February 28, 2008

Quackenbush under fire -- for firing on suspect

Chuck Quackenbush, who resigned as California insurance commissioner in 2000 after accusations of misusing public funds, turned up as a deputy sheriff in Florida. But the once-rising Republican politician is again in the news. After shooting a suspect during an arrest this week, he has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an internal police investigation.

The News-Press, a Florida newspaper, has obtained the sheriff's report on the altercation, which misspelled Quackenbush's name throughout.

The fight and shooting happened after 1 p.m. Tuesday at a home on Westminster Street in Lehigh Acres. Deputies went to the duplex apartment to arrest Buda on a charge of battering his wife during a fight the night before.

Quakenbush started to handcuff (Teodor) Buda when the man tried to break free. Buda fought with the deputy and Quakenbush zapped Buda with a stun gun. Buda continued to struggle with Quakenbush, who dropped the Taser.

Buda then picked up the Taser and pointed it at Quakenbush. The deputy then pulled out his handgun and shot Buda. Buda was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition after undergoing surgery.

Quackenbush, who also served in the California Assembly, resigned his statewide office in 2000, after an investigation by the Assembly Insurance Committee found millions of dollars in settlements with insurance companies working with the 1994 Northridge earthquake were diverted to foundations and used for political purposes.

The insurance committee report, which can still be found on committee Web site, stated:

From the Northridge rubble Mr. Quackenbush and his top deputies created an exploitive enforcement structure. The evidence demonstrates they:

• Subverted the regulatory process;
• Wielded the power of the state to bolster Commissioner Quackenbush’s political prospects and financially benefit his political associates and friends;
• Failed to provide adequate redress for some earthquake victims;
• Short-circuited procedures, evaded legislative oversight and exceeded enforcement authority;
• Misspent money extracted from insurers and diverted from state coffers;
• And, when the practices came to light, engaged in a cover-up in an effort to mislead the public and avoid responsibility for their actions.

In the process, DOI (Department of Insurance) abrogated its statutory duty and broke faith with the public.

The findings are virtually inescapable given the evidence amassed by the Assembly Committee on Insurance as it conducted oversight hearings into DOI’s enforcement practices and priorities.

Quackenbush, who was never charged with a crime, didn't make his way directly to Florida from Sacramento. He moved briefly to Hawaii, which, according to his Web site, was "a wonderful way of decompressing and preparing for the future."

He began competing in Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling -- "a new passion of mine," he wrote -- before eventually moving to Florida.

There, he joined the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on June 27, 2005.

According to a profile from last year in the News-Press, Quackenbush earned $35,449 as a deputy.

From that profile:

A sheriff’s office background report asked him his career intentions and got this response: “I want to go as far as possible in this profession.”

Investigator Frank Harris also asked, “Do you want to run for sheriff?” and got this response: “No, not really. I’m finished with politics. I want to work in flight operations or the marine patrol.”

The report continues: “When asked why he would give up an alleged $90,000 salary (a part-time position in a company he owned) to a deputy’s salary ($35,449), he said: ‘My wife and I have made a lot of money in real estate and now I can follow my lifelong dream of being a police officer. I thought I was too old until I moved to Lee County and found out they would take me.”

During the internal investigation of this Tuesday's shooting, Quackenbush will remain on the sheriff office's payroll.

Sacramento Bee File, 2000

Posted by Shane Goldmacher on February 28, 2008 10:33 AM