Fullerton Observer Still in Twilight Zone

Somehow the Fullerton Observer screwed up my statement and printed that I said I would be dismantling the FPD and bringing in the Sheriff's Department.

Here is what I said and you can check it out on the Friends for Fullerton's Future website:

"One of the things that has been proposed is basically dismantling the Fullerton Police Department and bringing in the Orange County Sheriff's Department.  Some have said that it would save us a ton of money, and indeed it might, but it may have other ramifications as well.  We might be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire." 

That was my response to a question at the League of Women Voters Forum last week about repairing Fullerton's tarnished and bruised reputation. I also spoke about accountability, something the FPD has lacked for nearly two decades until recently when several police officers and at least one non-sworn employee found themselves on the wrong side of the law.  

So, since the Observer is bent on distorting the facts, I will spell it out:  ALL OPTIONS MUST BE CONSIDERED.

That doesn't mean SEBOURN will toss out Fullerton's police officers nor does it mean SEBOURN will ask the OC Sheriff's Department to serve Fullerton.  It DOES mean that I will look at all of these options and give everyone a voice at the dais to make their case.  Major changes like this should not be made without careful consideration of the facts, and we just don't have all of them yet.

The OC Sheriff's Department has a reputation of corruption as well from the top down.  In all fairness, every police agency struggles with corruption, though some dismiss it as "misconduct".  

And if you read the Observer's mid May issue, you might be wondering who "Doug Sebourn" is.  Me too.  He might be some long lost cousin or just an imaginary candidate.  Hard to say with the Observer.