There was a time in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department when brawn was far more important than brains. As a matter of fact, education beyond high school was looked upon as suspect. Fortunately, over the past 30 years, the powers that be have become more enlightened and an educated deputy is valued. But there are throwbacks even now. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Lieutenant and Apple Valley Councilman Rick Roelle is such one example.
Throughout his career, Roelle has had issues with his temper and his ability to control violent outbursts towards suspects and prisoners. Early on in his career as a deputy, Roelle would beat prisoners detained at Central Jail. But one of the most disturbing stories comes not from his early years, but rather after his promotion to Sergeant, a promotion made with full knowledge of Roelle’s penchant for violence.
It seems that there was a Nazi Lowrider who had it out for Sergeant Roelle. He was detained at West Valley Detention Center where Roelle supervised a shift of jail employees. During a search, it was discovered that the prisoner had written letters making threats against Roelle’s family. In front of subordinates, Roelle entered the prisoner’s cell and beat the living crap out of the prisoner. He drug the prisoner out of his cell and down the long hallway to the intake area where he continued to beat him. Understand, this act is a felony, violation of civil rights under the color of authority. Many deputies have been terminated for watching rather than intervening in such events. Roelle actually committed the vicious act and was not demoted or fired. The county had to pay off the prisoner up to $50,000 to make it go away.
Also, while a sergeant at West Valley Detention Center, Roelle interfered in a major narcotics investigation that put officers in danger and compromised the investigation. It seems a legal assistant was visiting with a client of her firm to have documents signed. The prisoner was a high-level Mexican Drug Cartel figure. The Sheriff’s Office was suspicious of this assistant, and during a routine search discovered about 25 grams of tar heroin and methamphetamine. The individual was immediately detained.
A search warrant for the individual’s home was being obtained. Roelle discovered that this young lady was in custody and called her boss, attorney John Gebbe , to let him know. Attorney Gebbe immediately called Judge Peter Norrell, who ordered the woman released immediately on her own recognizance before the search warrants could be obtained and without knowing the facts of the case. She was then allowed to make a phone call, which she made to her husband. By the time narcotics officers arrived at the home, all evidence was destroyed. Although the case for smuggling narcotics into the jail was filed, it was settled even before it reached preliminary hearing stage.
Once Roelle decided to go into politics by running for the Apple Valley Town Council, he was allowed to campaign on county time, being gone for days at a time. Lieutenant Cliff Reynolds from the city of Victorville station covered for him. Once elected to office, Roelle was made a sergeant for Internal Affairs, so he could work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This action, of course, was done by former Sheriff Gary Penrod, and is especially egregious because of Roelle’s background. An Internal Affairs officer should be above reproach. His actions and practices clearly cast doubt on his ethics and integrity except when politics is more important than maintaining an honest department.
Of course, once Roelle became mayor of Apple Valley, his political worth increased and he was promoted to lieutenant at the Adelanto jail, thus allowing him to participate in his town council duties while holding down a full-time job close to home with the Sheriff’s Department. Once again, politics is more important to our current sheriff than protection of the citizens. And we already know what Roelle is capable of doing in a jail setting. Shame on Sheriff Hoops for allowing this bully to continue in a position where both the taxpayers and the prisoners can be harmed.
Some of this is not new to this blog. What is new is that we have a new sheriff running for re-election who has done nothing clean things up. There are lots more details and AntiCorruptionUnit will fill us in on them soon.
As a sidenote, Roelle is no more honorable with his family than with his career. He recently left his beautiful wife of many years, Barbie, for a fellow politico, Angela Valles, who is running for the Victorville City Council. And we wonder why this county is so screwed up.
I believe the attorney was Bill Gebbie.
Yes DA Insider, thanks for correcting that.
Okay I’m missing something here. Why would a Sgt take it upon himself to call a defense attorney to tell him that one of his employees is in custody.
First of all you would have to know Bill Gebbie, he’s a fine piece of work. Does it surprise me that he would have an employee that is of this character. No not at all.
So why would a Sgt find the need to call him to let him know what is going on. This Sgt has worked Narcotics in his time with the department and knows the seriousness of his actions. You also have to ask yourself why wasn’t something done to him by the department for his actions. Oh I forgot “The Good Ole Boy System”.
Again ACU and Sgt you work or have worked for the department what are your feelings. Let me see I’m going to fire you for arresting a DUI deputy and keep him after he conducts himself in this manner.
You see what happens when you keep promoting from within. In my opinion this is exactly why they need new management in the department. Is the current staff aware of these incidents, yes they are,more than likely half of the department is aware of his actions.
And again as I have stated before another internal affairs investigator that is no better or worse than the people that he is investigating and he goes home at night and gets a good nights sleep and then gets promoted and really thinks that he deserves it. Just to think someday with the current adminstration he too may be a Deputy Chief.
Senor that investigation was mine. I was assigned that investigation when an informant came forward with the info the dope was being brought into the jail by the legal clerk.
I made the phone call to the narcs, they were waiting for the bust to go down and get the search warrant, Department of Corrections gang intelligence unit was ready to assist.
It went down like clock work until Roelle made the phone call to Gebbie.
Why did Roelle do that, other than Roelle being an idiot, it was because him and Gebbie were friends.
Roelle was standing right next to me when I confronted the OR personnel and asked them WTF are you all doing? I was pissed and didn’t care who was around.
All Roelle could do is walk away because he knew he had screwed up big time.
Judge Norell demanded an immediate release of this suspect, NO questions asked.
Gebbie told me he and Roelle were friends.
OH YES it was a very serious breach of confidentiality and put more than one cop in harms way.
Roelle should have been fired for that.
But nothing was done. Lt. Bart Gray was more concerned about me being politically correct than the breach of security.
I told Gray, make an issue if he felt he could, I would not be the one looking like a fool in the end.
And his beating the inmate, that too was covered up with minor discipline being administered.
No doubt in my mind Roelle before and after that beating took place was probably involved in more than a few administrative investigations that cost some Deputies their job, for far less than Roelle did.
Worse yet when Roelle got to Internal Affairs he continued on with his being stupid and corrupt.
SEBA and their lawyers were well aware of this guy and his conduct, HE WAS NEVER taken to task.
Even his own peers in IA didn’t care for his methods.
But as you know he got promoted to Lieutanant.
More on this clown later.
Roelle has endorsed Anthony Riley for State Assembly.
I am sure he will be an asset to his campaign along with the rest of the missing hub cap crowd.
Being a cop is a tough job. Very stressful. Out of all the AV City Councilmen, he has the best hair.
The high desert has been the hardest hit area in this depression. I will fight to keep the State from looting more and more of high desert cities money.
Hoops is running for election, not re-election.
Very true Bruce. I stand corrected.
You know – I think Roelle has another job at VVWRA on Main Street in Hesperia. If you sit across the street you’ll see him going in the back door to Angela Valles’ office quite often – she always has her internal door shut – so usually no one even knows he’s there…well maybe the people at the donut shop know — so – i’m confused – does Angela work for him, or does he work on her? I wish I had her job – $150000 per year and all you have to do is let your boyfriend in the back door! Can’t wait till she’s elected to the city council – i hope it has a back door…
another nightmare in a high place…..nothing new under the sun…..
Sidenote: He has been unfaithfull to his WIFE numerous times for years………bottom line is just this…he is just another do as I say, not as I’ve done… while casting judement upon others as if he is perfect..oh yea…that is the S.B.S.O advancement credo…for special puppies….