Walked Out Sheriff's detective escorted out of the office under overtime pay inquiry

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By Royal Calkins

For the second time in two weeks, a senior Monterey County sheriff’s official has been served with termination papers for actions that could put him in legal jeopardy.

This case involves purportedly unearned overtime pay that went to the department’s highest-paid employee, Detective Sgt. Bryan M. Hoskins. Last year his pay totaled $437,000, including $263,996 in overtime, according to the Transparent California website that tracks public employee salaries.

In 2020, Hoskins was paid a total of $324,540, including overtime of more than double his base pay of $107,679. In 2019, his income totaled $335,262. The year before, the number was $367,000 and in 2017 he received $291,495, according to the website.

Sources in the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday that Hoskins was “walked out” of the office at the start of his shift after he had been served with a notice of proposed termination and suspension papers. 

Last week, Commander Dustin Hedberg was served with proposed termination papers and placed on leave from his position as head of the department’s special operations section. Sources said he is alleged to have received controlled prescription drugs from Carolina Cruz Kaupp, who was regional director for Wellpath, the company that provides medical services for Monterey County Jail inmates. Kaupp reportedly was removed from her position the week before because of allegations that she had stolen the drugs from Wellpath’s supply at the jail. Hedberg has declined to comment and Kaupp has not responded to requests for comment.

The sheriff’s sources said Hoskins’ pay was investigated internally by sheriff’s investigators, likely with involvement of the District Attorney’s Office. They also said that the investigation of Hedberg may have been an outgrowth of the Hoskins investigation.

Detectives who have worked with him say he regularly said he believed that a detective’s real job doesn’t start until the end of the regular workday.

Hoskins’ heavy paychecks have been no secret in the department, largely because of the Transparent California website and because Hoskins reportedly bragged of his prowess in building big paydays. Detectives who have worked with him say he regularly said that he believed that a detective’s real job doesn’t start until the end of the regular workday.

Hoskins is probably best known for his lead role in the serial rape investigation of former North Salinas High School coach John Fickas, a Salinas-area political consultant who had worked for Sheriff Steve Bernal and numerous other elected officials. Fickas is now serving a 28-year prison sentence.

The timing of the termination notices makes them fodder for the current election contest between sheriff’s Capt. Joe Moses and Marina Police Chief Tina Nieto, who are campaigning to replace lame duck Bernal. Nieto has characterized the Hedberg matter as additional evidence of a corrupt Sheriff’s Office and Moses has said it helps demonstrate that he and the department are diligently rooting out wrongdoers. While Moses heads the county jail, there has been no indication that he initiated or participated in that investigation.

Nieto said Thursday that “these kind of reports erode community trust.” She said she believes “hard-working deputies are looking forward to a culture change” and she believes she can make a difference in the department. The Monterey County Deputy Sheriff’s Association has endorsed Nieto. Moses didn’t respond to a request to comment.

The sheriff’s sources said they believe the investigation of Hoskins stemmed from allegations made in a long anonymous letter to the Board of Supervisors early this year. That letter did point out Hoskins’ overtime pay and detailed various methods he allegedly used to pad it.

At his rate of pay, Hoskins would had to have worked about 100 hours each week to have made $437,000 last year. He made more than $100,000 more than the second highest paid sheriff’s employe. Of the top 15 highest paid county employees,  he is the only one who isn’t a surgeon or hospital administrator.

Voices recently reported that Hoskins was named in racial discrimination and sexual harassment complaints filed by a former deputy who had been involved with an affair with Sheriff Steve Bernal. The woman received a $20,000 settlement from the county in 2020 in part because of offensive comments made to her by Hoskins after she broke off the relationship with Bernal.

Her complaints were filed with the county’s Office of Civil Rights and federal fair employment officials and were deemed justified. When told about what happened to Hosins this week, she replied, “Karma..”

Voices left a message on Hoskins’ cell phone early Thursday and it has not been returned.

Earlier this week, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, referencing the Hedberg case, issued yet another public statement reprimanding the Sheriff’s Office management. 

“If the allegations prove true, the Board of Supervisors is calling upon the sheriff to take swift and decisive action within his legal authority and to work quickly to ensure the appropriate actions, including disciplinary consequences, are pursued,” read the statement.

The board also expressed frustration that it has no authority to discipline Sheriff’s Office personnel, but added that it has “zero tolerance for such unprofessional  behavior and potentially illegal activity by any employee of the County.”

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Royal Calkins

About Royal Calkins

Contributing writer Royal Calkins has worked for newspapers in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Fresno. For the past couple of years, he has produced a local news and commentary blog, the Monterey Bay Partisan. He can be reached at calkinsroyal@gmail.com.

10 thoughts on “Walked Out Sheriff's detective escorted out of the office under overtime pay inquiry

  1. If the Board of Supervisors really cared to do something about the Sheriff’s Department they would join Supervisor Wendy Root-Askew in her call for a Citizens Oversight Committee NOW!

  2. Yes, Hoskins is no good. He and Rosey Silva volunteered to pick up an inmate from the jail to take him to court. Since when is it the responsibility of detectives to transport inmates? They didn’t have the guts themselves so they made a correctional officer shove a man who had the hips of a 135 year old. He was shoved so hard he had to be put in a wheel chair. Those two tried to humiliate him by parking in front of the court house, instead of bringing him thru the back. They are supposed to protect and serve. They are garbage.

  3. That inmate plead guilty to the brutal rape of a developmentally disabled young woman and refused to be transported by regular jail transportation. The victim’s family were present in court to attend the sentencing and the defendant thought he could avoid the family and the sentence he agreed to weeks prior by not attending. He had appeared in a wheel chair many court appearances prior. He appeared in court that day with the escort and no visible injuries.
    The victim’s family was very fortunate and grateful as are many other victims of rape, child molest, human trafficking, and murder to have Sgt Hoskins on their case. Thank goodness Sgt Hoskins responds when the victim is ready to report whether that be during or after business hours.

  4. The larger question is WHO signed and approved his overtime slips?????? Which Commander or Captain did that?

  5. According to this story, about a million dollars in overtime since 2017. 100 hours a week is six 16.6 hour days a week. Every week. With all that information available in public records as well as internally. Hmmmmm

  6. Is there any update on the “honorable” Detective Hoskins? It sounds like he is back with the Department and nothing came of this corruption and scandal?

    1. It’s hard to get a straight answer from the county on personnel matters — for reasons both good and bad. Hoskins is no longer working for the SO but I have heard both that a deal was made under which he would retire rather than be terminated and the count wouldn’t prosecuted. But I’ve also heard that it remains up in the air. Same with Hedberg. No official word. Maybe someone who knows can chime in.

      1. It worked. A knowledgable insider says Hoskins was let go but he has appealed and it should go to arbitration.

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