Thu. Nov 21st, 2024

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 4, 2021): Please see the statement below from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of former Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

“In November 2012, Sheriff Hutchens was diagnosed with breast cancer. She courageously fought this disease while still leading this department. Her fight was successful for eight years. Unfortunately, the cancer recently returned and Sheriff Hutchens passed this morning with her loved ones by her side.

“Sandra Hutchens served as the 12th Orange County Sheriff from 2008-2019. She took office at a difficult time. The public’s trust had been broken by the previous sheriff. Upon taking office, she immediately took action to put one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies back on track. She was a leader whose ethics matched the culture of the men and women of this department. She restored our pride, gave us back our dignity and rebuilt trust with the people we serve. She kept her oath, kept her promises, and ended her time in office leaving this agency better than when she started.

“Hemingway described courage as “grace under pressure.” There is no one who embodied that description more than Sandra Hutchens. Sheriff Hutchens lived her life and led this agency with courage, grace and dignity. She bravely closed her life in the same manner. When I last spoke to her she was strong, maintained her sense of humor and continued to have a deep love and appreciation for the people of Orange County. Her legacy will endure for many years through all those she mentored and entrusted with helping her lead the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“For me personally, she was a mentor and a friend. I will continue to be inspired by her commitment to always do the right thing, regardless of the consequences, and serve with the department and community’s interests first without need for self-recognition. I am tremendously grateful for the opportunities she presented me, and the many lessons I learned from her over the years.

“In keeping with Sheriff Hutchens’ wishes, there will not be a memorial service. Her family has asked that donations be made in her name to Drug Use is Life Abuse (www.duila.org) or the Susan G. Komen Foundation (www.komen.org), two charities she actively supported while in office.”

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

2 thoughts on “Former O.C. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has passed away”
  1. Sandra Hutchens was one of the best things that ever happened in OC. She brought honesty, ethics and capability to the Sheriff’s office which had been sorely lacking under the previous Sheriff Mike Carona. I will miss her and OC has just lost a wonderful person, leader and role model.

  2. Hi bitch…
    So I see the grim reaper got you.. finally you are evil.remember the day April 2015 when deputy when stuck two fingers with pepper spray into my ass and let it burn for 17 hours and put me down in the court line cell and you came by stood there outside of my window laughing at me.as if you don’t remember . Bring a long spoon when you dine with the devil b****!!!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.