well with Sheriff Stan Sniff who says he tried to take the high road for as long as possible.
“At some point, you have to stand up and swing back on breaking up those lies and myths that are being propagated,” says Sniff.
More than two million dollars total was spent on this contentious race. A large chunk of union money going to now Sheriff-elect Chad Bianco. And, even after it’s over, bad blood and public criticism continue, Bianco calling out sniff on how he’s handling the transition.
When Devine asked the Sheriff if he had any reaction to Bianco stating to a local newspaper that, “Sniff is acting like a child in this transition,” Sniff replied,
“It’s still campaign rhetoric and frankly I don’t pay much attention to that. The department is still being well run and it will continue. I leave office at the end of the year and then he’ll have an opportunity to do what he’s going to do.”
And, when asked if he would have done anything different leading up to the election, Sheriff Sniff replied, “No, not so much, I think we did the best we can. It was unfortunate that they had to take a negative turn on that but as you know, that’s the reality of politics.”
Sheriff Sniff may have lost his 2018 re-election bid but he spent 11 years as Riverside County’s top cop and he says he has no regrets.
“I wish I had a little bit more time but all things are kind of a gift. I have to say, I’ve had a great run, I’ve had a great career in this agency.”
With any lengthy career, Sniff faced his share of problems while serving as Sheriff for more than a decade. His tenure was plagued with some real challenges including budget shortfalls, reduction in staff, demands from the unions, the county and the state.
Sniff says he went to battle for his staff especially when it came to transparency, arming them with better equipment, the use of body cams and objective investigations.
He admits he was not always in sync with the unions but when Devine asked if he thought he was firm but fair, he said, “I think so and I think that fairness which you indicated earlier protects the public and it protects our officers as well if those investigations are done objectively. And, it’s our responsibility to remove people who aren’t supposed to be in our midst as law enforcement officers.”
When it comes to the issue of the county jail, the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, a multi-million dollar project still not completed, Sheriff Sniff says the jail is a necessity and all new jails are expensive and take time to build and staff.
“That is going to be the continuing struggle Riverside County has long after I’m gone and probably through a couple of sheriff’s. We gotta get caught up with all that explosive growth, we’re the worst undersized jail in California. And, that is a County responsibility.”
Devine asked, “What have you put into place that you hope will continue to thrive after you’re gone?”
“The diversity issues were foremost in my mind in making the department much more reflective of the communities that we serve and we’ve done a stellar job in many of those areas, especially in Hispanics, particularly women,” said Sniff.
Sniff’s other big push was having a more educated workforce. He says when he entered policing in 1975 as an officer with the City of Coachella, very few had a college education. He took what he learned in the military and applied those same lessons to the sheriff’s department.
“I’ve been very, very proud as far as the formal education levels and that’s matching so the new people coming in to the organization as Deputy Sheriff’s, they’re coming in much more educated and sophisticated on technology.”
So what’s next for the Sheriff? As he starts the process of cleaning out his office, he delights in pointing out to Devine some of his favorite photos, awards, memories.
He says he’s going to miss his staff and hopes they all land on their feet during the transition. And, he says he’s proud of what was accomplished while at the helm.
“The proof is in the pudding, I think the history of the department will show, the last 11 years shows just tremendous progress in the face of challenges from inside the county, certainly within the state and across the nation.”
Sheriff Sniff says he has no political aspirations. He plans on traveling the world, seeing his friends, and giving more time to his love of reading. He is a Coachella Valley native and says he could see himself spending more time back in the desert especially during the winter months. Sheriff-Elect Chad Bianco will be sworn in on January 7th.
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