Hopeful returns his badge

Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner and City Council candidate Jim Righeimer recently returned his honorary badge to Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens as part of a larger recall.

Righeimer was one of 429 Professional Services Responders who were ordered by the new sheriff to give back the badges for a twofold reason: to separate the volunteers from the stigma of indicted former Sheriff Mike Carona and to comply with a state attorney general’s decision that said it was illegal to issue the badges in the first place, according to the department.

“This program is unrivaled in this county in its ability to mobilize and utilize the skills of literally hundreds of professional volunteers, yet the public perception is one of an insider’s club,” Hutchens wrote in a letter to all of the responders. “This undeserved stigma is rooted in the program’s past, and is no longer accurate.”

Allegations of sheriff reserve badges being given in return for political donations and being misused to imitate authorities led Hutchens to rethink the program. Earlier this year, a reserve officer was accused of flashing his badge and gun on a golf course to intimidate another golfer.

The whole scandal is being blown out of proportion, according to Righeimer. Most of the people who held the badges are upstanding volunteers whose names have been marred by the actions of a few bad apples, he said.

“A lot of people are upset about this. They’re taking the badges and trying to impugn 500 people who volunteer,” Righeimer said.

Righeimer did donate money to Carona, but said the badge was not given as a personal favor. He could not remember how much or how often he gave to Carona but the contributions were not substantial.

According to sheriff’s department records, Righeimer is a member of the organization’s Leadership Council, which requires him to dedicate two to three hours a month to the program, and he volunteered about 75 hours each year for a bicycle safety program that was funded by Carona’s foundation and has become obsolete following his resignation.

“Apparently what he has done with the bike safety program is very highly thought of,” said department spokesman John McDonald, citing the comments of administrators familiar with the program.

Righeimer returned his sheriff-issued ID card to the department this week and is awaiting a new ID. He says he will continue in the program.

The department is designing the new credentials and expects to have them out in less than 30 days.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.