Deputies Union Hires New General Manager

This just came over the transom:

IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP ADVISEMENT
AOCDS Selects New General Manager
August 17, 2007

The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff's Board of Directors announced today that Sergeant Mark Nichols, President of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA), was named the new AOCDS General Manager. Nichols replaces Robert J. Macleod, who left the organization earlier this year after a remarkable career spanning 28 years. Nichols will assume his post on September 7, 2007.

After graduating with honors in 1987 from the Orange County Sheriff's Academy (Class #87), Nichols worked in the field as a patrol officer. He later worked a variety of assignments including the crimes against persons unit and later the homicide detail. He later worked as a street gang homicide detective. In 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant. Sergeant Nichols will retire from the Santa Ana Police Department after twenty years of service to the community and to the men and women of the Santa Ana Police Department.

Since 1994 Nichols has either been a member of or chaired the Contract Negotiations Committee for the SAPOA. In 1999 Nichols was elected president of the SAPOA. As president of the SAPOA he represented approximately 550 sworn and non-sworn association members employed by the Santa Ana Police Department. His record of accomplishments and his personal commitment to provide the best pay, benefits, and working conditions for his members are well known in the law enforcement labor community. While other municipalities and counties are struggling with a shrinking pool of qualified police and deputy sheriff candidates, his successes have allowed the city of Santa Ana to aggressively recruit and retain some of the best law enforcement officers in the region.

Nichols has 11 years experience as a member of the SAPOA Political Action Committee. For the past nine years he has chaired the SAPOA Employee Health Benefits Trust as well as the Widow's and Orphan's Committee. He is the president of the California Peace Officer's Memorial Foundation, vice president of the California State Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, chairman of the State Affiliated Cops Political Action Committee, , past vice president of the Southern California Alliance of Law Enforcement Associations and chairman of the Orange County Coalition of Police and Sheriffs.

Upon taking his post, Nichols plans to meet with the membership at several meeting to be held in both North and South Orange County. These meetings will be scheduled for September.

Sergeant Nichols was selected after an extensive recruitment effort by the AOCDS Board of Directors. The Board is proud to have an experienced labor expert with street cop experience and a long and well documented record of success in the labor arena serving the AOCDS membership. The Board would also like to thank and recognize Interim GM Michael Carre for his ongoing commitment to AOCDS and hard work during this transition and recruitment period.

Hiring a sworn peace officer (and current police union president) for the GM position marks an interesting shift for the AOCDS. Bob Mcleod did not (and readers, correct me if I'm wrong) had never been a law enforcement officer, but was more of a career union executive. Not sure if this is incidental or related to some perceived need to fill the position with a "war consigliere" type. I have a call in to Wayne Quint to see what he says.

Comments

[Is Nichols the next Blankenship?]

Marks a great man. Looks like he is on his way up and out of Santa Ana. Can't blame him.

[PD]

Jubal:

When you talk with Wayne about the GM position ask him about our pension. You have no problem presenting Prof. Eastman's viewpoint but appear reluctant to interview anyone from AOCDS. Why?

[Jubal]

PD:

I made that very request to interim GM Mike Carre yesterday. They're going to take it under consideration and get back to me.