Former OC Sheriff Brad Gates dies at 85, leaving legacy as a no-nonsense cowboy lawman
Former Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates, one of the most powerful and influential politicians in county history, died early Friday, Oct. 25. He was 85.
Gates, the 11th sheriff of Orange County, held the reins from 1975 to 1999. He was a self-styled Western lawman endorsed by none other than movie legend John Wayne, a resident of Newport Beach. Wayne’s portrait hung at the sheriff’s headquarters, where other Western art graced the walls under Gates’ administration.
A lifelong resident of San Juan Capistrano, Gates worked the orange groves as a youngster, lighting smudge pots to keep the frost from damaging the crops. He rode with the volunteer Sheriff’s Junior Posse before joining the Sheriff’s Department in 1961.
“There, to me, was never a better friend. He would always say, ‘You’re written in the palm of my hand,’ and, boy, he meant it,” said former San Juan Capistrano Mayor Gary Hausdorfer, a friend of Gates for 45 years. “As sheriff, he was a formidable leader, as a foe, a formidable obstacle.”
While his tenure as sheriff was marked by controversy, Gates was highly admired for his tough, no-nonsense persona. Standing over 6 feet tall, Gates was a looming presence with a competitive streak, even while playing bocce ball. He liked to win.
“There was a competitive nature to him, combined with a passion and commitment he had for the Sheriff’s Department and Orange County,” Hausdorfer said.
When the county declared bankruptcy in 1994, Gates was one of a trio of department heads called to lead the county administration as the “crisis management team.”
Young aides in the offices of the supervisors at the time remember him as a strong and passionate advocate for public safety, who’d start speaking in a quiet and reserved voice that rose to powerful, commanding crescendos and held an audience rapt.
Police leaders remember Gates as a forceful ally, instrumental in the county’s law enforcement helicopter program and other anti-crime measures.
“Among those of us in law enforcement, I think Brad was one of the finest police officers to wear a badge,” said David Snowden, who served as police chief in both Costa Mesa and Beverly Hills. “He served as an example of how a politician should operate. He was going to do what was right, either way.”
Under Gates leadership, the department gained national prominence for its anti-drug efforts, including a regional narcotics suppression team and a school program called “Drug Use is Life Abuse.”
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer worked with Gates as a former county supervisor in the aftermath of the bankruptcy. Spitzer credited Gates with transforming the Sheriff’s Department into a modern policing force, taking over the airport, harbor patrol and jail operations. Gates also championed countywide efforts to improve law enforcement communications, crack down on gangs and improve patrol response times.
“Sheriff Gates and his passion will be missed by many, including me, but his legacy of service in this county and law enforcement will live on,” Spitzer said.
Gates first won election in a landslide and held the department with an iron grip until he retired in 1999 at age 59. He declined to run for reelection amid a backlash from ultra-conservative Republican former supporters angered by his endorsement of a sales tax to help the county recover from bankruptcy. The measure was rejected by voters.
Gates’ top assistant sheriff at the time, Dennis Laducer, also faced civil accusations and was fired for alleged sexual harassment.
Also during his tenure, Gates was sued by political opponents who alleged he used his department to spy on them and intimidate them. One of his alleged targets, a Municipal Court judge, sued the county and settled for $375,000 in 1986.
Prominent Republicans threw their support behind former Orange County Marshal Michael S. Carona, who won the sheriff’s post but latter was imprisoned on a federal criminal corruption charge.
In 2009, Gates was inducted onto the city of San Juan Capistrano’s Wall of Recognition. He said community service was one of the guiding forces of his life.
“When the cause is something that my family or I believe in, then we have a responsibility to participate and ensure success,” Gates said in an article at the time. “My reward is being part of the effort that allows you to leave behind a positive accomplishment for the city for many generations to come.”
Gates, who suffered a longtime illness, is survived by his wife, Dee Dee; a son, Scott; a daughter, Dee Dee Jo; and three grandchildren.
Staff writer Teri Sforza contributed to this article.
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