Aliso Viejo’s top cop retires Feb. 13
Aliso Viejo’s top cop Lt. Rich Paddock will retire Feb. 13 after serving as the city’s first chief of police services since its July 1, 2001 incorporation and after 34 years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Paddock has spent much of his more than three decades with the department in assignments where he has served in many capacities, including the jail, investigation and field operations, which has given him some extraordinary opportunities in public safety.
Paddock, a fixture in the community, has been instrumental in strengthening the department’s community policing program and focus on crime, traffic and neighborhood watch. He and his staff have established an excellent collaborative with the City’s public and private schools, which has helped both organizations to tackle problems together.
Paddock has overseen a City policing staff of 29 and has been instrumental in adding many new beneficial programs and services, including new ordinances – both policing and emergency management in nature.
As the city grew, Paddock sought and received support from the City Council to meet the policing and emergency management challenges head-on. Some examples throughout the years include the addition of motorcycle deputies to the City; the creation of the Special Enforcement Team; and automated external defibrillators added to every patrol car in the City. Under Paddock’s leadership, Aliso Viejo was the first Orange County city to enact an ordinance making mandatory the installation of communications infrastructure in new commercial construction for police and fire emergency communications. The city’s Emergency Plan and the annual Citizen Emergency Preparedness Academy were created, and in 2002, the City of Aliso Viejo enacted one of the most aggressive municipal weapons in Orange County.
Paddock, a 25-year San Juan Capistrano resident, is also the commander of the Sheriff’s Department’s Mounted Enforcement Unit – an equestrian-based operation of 26 horses and deputies.
During his career, Paddock has seen and experienced much. In 1985, he was a member of the Sheriff’s Department’s first gang unit. A year earlier, he was one of four deputies assigned to the Olympic Resource Center and In-Transit Security Team, responsible for the safe transport of Turkish athletes to the Olympic Village in Westwood. Paddock was the deputy field commander of the 125-member force sent to the City of Los Angeles during the ’92 riots. He served in the same role a year later in the Laguna Beach fires.
Through it all, Paddock has served the department with strength, dignity and honor and is a true gentleman. He certainly raised the bar in Aliso Viejo.
Paddock said that while he will greatly miss Aliso Viejo, the Sheriff’s Department, City Council and staff, he looks forward to spending more time with his wife of nearly 30 years, Becky, three children and two grandchildren. An avid equestrian, Paddock also enjoys riding one of the two family horses with his youngest daughter Emily.
“This has been a great job. The decision to retire was hard but best for my family,” Paddock said. “I’ve had so much help from great professionals here in town and had great bosses at the Sheriff’s Department and at the city. The Police Services personnel are the best anywhere. They are the ones out there answering calls at all hours making it work. The city staff is second to none. I’ve formed lifelong friendships in both groups. Thanks to you all.
What’s next for Paddock? He mused that for the next month or two, he just wants to relax with his family and take one step at a time.
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