Former Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates, who led the department from 1975 to 1999, died Friday at age 85.
Sheriff Don Barnes praised Gates, saying his influence on the department continues.
“His accomplishments as sheriff are too long to include in one memo,” Barnes said in a statement. “Although it has now been over 24 years since Sheriff Gates retired, much of what our department has in place today are a result of initiatives he began.”
Under his tenure, the Intake Release Center was built and the Theo Lacy Jail was expanded, Barnes said. Gates also “led the way as the first large law enforcement agency to have video cameras installed in patrol units.”
“As a young deputy, I remember how much we all looked up to him and his spirit of excellence,” Barnes said. “We knew he had our backs so long as we did our duty in keeping with the high standards he set. It is the same spirit and standards, which have guided me long after he retired as sheriff.”
Barnes said of Gates’ passion for Western culture that he, “enjoyed riding horses, was often spotted in a cowboy hat and even won his first election as sheriff with an endorsement by Western actor John Wayne.”
Gates “epitomized the best of a law man, he led with integrity, possessed tremendous strength and stood tall in defense of the public he was sworn to serve.”
Tom Dominguez, retired president of the union representing sheriff’s deputies, hailed Gates for his leadership.
“For me, personally, this is very sad, very sad news to hear that he passed,” Dominguez told City News Service. “What a giant in law enforcement in Orange County.”
As a union leader, Dominguez said he had a “tremendous amount of respect” for Gates.
“As intimidating as he was, especially to the younger guys, but once you sat down and talked to the guy he was very reasonable and understanding and would listen to what you have to say, so that was the beginning of my working relationship with him,” Dominguez said.
Even in retirement, Gates kept up to date on local politics, especially in San Juan Capistrano, Dominguez said.
Dominguez recalled meeting with him for coffee recently.
“He was sharing with me how important the department is to him and what it did for his life,” Dominguez said.
As the two were parting, Gates “puts his hand on my shoulder and says, `Do whatever you can to take care of the sheriff’s department,”’ Dominguez said. “I would always reflect back on that moment in that particular afternoon. It did make an impact on me. This guy put his whole soul and life into the department and the people in the county.”
Dominguez recalled how Gates would take political risks if he felt it was in the county’s best interests.
“The guy did so much during the bankruptcy” of the county in the 1990s, Dominguez said. “He advocated for a tax increase, which was very unpopular with the Republican Party back then, but it was one of those deals when dealing with the department he was, `I’m doing what’s best for the county,’ which you don’t see that very often, especially now.”
Gates is survived by his wife, Deedee, son Scott, daughter, Deedee Jo, her husband, Eddie, and grandchildren Joanna, Emma and Nathan, as well as brothers Stillman and Robert and sister, Margaret Lapham.