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Sheriff finds commander neglected his duty in Oceano

December 24, 2023

By KAREN VELIE

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office found that Commander Keith Scott neglected his duty when he failed to respond to multiple 911 calls during an Oceano Community Service District Board meeting in October. Scott has since been reassigned.

Following a meeting rife with confrontations and refusals to abide by the Brown Act, the attorney firm representing Oceano resigned in early October, though he said he would represent the district until a new attorney is hired. Attorney Daniel Cheung then asked the sheriff’s office to have a deputy present at the upcoming Oct. 25 meeting.

However, instead of attending the Oct. 25 meeting or sending a deputy, Commander Scott watched the meeting online while having a civilian observer in the audience.

During public comment, Director Shirley Gibson’s husband Ron Gibson chastised Director Charles Varni for allegedly verbally accosting his wife outside a meeting.

Shortly afterwards, Varni called 911 to report that Ron Gibson approached him during a break and threatened him, however Scott did not send a deputy to the meeting. In total, there were four 911 calls made during the meeting and no response.

Varni and a meeting attendee then reported Commander Scott’s failure to respond and the sheriff’s office launched an investigation.

“The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has completed the investigation into your complaint of neglect of duty against Commander Keith Scott,” according to an email from Commander Trevor McKim. “After a thorough investigation, the complaint has been sustained. This means that the allegation of neglect of duty was found true by the sheriff’s office.”

 


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Charles Varni needs to be removed from the Oceano Community Services District Board, once he leaves, we will see a return to normalcy.


6

Typical mr Varni.

Bullying people and calling for help.

the commander knew what going on.

Lets keep the patrol officer respond to real 911 call.as long as mr varni will hold this job, it will be chaos there


3

Anyone know what Commander Scott’s total compensation is?


0

TOTAL compensation (includes $93k in benefits) $184,484.00.


-2

Let me guess, the sheriff’s office will investigate themselves and find no wrongdoing, or in this case incompetence and sloth, has been committed. Well done Parkinson. At least no one has been tortured to death by deputies at the jail since 2018, so progress?


-4

The Sheriff’s Internal Affairs division found Scott “neglected” his duty.


Sitting in his office watching streaming video, failing to answer 911 calls based on an untrained “civilian’s” interpretation of the situation, IS neglegence.


0

How about some prosecution for false 911 calls? Has someone had a medical emergency? Is someone brandishing a weapon and/or making criminal threats? If not, I urge Sheriff’s deputies to sit on their butts, take a well deserved break, and wait for a real call for service. i know you’ll be there when needed.


24

Don’t blame the Sheriff’s department for OCSD malfunction. i have been to many contentious SLO City Council meetings over multiple decades, not a single SLOPD officer required.


17

If only Gibson and his two lemmings Ortiz-Legg, and the chameleon Pauling were held to the same standards as county servants.


21

It took a lot of effort, taxpayer money and persuasion to get a Sheriff’s sub station in Oceano.


And now to hear they just watch TV and sit on their butt and ignore four 911 calls is outrageous.


And they’re getting ready to do the same inefficient and ineffective thing in Nipomo.


With respect to Commander Scott being reassigned, it should have stated Comander Scott resigned.


-11

But as usual with government/public service there will be no real consequences for failing to do your job, either a transfer, retirement, or other type of result, maybe just a slap on the wrist for looks.


15
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