Supervisors Name Undersheriff to Top Department Post

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Undersheriff Larry W. Carpenter, a popular lawman with 27 years of experience in county law enforcement, to succeed Sheriff John V. Gillespie when he retires at the end of the year.

Carpenter, who will serve the remaining two years of Gillespie’s term, said he has not decided if he will seek election to the position in 1994.

“I don’t want to be encumbered by political posturing and worrying about that,” Carpenter said. “I think some real tough decisions have to be made now involving money and budget. Those are my priorities right now.”

Carpenter, 46, said he was honored to get the job as leader of the 1,000-member department. All five supervisors voiced strong support for Carpenter, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Department since 1969, at their weekly meeting.

“Larry has been a lifelong resident of Ventura County,” said Supervisor Maggie Kildee, who nominated Carpenter for the $98,982-a-year position. “But probably the thing that would be most important . . . is the fact that Larry had demonstrated the ability to work with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations and problems. He has the ability to bring people together.”

Supervisor Vicky Howard agreed.

“The job of sheriff is a difficult job,” she said. “I think that, without exception, everyone who has called my office or talked to me has recommended Larry Carpenter. It has been unanimous.”

In addition, Carpenter--who has been in charge of the department’s day-to-day operations--can help the department cope with its budget woes, officials said.

In August, the Board of Supervisors decided to cut $2.5 million in funding for the department in the wake of the state financial crisis. About half a dozen courthouse officers have been moved to street duty, the Rose Valley Work Camp is shutting down and about 50 vacant positions will be eliminated.

“I just know that in the next couple of years, very difficult decisions will be made within the department,” Carpenter said. “Some of those decisions might not be popular. . . . But they have to be made, if we are going to continue to provide the level of public safety that we have in the past.”

The Sheriff’s Department serves the unincorporated areas of the county and the communities of Ojai, Fillmore, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Camarillo.

Stephen DeCesari, vice president of the Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Assn., told the board that the union’s members strongly support Carpenter’s appointment.

“Even if we weren’t going through these difficult times,” DeCesari said, “I would feel confident that this association would still support the undersheriff for this position. . . . He has proven himself as a leader and he is well-respected by the members of this department. The fact is, we like him very well.”

Carpenter was born and raised in Fillmore, where he still lives. He joined the Fillmore Police Department as a reserve officer in 1965. He left to join the Sheriff’s Department four years later, where he quickly rose through the ranks.

Gillespie announced earlier this month that he is stepping down Dec. 31 for health reasons.