Undersheriff Randy Peshon retires leaving a legacy of programs for the community

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There will be some very big shoes to fill when finding a replacement for retiring El Dorado County Undersheriff Randy Peshon. On Tuesday, June 30, Peshon will be putting his badge on for the very last time. For 43 years he's been in some level of law enforcement, the last 33 years in El Dorado County.

During his career in El Dorado County, Peshon has been at the forefront of change from implementing a change in culture at the jail in South Lake Tahoe to getting the new Public Safety Facility built under budget and ahead of schedule.

Peshon had originally planned for retirement "one day past the day we move into the new facility." They moved in partially on October 1 but the shooting death of Deputy Brian Ishmael 22 days later was a devastating loss to the department and he put his retirement plans on hold.

"I am thankful for Randy's leadership and knowledge that has served me, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and the people of El Dorado County well for many years. Programs and policies he helped create will benefit us all for many years to come," said El Dorado County Sheriff John D'Agostini.

Some of his accomplishments at El Dorado County Sheriff's Office:

- Launched the EDSO Homeless Outreach team which has resulted in a considerable reduction (down 87 percent) in chronic homelessness

- Created a multi-disciplinary team and deputy crisis intervention team, and Psychiatric Emergency Response team

- Initiated the El Dorado County Mental Health Court, bringing together five agencies, and applied for and received a Mental Health Services Act grant to fund the program

- Developed and implemented training and leadership programs for line staff, sergeants and lieutenants

- Created three resident deputy positions where the deputies live in the area they are responsible for - Cool, Mt. Aukum, and Pollock Pines. At the beginning of his EDSO career, Peshon did the same as he lived in Tahoma and that was the area he covered. He said deputies who live in the areas they patrol allows trust to be built and opens a dialog.

Peshon said his time in Tahoma was a "great assignment." He said being the only deputy you do everything for county government except for driving the snowplow. He acted as an EMT, Search and Rescue and all Sheriff functions including civil issues and being the coroner.

"It was a defining experience," he said. He sometimes would have to wait for help from Tahoe City in Placer County or count on the local bartender as back up. "You might have to arrest the person one week, and count on them the next week," added Peshon. "You learn a lot."

Peshon said the department's Psychiatric Emergency Response team puts a clinician in the car with the deputies, and the HOT team brings social services to those in need instead of them having to find the services, both programs making a difference.

"It's been amazing getting them through the system," said Peshon. They have an office in a trailer, one that is full of the resources homeless and those mentally challenged will need. They pull it up and connections to services are made right there.

Peshon said Sheriff D'Agostini pushes for total care for the community and instead of just evaluating deputies on arrests and citations, he evaluates them on how many times they get out of the car and into the community to talk and get to know them.

"I am humbled by the amount of trust he (Sheriff D'Agostini) put in me, and I have really enjoyed the experience," said Peshon. "The sheriff does everything by values and what is the right thing to do."

He has also used his talents with inmates at the jail. Just as they get to know the community outside of jail, deputies also get to know those housed in them.

"We are not there to punish them and we might as well start the conversation there as they'll be part of the community when they get out," said Peshon.

Peshon's law enforcement career includes three seasons with the National Park Service in the Badlands, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, and Death Valley. He was also with East Bay Regional Parks where he was law enforcement and covered the vast territory from the shoreline to wide-open lands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

One very memorial position he had was as a student at UC Berkeley. He was a student aide with the college's police department and would escort students home from the library or other areas of campus. The students would call their "escort service" and one night he got a call from a "nice, young lady who wouldn't talk to me in class." That young lady became his wife and they've now been married 35 years and she still jokes she met her husband by using an escort service.

Randy's wife Teresa will be retiring from Lake Tahoe Community College the same day as he retires from EDSO.

One of the more memorable cases Peshon has worked on is the Jaycee Lee Dugard kidnapping. He partnered with the FBI agent in town on the case, now-retired Chris Campion.

"I got to know Randy as a detective in 1997 while working the Jaycee Dugard kidnapping and the Michaud/Daveggio serial kidnap/rape/murder case. We've remained friends ever since," said Campion.

James Daveggio and Michelle Michaud lured a Pleasanton student into a specially rigged van where they sexually tortured and strangled her before dumping her body on a snowy embankment on SR88 in Alpine County. Both ended up receiving the death penalty.

"Working with Chris was phenomenal," said Peshon.

"As he rose up through the ranks, I was always impressed by the innovation Randy brought to each new assignment," said Campion. "He studied and brought new ideas to EDSO. Things people are calling for law enforcement to adopt now - mental health and drug treatment - have been in place for many years here, thanks in large part to Randy."

"I know the Sheriff and his staff in Placerville will miss having Randy as their 'go-to' guy. Randy will find a way to give back and share his knowledge and experience in so many areas - leadership, jail administration, building new facilities. He's devoted to learning and teaching. But I'm glad he'll also have more time to spend with his family, whom he adores and coming back to his beloved Lake Tahoe more often," add Campion.

Randy and Teresa will be grandparents for the first time in August. Their daughter, Dr. Mariko Peshon-McGary, is expecting and they are looking forward to their new roles. Their other daughter Kimiko is currently at home with the Peshons.

In retirement they'd also like to get a new trailer to hook up to the new truck and get some traveling in, but nothing too soon. They will still reside in the Angora area in South Lake Tahoe.

Peshon is still serving on the Alternative Courts Advisory Committee for the California State Judicial Council, he fourth term. He also wants to keep teaching, though where he isn't sure at this time.

"This has been an amazing adventure, and I’m going to miss it," said Peshon.

There will be a Proclamation in his honor read during Tuesday's Board of Supervisor's meeting:

Proclamation
In Recognition of
Randy Peshon
For His Outstanding Public Service

WHEREAS, El Dorado County Undersheriff Randy Peshon brings to a close a distinguished 43-year career in public service; and

WHEREAS, he has worked in patrol; as a Field Training Officer and Explorer Coordinator; in the courts; in Investigations, Search and Rescue and the Dive Team; and as Custody Commander and Custody Division Commander; and

WHEREAS, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Science degree in Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego, and is a graduate of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training’s Command College Program, and a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy; and

WHEREAS, he is currently serving his fourth term as a member of the Alternative Courts Advisory Committee for the California State Judicial Council; and

WHEREAS, throughout his tenure in El Dorado County, Randy has worked tirelessly to develop and implement training and leadership programs for line staff, sergeants and lieutenants; and WHEREAS, he initiated the El Dorado County Mental Health Court, bringing together five agencies, and applied for and received a Mental Health Services Act grant to fund the program; and

WHEREAS, he launched El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office’s Homeless Outreach Team, resulting in a considerable reduction in chronic homelessness; and

WHEREAS, he has always brought foresight, resourcefulness, care, planning and attention to his duties; and

WHEREAS, he has capped his career with five-and-a-half years as Undersheriff, a role in which he directed operations and functions of the Sheriff’s Office and implemented the Sheriff’s goals and policies; and

WHEREAS, on June 30, 2020, Randy Peshon commences his well-earned retirement with the respect and admiration of his colleagues, the entire leadership of El Dorado County, and the people he has served,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Board of Supervisors for the County of El Dorado does, with appreciation and gratitude, recognize Randy Peshon for his long and significant contributions to the County and for a public service career throughout which he has protected the lives of countless people.