CA - A San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's spokesman said Monday that the department will make no comment on a high-ranking commander's accusation that the sheriff and undersheriff illegally spied on him in his office during a private meeting in late 2006.
Sheriff's Cmdr. Gary Hoving filed a $1.25 million claim against the county Friday, alleging Sheriff Pat Hedges and Undersheriff Steve Bolts illegally bugged his office in October 2006.
In the claim, Hoving, a 28-year veteran and the third-highest-ranking officer in the Sheriff's Department, accuses Hedges and Bolts of “unlawfully entering” his office in early October 2006 to place a concealed video camera in the ceiling.
The claim also alleges that Bolts attached an audio recording device to the common wall between Hedges' and Hoving's office with the intent of recording a “private” meeting between Hoving and Sgt. Jay Donovan.
The surveillance and recording equipment was operated from Hedges' office, according to the claim. (more)
