Tehama County Sheriff Dave Kain calls for investigation into Hydrick – Red Bluff Daily News

Tehama County Executive Gabriel Hydrick waits to speak to Sheriff Dave Kain on Tuesday afternoon. (George Johnston/Daily News)

RED BLUFF – The Tehama County Board of Supervisors’ meeting was called into recess Tuesday following shocking public confrontations among staff.

In staff reports, Sheriff Dave Kain expressed concerns about the statement made to the media by Chief Administrator Officer Gabriel Hydrick. Kain’s father had also spoken out against Hydrick’s statement at an earlier meeting.

One of the sheriff’s biggest problems with the media statement was an alleged attack on his family. While Hydrick mentioned that the sheriff had the option to hire a family member and send them to the academy, he made no mention of the Cain clan in that statement.

The sheriff called this completely inappropriate. He also took issue with the financial figures Hydrick provided to the media. He said $154,000 was spent on the helicopter program, not the $574,000 the chief administrator had allegedly stated.

Kain took issue with a press release Hydrick issued on behalf of the board that he said was critical of the sheriff’s office. The sheriff claimed he had been asked to file a complaint about Hydrick’s actions and wanted an investigation into him.

“There has been a process going on here for some time, and I understand that Mr. Hydrick does not want it to become public because it does not paint a good picture of him and his actions in the media,” Kain said.

Supervisor Matt Hansen was disappointed with the sheriff’s account. The committee directed him to summarize his allegations in a format that the committee could then evaluate and determine how to proceed. He says the committee has not yet received this. The supervisor says this is standard practice when handling personnel complaints.

“As soon as we receive information, specific dates and times, and allegations, the board will review them and decide how to proceed,” Hansen said.

Kain claimed that Hansen received the complaint in writing via email to the board. The sheriff said Hansen could be disappointed in him, but the supervisor knew that these complaints had been going on for some time.

Hansen responded that proper procedures must be followed and that Hydrick has the same rights as any other county employee.

Supervisor Candy Carlson said the board needs to hold a performance review meeting to tell employees what direction to take.

Michael Kain, the sheriff’s father, later told Hansen that he had embarrassed himself.

Hydrick declined to comment on the discussion, saying that attempts had been made to get rid of him since his second day on the job.

Carlson called this an inappropriate comment because the county had to investigate some of Hydrick’s social media postings when it hired him.