Significant Victory Protecting A Deputy’s Career

Our firm is proud to announce a major outcome in a recent POST decertification case involving an Orange County deputy sheriff.  After a hearing where arguments were presented by our firm’s attorney Brett Rutkowski, the POST Commission voted to reject revocation and instead imposed a 30-day suspension.  This is an extraordinary reduction that preserves the deputy’s certification and career.

This result is especially significant given the current statewide climate surrounding POST actions.  Decertification efforts have increased dramatically, and law enforcement professionals are facing heightened scrutiny, often without meaningful opportunity to present context, departmental findings, or the realities of field operations.

In this case, we presented a comprehensive defense built on:

• Detailed analysis of use-of-force law and rapidly evolving high-risk encounters.
• Extensive evidence from the agency’s own multi-layered review process, including command-level assessments supporting discipline far short of revocation.
• Critical operational context demonstrating the volatility of the IRC booking loop and the heightened threats faced by deputies working intake.
• A clear record showing the deputy had no sustained force-related history, with prior allegations deemed unfounded.

The Commission ultimately agreed that revocation was not justified. This outcome reinforces an essential message: peace officers deserve full, fair, and fact-driven evaluation.  When the complete record is presented effectively, POST can recognize when revocation is unwarranted.

Our firm will continue to stand with law enforcement personnel statewide, protecting their rights, careers, and certification in POST, IA, Skelly, arbitration, and civil proceedings. If your association or members need support navigating SB 2 investigations, POST inquiries, or complex use-of-force cases, our team is ready.