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Acknowledge notice from Thomas A. Ferrara, Solano County Sheriff/Coroner, of his retirement effective September 25, 2025; and Consider appointing Undersheriff Brad DeWall to serve the remainder of the unexpired term of Solano County Sheriff/Coroner
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Acknowledge receipt of notice from Sheriff Thomas A. Ferrara of his retirement from the Office of Solano County Sheriff/Coroner, effective September 25, 2025; and
2. Consider appointing Undersheriff, Brad DeWall to serve the remainder of the unexpired term as Solano County Sheriff/Coroner, effective at 5:00 p.m. on September 25, 2025.
SUMMARY:
On July 9, 2025, Sheriff Thomas A. Ferrara informed the Board that he will retire, effective September 25, 2025, after 42 years of dedicated service as a California peace officer (Attachment A). His retirement will create a vacancy in the Office of the Sheriff that the Board must fill for the remaining 39 months of the current term, which runs through January 8, 2029.
Pursuant to Government Code §25304, the Board of Supervisors shall fill a vacancy in an elective county office by appointment. The appointee serves the remainder of the unexpired term, currently for the Office of the Sheriff through January 8, 2029, consistent with case law and a California Attorney General’s opinion clarifying that “the next general election” refers to the next regular election for that office, not the next election chronologically.
The County Administrator and Sheriff Ferrara recommend that the Board appoint current Undersheriff Brad DeWall to fill the vacancy based on his exceptional qualifications, extensive experience, and the critical need for stability and continuity in leadership in the Sheriff’s Department. It would also further succession planning, as recently discussed by the Board in conjunction with the MES Consultant, LLC presentation on the Inclusive Leadership Program.
DISCUSSION:
Sheriff Ferrara gave notice of his retirement (Attachment A) which will be effective September 25, 2025 and will result in a vacancy in the Office of the Sheriff/Coroner. Under Government Code (GC) §25304, the Board is required to fill this vacancy by appointment. This appointee will serve through January 8, 2029, the end of the current term.
While GC §24105 allows the Undersheriff to temporarily perform the duties of the Sheriff upon a vacancy, an appointment by the Board is required and must occur within a reasonable time.
Under GC §24105, when a vacancy occurs, the Undersheriff temporarily assumes the duties of the Sheriff until the vacancy is filled, as provided by law. However, this section does not confer the title or full authority of Sheriff upon the Undersheriff. Rather, it allows the Undersheriff to carry out the day-to-day responsibilities of the office until an appointment is made in accordance with GC §25304.
Accordingly, the Board has the option to take no action, in which case the current Undersheriff would retain his position while also temporarily performing the duties of the Sheriff, as permitted under GC §24105. However, allowing the Undersheriff to carry out the roles of both Undersheriff and Sheriff for an extended period is not advisable, as it limits the department’s leadership capacity. Appointment of the Undersheriff to Sheriff would allow for the timely filling of the Sheriff position, as required, preserving a strong and effective command structure, which is critical given the breadth of the Sheriff’s Office responsibilities.
An alternative approach would be to conduct an open recruitment with interviews conducted in public; however, this approach would be time-consuming, resource-intensive, and is unlikely to yield a candidate more qualified than the current Undersheriff, given his extensive experience, tenure, and familiarity with the operations and leadership needs of the Solano County Sheriff’s Office.
Furthermore, the Board recently addressed a similar mid-term vacancy in another elected county office through a direct appointment without conducting a recruitment process. When the acting Auditor-Controller retired mid-term, the Board appointed the Chief Deputy Auditor-Controller to serve the remainder of the unexpired term (the Assistant Auditor-Controller position was vacant). That decision was based on the appointee’s qualifications, knowledge of departmental operations, and the importance of maintaining continuity in leadership, circumstances that closely parallel the current situation with the Sheriff’s Office.
Appointing Undersheriff DeWall would be consistent with the Board’s prior practice and ensures stability and continuity in leadership during a critical period. This approach aligns with the County’s commitment to effective governance and minimizes disruption to public safety operations.
Undersheriff DeWall, began his career with the Solano County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 and brings more than 34 years of extensive law enforcement experience to the role. Throughout his tenure, he has served in numerous operational and leadership capacities, including assignments in the jail, patrol, and investigations. He has led several task forces, and specialized units, served as the Public Information Officer, and ultimately oversees day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office including jail operations and administration in his current role as Undersheriff. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Management, numerous professional certifications, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and is a veteran of the United States Navy.
Although the position will not officially become vacant until September 25, 2025, appointing Undersheriff Brad DeWall in advance will ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to the department’s operations. Should the Board support this recommendation, it is further advised that the Undersheriff position be filled promptly thereafter to maintain a complete and effective command structure.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Sheriff’s Office FY2025/26 Working Budget includes funding for the positions of Sheriff and Undersheriff; therefore, there is no additional financial impact to the County General Fund. The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose:
1. Not to appoint Undersheriff Brad DeWall to fill the unexpired term of the Sheriff; however, this alternative is not recommended as Undersheriff DeWall is more than qualified to assume the full responsibility of Sheriff and this action will ensure a smooth and orderly leadership transition and this appointment would ensure a timely filling of the Sheriff position.
2. Take no action, in which case the current Undersheriff would retain his position while also temporarily performing the duties of the Sheriff. However, this alternative is not recommended because the law requires the Board to fill the vacancy within a reasonable period of time and performing both roles may impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the leadership within the Sheriff’s Office, potentially creating challenges in managing the department’s complex operations over such an extended period.
3. Conduct an open recruitment; however, this alternative is not recommended as it would be time-consuming, resource-intensive, and is unlikely to yield a candidate more qualified than the current Undersheriff.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This agenda item has been prepared in consultation with County Counsel and Sheriff Ferrara.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION