VENTURA : Sheriff Concludes Dismissal Defense

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department wrapped up its case Wednesday before the county Civil Service Commission in defense of its decision to fire an officer for alleged incompetence and inefficiency, using testimony from three of his training officers and his supervising sergeant.

Paul Duron, 28, who appealed his firing to the commission, is scheduled to present his case today. Duron’s attorney, Paul Goyette, said he will call on Duron’s supervisors at the Ventura County Jail, where Duron served for two years before failing to complete a two-month patrol officer’s training course in 21 weeks.

On Wednesday, the Sheriffs Department brought three of Duron’s patrol training officers to the witness stand, all of whom testified that Duron had trouble reading maps, writing reports, picking up radio signals and locating the appropriate sections of the vehicle code while writing traffic tickets.

Goyette said Duron was never given a chance to succeed after he fell behind during the first weeks of his training program and that his client had proven himself while working at the jail.