Warnke poised to take the reins as sheriff

Merced County Sheriff-elect Vern Warnke, fresh off his campaign victory this week, said he plans to spend his first days in office reversing or revising policies he sees as ineffective or inappropriate.

Warnke also stressed that he would “do everything legally” within his authority to install retired Sgt. Suzzette Norris as undersheriff.

“It’s just now starting to sink in, and it’s no catchphrase when I say I’m truly humbled by the support I’ve received from the residents of Merced County,” Warnke told the Merced Sun-Star in an interview Friday.

Warnke, 56, was elected sheriff Tuesday, defeating Pat Lunney, the Merced County district attorney’s chief investigator. Warnke won almost 59 percent of the vote compared with Lunney’s 41 percent, according to unofficial results posted by the Merced County Elections Office.

The veteran deputy said he will be sworn in Jan. 5.

Warnke said he has every intention of keeping all his campaign promises, including his controversial choice to hire Norris as his undersheriff.

Warnke’s desire to appoint Norris drew criticism during the campaign after county officials indicated the undersheriff position required a formal, unbiased employment selection process.

The issue, critics said, had nothing to do with Norris, who many, including Lunney, described as a well-respected investigator and law enforcement college professor. Norris, for all her talents, never held a command-level position, which is listed as a minimum job requirement, according to the Merced County Human Resources Department.

County officials said skirting the established recruitment and selection process could expose the county to lawsuits alleging unfair hiring practices.

Warnke on Friday doubled down on his preference for Norris:

“My decision is based on sound information and my personal and professional judgment. When she becomes my undersheriff, it will be completely aboveboard and done legally,” Warnke said. “I’ll do everything legally within my power to put her in that office.

“She’s a college professor with several instructors under her guidance and has done more at a command level at that position than the commanders (at the Sheriff’s Department) do now,” he said.

Warnke also said he would “do everything possible” to avoid or prevent lawsuits against the county. “But I’m just not going to be fearful of that,” he said.

His election victory was greeted warmly by other law enforcement officials, including presiding Merced Superior Court Judge Brian L. McCabe. “The court looks forward to working with Sheriff Warnke on judiciary-related matters,” McCabe said in a brief statement.

District Attorney Larry D. Morse II, who was one of Lunney’s main backers during the race, congratulated Warnke on running a skillful campaign.

“Both men are consummate gentlemen who ran principled campaigns of which each can be proud,” Morse said. “We obviously wish him every success and are looking forward to working with him in any way to help ensure a successful transition and tenure in office.”

Former Sheriff Mark Pazin praised Warnke for “connecting with the electorate.”

“Sheriff-elect Warnke, I believe, has won really a turnkey operation with a new dispatch and emergency operations center and is poised to get the money for new jail construction,” Pazin said. “He comes in with a clear mandate, and I wish him all the success.”

Sheriff Tom Cavallero also congratulated Warnke. Cavallero agreed with Pazin’s sentiment regarding the new dispatch center.

Cavallero also said Warnke’s time in office would face significant challenges, not least of which is dealing with a second consecutive year of record-breaking homicides in Merced County.

“We’ve been alarmed with the recent levels of violence associated with marijuana trafficking, and the homicides associated with the gang lifestyle continue to be an issue the new sheriff will have to work with other agencies to deal with,” Cavallero said.

Another continuing issue at the Sheriff’s Department, Cavallero said, is recruiting and especially retraining personnel.

“Recruitment and retention are going to move into the forefront in this area, especially because areas just outside the county are much more competitive on salary and benefits,” Cavallero said.

Warnke said he plans to expand education-based programs as part of multi-level strategy to combat gang violence. Warnke said the department already has some of the “finest detectives in the state” for catching violent criminals and doesn’t “see a need to fix a (major crimes) unit that isn’t broken.”

Instead, Warnke said, he hopes to work with schools to establish programs to discourage gang activity and other violence at an earlier age.

Warnke said he still plans to examine whether a “tent city” model of jail inmate housing could work in Merced County, but stressed that it was just one possible solution to the problem of repeat offenders cycling in and out of the system. “That’s the real goal,” Warnke said.

“I always want to look at all options and make the most effective decision,” he said.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Warnke poised to take the reins as sheriff."