One minute into Sheriff Elder’s term, employees on leave reinstated

In the last few months of Terry Maketa’s term, he placed several commanders and deputies on administrative leave.

And as Sheriff Bill Elder said Friday, it took about a minute to bring them all back.

“It’s about our cops who do an awfully dangerous job,” Elder said.

And more of those employees are back, including some of Maketa’s whistleblowers.

“I think they can be working and doing their jobs at the same time we complete the investigation,” Elder said. “We can get to the correct result of the issues and having them working at the same time.”

Elder admitted he isn’t a fan of indefinite suspensions, citing the salaries that those three commanders made.

“I’ve had discussion with them over time. Those are valuable commanders they’ve been in this business for a long time. We need them back. We need their expertise, their leadership back. I let them know the minute I got sworn in they were coming back. And they did,” he said.

Another deputy back at work is Cliff Porter, who was promoted to sergeant.

He was a part of the original EEOC complaint against Maketa.

“My client, like a majority of the individuals at the sheriff’s office, are good people and simply want to serve. Their concern was they couldn’t do their job effectively under the leadership that Maketa was providing,” attorney Erin Jensen said.

Two people not at work: Tiffany Huntz and Dorene Cardarelle.

They were accused of having inappropriate relations with Maketa.

The third employee mentioned in those complaints, Paula Presley, retired the same time Maketa did.

Elder wouldn’t comment on their future.