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Sheriff's Office Newsletter April- June 2026
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Words from Sheriff Scardina
In addition to sharing the great work that our employees do every day, one of the primary things I value about this newsletter is the opportunity to communicate directly with our residents and anyone who cares about public safety in Marin County. You are likely aware of the ongoing public debate about immigration enforcement; whether it be our Board of Supervisor’s Truth Act forum, a national story on the other side of the country, or rumors about enforcement activity in Marin, I want to use this space to speak directly to you about these issues and the role of my office as I see it.
The Marin County Sheriff's Office follows California law. Laws such as the California Values Act (SB54), TRUTH Act (AB2792), and the TRUST Act (AB4) provide clear guidelines on when and how local custody facilities like the Marin County Jail are to communicate with Federal Law Enforcement about immigration detainers. In short, no local resources can be used to assist them, and they are not provided with any information that is not already public record and/or available to them from the Department of Justice. Even this limited communication is further limited to people incarcerated in our Jail for violent and other serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, sexual assault against a minor, and those who commit domestic violence. We track all this communication and share it with the public every year at the Truth Act forum, as we did this past March. Our Field Services staff, the Patrol Deputies you see in your communities, have absolutely no contact or involvement with Federal immigration enforcement. Under SB 54, our deputies do not arrest or detain individuals for civil immigration violations. We do not hold someone beyond their scheduled release date for immigration purposes. We do not ask about immigration status during routine calls for service. We do not participate in immigration raids.
During this year’s Truth Act forum, as in years past, I heard from speakers that asked me to ignore what California law permits and refuse all communication with Immigrations & Customs Enforcement. As your Sheriff, I hear these voices and I acknowledge that these individuals believe that what they are asking for is in the best interest of our communities. I respectfully disagree. I also acknowledge that these voices are correct that I have the discretion to adopt some form of zero-communication policy. I believe this would be unwise. Why I disagree and why I believe this action would be unwise is based on my experience working in Law Enforcement as well as the oath I took when I first put on this badge and later re-affirmed as your Sheriff. Throughout my career, I saw the impact that crime has on the immediate victims as well as the communities that surround them. As your Sheriff, I take seriously my Constitutional duty to provide public safety services and enforce the law in a fair, transparent, and effective manner. No different from a new Deputy conducting a traffic stop, my enforcement decisions are based on my training, experience, values, and best judgement. The laws I listed above that govern our ability to communicate with Immigrations & Customs Enforcement allowed us these exceptions for violent and serious crimes for a reason. That reason, I believe the Legislature recognized that Public Safety decisions require balance, fairness, and accountability. If the Legislature intended us to have a zero-communications policy, they could have written the law in that manner. If the Legislature were to amend these laws to institute that policy, I would follow the law.
I understand that my explanation will not make everyone who reads this message happy, whichever side of the issue you stand on. What I can promise everyone is that as your Sheriff, I have no higher purpose than to fulfill my oath of office and the principles of public safety that I have devoted my life to and that is keeping our community safe. I am always willing to listen, and if you have ever emailed me about this issue, you know that I respond to every respectful message I receive. I do not view my role in this conflict as a political one, but as one of adhering to principles, and principles are only important when they are challenged. I believe that as long as we remain true to our principles of preserving life and property, protecting victims (regardless of immigration status), and following the law, our communities will thrive. Thank you.
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Sheriff's Office Annual Award Ceremony
Each year the Sheriff's Office recognizes those staff members that go above and beyond the call for service.
This March we highlighted the contributions of staff from 2025. Sheriff Scardina presented a total of 8 awards, honoring 25+ staff members.
The following recipients received awards:
Investigations Assistant Christine Wheeler- Certificate of Commendation
Deputy Dave Estes- Life Saving Medal
Legal Process Manager Jennifer Caramucci- Certificate of Commendation
Coroner Investigator Emily Mandel- Certificate of Commendation
Deputy Mike Dawson- Life Saving Medal & Medal of Merit
Field Training Officer Cadre- Certificate of Appreciation
Marin Specialized Investigative Unit- Certificate of Commendation
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Bank Robbery Suspects Arrested- FLOCK Cameras Identify Suspect Leads
On 11/29/25, Marin County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the report of a robbery with a firearm which had just occurred fronting a victim’s residence. Through the investigation it was discovered that the victim had just made a $10,000.00 withdrawal from a local Wells Fargo and went straight home following the withdrawal. The suspect was described as a black male adult, wearing a mask and pointed a handgun at the victim, demanding their cash. The suspect was driving a gray Volkswagen Taos during this incident.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that a Wells Fargo customer had reported a similar incident which had occurred on 9/2/25. The victim in that incident had also made a large cash withdrawal from the same Wells Fargo branch.
Read Full Story Below
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Employee Spotlight
The Marin County Sheriff's Office is currently hiring for various positions. We have a link at the bottom of the page for more information, but we want to highlight a current MCSO employee who exemplifies everything we are looking for in potential applicants.
Paul Sechler -Paul Sechler grew up in Lafayette, Ca. and attended Campolindo High School in Moraga, Ca. He attended UC Berkeley where he played soccer and majored in Landscape Architecture. Paul transferred to Cal. State Hayward (now known as Cal State East Bay) where he majored in Environmental Studies.
After graduating from Cal State Hayward, Paul worked as Commission Law Enforcement Officer for the Nation Park Service (Department of the Interior). He was stationed in Point Reyes National Seashore for eight years.
Paul was hired by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office in 1999. During his 27 year career with the Sheriff’s Office, he has worked in the Jail, the Transportation Unit, and the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) . Paul now works as a member of the Sheriff’s Office Re-Entry Team within the Custody Division. During Paul’s tenure as a Deputy Sheriff, he has faithfully worked as a Field Training Officer (FTO) for 23 years. Paul remains a dedicated and knowledgeable employee, who shares his knowledge and experience with his peers.
Paul was recently awarded the Sheriff's Office employee of the Year for 2025. He stated he was humbled and appreciative of the honor in receiving the award.
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National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 12-18th
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is celebrated this year between April 12-18th. The role of our call takers and dispatchers is immensely critical to public safety. Our dispatch center handles radio traffic and calls for service for 11 different law enforcement agencies and County resources, handling approximately 190,000 calls annually. please help us show appreciation for all the hard work they do!
Happy National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week!
Sheriff's Office In-Service Training
The Marin County Sheriff's Office conducts in-service training for sworn staff in bi-monthly training blocks. In order to train our roughly 200 staff members, we typically host (8) training sessions for each training block during each two-month cycle.
This year, MCSO staff members have already had training in the following areas:
First Aid, Search Warrant Writing, Death Investigations, Missing Person Cases and Search and Rescue Capabilities as well as Suicide Prevention.
The Sheriff's Office also conducts scenario based training in areas such as Use of Force/De-escelation, Crowd Control, and Active Attacker/Rescue Task Force Response, in partnership with local fire departments.
over the next few newsletters, keep an eye out for info about trainings we have hosted and how hands on practice helps build confidence in our equipment, prepare for critical incidents and strengthen the working relationship between law enforcement officers throughout the region.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Coffee With a Cop Event
April 28th, 2026 @ 8am-930am Marinwood Market- 155 Marinwood Ave San Rafael
Join us for our next Coffee with a Cop event in April, located at Marinwood Market. We would love to get to know you and share a cup on your way to work. The event runs from 8am-930am and we will have coffee to share.
Check out our social media and website for more dates coming soon.
Marin Farmers Market- Civic Center
Every Thursday 8am -1pm Marin Memorial Auditorium
Every Thursday, the Farmers Market is located at the Marin Memorial Auditorium on Civic Center Drive.
Every Sunday 8am-1pm Civic Center Parking Lot
Every Sunday, the Farmers Market is at the Civic Center, located in the parking lot near the South Archway.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Wednesday- Sunday 10-4pm
Bring the little ones for drop-in play at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. This is a great place for imaginations to run wild! located at Fort Baker in Sausalito. https://bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/
2025 Annual Report
Take a look at our 2025 Annual Report. This encompasses much of the great work our staff did throughout 2025.
The report is also posted to our website and social media sites.
2025 Annual Report
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Please follow the link below to sign up. This messaging system will be used in the event of a critical incident within the County. This database is different than other alert messaging systems and is used for high priority events only. |
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(Continued from above)
Case of the Quarter
This victim stopped at the YMCA in San Rafael where she was immediately confronted while still in her vehicle with her five-year-old daughter. The suspect pointed a handgun at her and forcefully pulled her purse from her. The suspect was driving a dark colored Jeep Grand Cherokee during this incident. This initial report was taken by the San Rafael Police Department.
Detectives obtained surveillance from Wells Fargo pursuant to a search warrant from the 9/2/25 and 11/29/25 incidents. The robbery which occurred on 9/2/25, a dark colored Jeep Grand Cherokee can be seen following the victim out of the parking lot as soon as they exit the Wells Fargo. On the 11/29/25 incident, a gray Volkswagen Taos can be seen following the victim’s vehicle.
Utilizing FLOCK ALPR for the 11/29/25 incident, a Volkswagen Taos matching the suspect vehicle was found exiting the shopping center prior to the robbery. Detectives were able to confirm during the robbery, stolen license plates were affixed to the vehicle, but through the FLOCK system, they were able to identify the correct license plate and the registered owners address was in Vallejo.
Through the extensive investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for the GPS location data of the Volkswagen and were able to get its location data which placed it at the Wells Fargo prior to the robbery and at the victims’ address at the time of the robbery.
A warrant was granted for the call detail records of the registered owner of the Volkswagen, Danielle Torres.
A short time after receiving the data for Torres’ call detail records, on 1/14/26, the Novato Police Department received a report of a similar robbery. Their victim had withdrawn over $90,000.00 from a Go Fund Me account and was followed home. He was also robbed at gun point by a black male adult wearing a mask.
A day after Novato PD’s robbery, Torres posted on her Instagram several photos of herself and a male subject spending several thousand dollars at a jewelry store in Concord. Detectives followed up at the jewelry store and found the male gave the name, Alexander Cunningham.
The Novato Police Department assisted in the investigation by obtaining a search warrant for the call detail records for Cunningham. Cunningham’s call detail records placed him at each one of the robberies at their times of occurrence. It was also discovered through Cunningham’s call detail records that he was in communication with a teller who had been working on the day of all three robberies, Alexis Flores.
Ramey warrants were obtained for Cunningham, Torres and Flores. On 2/5/26, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Special response Team served the warrant and took Cunningham into custody without incident.
On the same day, the Novato, San Rafael, Central Marin SWAT team took Torres into custody while Marin County Specialized Investigative Unit (SIU) member’s took Flores into custody.
Search warrants were executed at each individuals residence. In Cunningham’s residence, approximately $176,000.00 in cash, ammunition, approximately 1 kilo of cocaine, an extended magazine, other miscellaneous narcotics were located. Jewelry and a Mercedes which were suspected to have been purchased with funds from the robberies were also seized.
The bank teller, Flores provided a full confession and admitted assisting Cunningham with the robberies by notifying him when large withdrawals were made.
All three were booked into the Marin County Jail and the Federal Bureau of Investigations and may be charging the individuals with federal banking crimes.
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The Marin County Sheriff's Office is Hiring!
We currently have openings for sworn and non-sworn positions. Members of our Professional Standards Unit can help set up a ride-along or tour of the Jail, Communications Center and more for applicants. Click the link below for more details about current openings!
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Stay in contact with us
Facebook, Instagram, X, & Nextdoor
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Non-Emergency Line
415-479-2311
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In an emergency, call
911
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