RED BLUFF, Calif. - United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner is pleased to announce that the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office is the 2014 winner of the Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Award for Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency in the Sacramento Division. This award is one of four awards presented annually to a law enforcement agency in the Eastern District of California’s Sacramento and Fresno divisions to recognize outstanding collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement in addressing public safety issues in this region.
The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office is receiving the Sacramento Division’s Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award for its critical efforts in keeping the peace this past summer when tensions arose at the Rolling Hills Casino, operated by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, a federally recognized tribe within the Eastern District. The Paskenta tribe was embroiled in an intra-tribal dispute that led to the creation of rival security forces. These armed security forces engaged in a stand-off at the site of the tribe’s casino in Corning that lasted almost two weeks while members of the general public were on site, and in harm’s way. During the extended stand-off, the Tehama County Sheriff’s office almost single-handedly kept the peace with personnel who were on site around the clock. The Sheriff’s Office maintained open lines of communication with all parties to the dispute and were in constant contact with partner agencies in the state and federal government. The Sheriff’s Office respected the sovereignty of the tribe and never attempted to take a side in the dispute. Deputies treated all involved with civility and respect, and deserve credit for avoiding what could have been a tragic situation.
“The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office is truly deserving of recognition and our thanks for keeping the peace at Rolling Hills," said U.S. Attorney Wagner. “The members of the Office, including Sheriff Dave Hencratt, Lieutenant David Greer, Assistant Sheriff Phillip Johnston, and all of the deputies who served during this tense time exhibited all of the best qualities that law enforcement can aspire to. They were brave, tireless, and respectful, and they showed an absolute commitment to doing everything possible to avoid physical harm to our citizens. It is our privilege to work alongside them in serving our District."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
