Bianco sworn in as 14th RivCo Sheriff

RIVERSIDE COUNTY — In front of a huge, standing room only crowd, former Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Bianco was sworn in yesterday as the 14th Sheriff, Coroner, and Public Administrator, of Riverside County, California’s second largest sheriff’s department. Bianco was joined by his wife and several family members who participated in the momentous ceremony as he was sworn in on the steps of the Historic Courthouse in Riverside.

Following a tumultuous campaign, Bianco defeated outgoing incumbent Sheriff Stan Sniff in last November’s general election, and was voted in as the County’s 14th sheriff, ending Sniff’s 11 year tenure as top cop.

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Bianco was sworn in by his brother, the Honorable Judge Brett Bianco, along side his wife, Denise, who presented and held the Bible for the swearing in ceremony. His brother and Riverside County Sheriff Deputy, Michael Bianco, and son and daughter, Tyler Bianco and Tori Kimsey, were the one’s chosen to pin his new badge and stars. (See NBC Palm Springs video from ceremony below.)

Attendance for the event was overflowing, with deputies and officers from other area agencies, as well as City and County officials and crowds of adoring supporters, who watched as Bianco took the official oath of office and spoke to the crowd of his plans for the department.

Bianco ran on a campaign that promised to focus on changing the culture of the sheriff’s department. Saying morale was very low among many deputies who had become disillusioned with the department’s old regime, Bianco moved many in the crowd when he explained in part, “This was never about me, and will never be. This is about us, working together.”

Bianco has said he plans to to fill more than 250 deputy positions and hire around 400 new correctional deputies, while working to expand community-oriented policing programs and foster a more productive relationship with the Board of Supervisors as it works toward balancing its budget.

During his first hours as new Sheriff, Bianco had already replaced much of the top brass within the department and begun to make other big changes, including removing Moreno Valley Police Chief, Captain David Kurylowicz from his position and stripping him of his police powers, the very day he was sworn in.

Some believed the move against Kurylowicz was related to the heated and often ugly campaign the prior year, which included allegations of discrimination and intimidation, while others cited an ongoing Internal Affairs investigation for the popular Captain’s removal from his position.

“The deputies know from this point forward they are empowered to go out and do their jobs,” Bianco has said, explaining “They’re the king of their domain in that car,” and they need the freedom to do their jobs right while striving to make a difference in the communities they serve.

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Steve Johnson/What is Going On In Riverside County photo

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.