Officer Ingrid Braun
46-year-old Ingrid Braun sees a disconnect between the Mono Sheriff’s Department and the communities they serve. “It’s an us versus them mentality,” she said. Braun hopes her run for Sheriff will change that. The former LAPD Lieutenant and current Mammoth Reserve Officer said she came to the decision to run for office reluctantly.
Officer Braun said she did not accept the idea of running for Mono County Sheriff easily or even voluntarily. Braun said she thought about it earlier and dismissed the idea, but then, she said, she was contacted by many people throughout the County – leaders and others who asked her to run. After talking with family and friends, she decided she would take on Sheriff Ralph Obenberger. Braun said without a challenger, there would be “no forced discussion. There has been a lot of talk” she said, “but not a lot of answers.”
Braun declined to make personal comments about Sheriff Obenberger, but she did say, “It’s time for a change in leadership and how the Sheriff’s Department interacts with local people and tourists.” Braun said she believes there is a disconnect between the Sheriff’s Department and the community it serves. Braun said she heard feedback on what has been described as Sheriff Obenberger’s defensive response to questions from County Supervisors about his saturation patrol in August. Braun concluded that “the Supervisors were just doing their jobs.” She also made it clear her Department would enforce the law but have more involvement within the community and less on Highway 395.
Since she announced, Braun said the feedback has been “really enthusiastic.” One of her supporters, she said, is former Mono Sheriff Digger Wilson. Braun now spends time on organization of her campaign and collection of signatures. She said, “I have about 100 signatures in less than a week. I’m talking to Supervisors, former Supervisors, community leaders and others.”
Braun worked for the Mono Sheriff’s Office briefly as a deputy. Obenberger terminated her a week before her probationary period ended. He told Braun it was best for the “big picture.” He declined to comment to us at the time. Sources have said the Sheriff is now telling some people that he ended Braun’s job because of three mishaps with her patrol car. Braun admitted she is “not the best off-road driver. She said, “I’m better at driving in the snow now. Nobody’s perfect. Deputies do have crashes. It happens a lot when covering 3300 square miles.”
Braun has 21 years under her belt as a Los Angeles Police Officer with experience as a watch commander, head of a gang narcotics’ unit, an investigator and supervisor of an Internal Affairs Unit and other tasks. She retired as a Lieutenant.
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OMG…your deductive reasoning is the worst I’ve ever seen. Let me see, how about this deduction…since I’ve been alive, there has never been a nuclear attack…therefore, my existence stops nuclear war. Right on! Let’s hope I never die!
The ultimate goal of law enforcement is to develop a safe living and working environment for the citizenry. The MCSO has done that. All that horrific violence in the LA basin simply doesn’t happen here. This situation is no accident, Sheriff Obe works hard at making our lives here safe and enjoyable. To do so requires making some tough decisions. And let me gently remind the lifetime civilians here (I’m a vet) that law enforcement is not a democracy, it’s organized and run along military lines. Which translated means that Sheriff Obe is the Captain of the boat, and the Captain’s word is law. I say: elect Sheriff Obe on 3 June and continue a safe and enjoyable lifestyle.
This was not the same accident, but he did have this one also. All motor vehicle accidents while on duty or in a county vehicle will be investigated and all reports of his multiple accidents SHOULD be in his personnel file. I would say the sheriff’s department should provide you with the accurate information regarding all his accidents.
Rumor has it the boys in Bridgeport are very nervous! The Sheriff’s Department for the most part is comprised of hard working professionals who try to do the right thing. Unfortunately, the wrong people were promoted to positions they were not qualified to hold. Promotion by the “good old boy” standards not by experience and accomplishments. A case could be made that Obenberger doesn’t know any better when it comes to personnel matters as he has no experience in dealing with them and the people advising him ie Weber and the current jail lieutenant know even less! It’s time to bring the department into at least the 1990s!
I would like to throw in two cents reference the traffic collision argument.
Firstly, law enforceent driving is not civilian driving. The circumstances surrounding Ms.Braun’s vehicle collisions occurred off road and in snow during the course and scope of her duties during calls for service. Deputies in Mono County drive over ten hours a day and often cover over 300 miles per shift in adverse weather and off road conditions.
In summary, three minor collisions with fixed objects (keeping in mind not with other vehicles thus incurring no secondary liability to the county) are not fireable offenses.
Secondly, Ingrid was not terminated for this reason. This is a simple and obvious scapegoat. Sheriff Scholl hired Ingrid due to her experience and because he believed a combination of this experience and a female deputy would be good for the county.
Upon Scholl’s retirement, Obenberger, and other administration, fearful of an outsider with superlative experience, and the presence of a female with that experience terminated her prior to her probationary period ending. Keep in mind after the end of a public service probationary period a public employee cannot be terminated without cause.
To further argue this point, the dept. no longer employs a female deputy nor has it for over a decade since the last female deputy was, well you guessed it, fired…..
Its obvious. Ingrid was a threat and was terminated.
Perhaps we should reflect on Interim Sheriff Obenberger’s driving record…. I recall him broad siding another motorist in Lee Vining after running a stop sign with a brand new trainee riding in his patrol vehicle on his first day of training. A fine demonstration of the end result of an egregious vehicle code violation. This violation resulted in damage to county property as well as liability due to an at fault collision with another motorist. Something Ingrid never did. There are other vehicle mishaps as well. Perhaps Ralph would like to disclose a full and complete list of his career driving incidents for comparison..
Every cop crashes a car. The way cops drive and the situations they are put in almost mandate it. To call into question Ingrid’s administrative experience over it is ridiculous…
Reply from Sheriff Obenberger’s Office:
After researching this topic, Sheriff Obenberger was involved in a Traffic Collision back in 2002. He was proceeding out of a residential driveway area when another vehicle turned into the same driveway at which point the vehicles collided. There is no stop sign at this location. A report was taken by the California Highway Patrol and no injuries were sustained by any of the vehicles occupants. CHP no longer has the report on file due to their report retention policy. Sheriff Obenberger did not receive any disciplinary action due to this incident.
Gee…Fired for no reason after wrecking three cars. I would of fired any of my guys for a 2nd accident in one year. I wonder how much discipline Ingrid has had in her career? According to the LA Times she has she was present during the Rodney King incident AND received discipline for JUST hanging out and watching the most historic civil rights beating off all time caught on film. Bennet can you confirm this and let us know if this is the same person so the truth can come out? I have lived in LA for over 40 years and I have absolutely no respect for any of the dirty LAPD officers!!!!
http://articles.latimes.com/1991-07-30/news/mn-127_1_king-beating
My maiden name is Larson, and yes, I was a “bystander” at the Rodney King incident. This incident forever changed law enforcement in Los Angeles, California and throughout the country. Much could have been done differently, and is done differently today with more tools and better training.
Mr. Turner’s characterization lacks accuracy and context, so I will explain further. March 3, 1991, was my fifth day out of the police academy. My partner and I arrived at the scene more than half-way through the incident, and Mr. King was handcuffed within 30 seconds of me exiting the patrol car. Everyone present at the scene was brought up on disciplinary charges. The LAPD attempted to fire most of the tenured officers and one probationary officer. The four involved officers were terminated. All of the “bystander” tenured officers fought their dismissals and retained their jobs, and nearly all were cleared of any misconduct, including my training officer. All “bystander” probationary officers were suspended. I appealed the reported 10-day suspension through the Skelly process and received a reduced 5-day suspension. Due to our probationary status, we were unable to substantially challenge our suspensions and were forced to accept them.
Both the MLPD and the MCSD knew my disciplinary history prior to hiring me. The LAPD clearly knew it before promoting me. Those are my only suspension days. And in my nearly 21 years of service, I was involved in two traffic accidents, neither of which was determined to be my fault.
I just wanted to say please don’t let the dirty politics that have obviously started bother you. I am sure that tidbit of information came from the portliest of the goons and was desseminated out to sully your reputation. I am sure it won’t be the first or the last time it happens. I appreciate you being open and addressing the issues properly. That in of itself shows everyone that you have a quality that the current sheriff does not. I appreciate Dan Watson for the same reason. Glad you are following his example and being candid and open with the public.
I beg to differ,Scott…the MOST horrific and historic civil rights beating ever caught on film of ALL time was the police video camera footage of the beating death of Kelly Thomas in Fullerton. Rodney King was beaten and out of the hospital the NEXT day. Kelly Thomas took a one-way trip to the morgue.
Thanks Rick, I wrote comment here about Kelly Thomas and couldn’t bring myself to submit it. I didn’t want to say something I might truly regret. Watching the full thirty five minute video of his “arrest” turned my stomach.
Make that broke my heart.
Wow LEO
Citing biblical verses & integrity!!
This wouldn’t be the same deputy that cheated?
I have known Ingrid for more than 20 years while on patrol, detectives, Internal affairs and we also taught sergeant school together for several of those years. She is a wealth of knowledge as a leader, peer, and a good cop. She embraces the community policing effort made by our department and she would be a great Sheriff.
If you were going to make a change why not elect someone who has the skills set to actually make change rather than keep continuing with an atmosphere of “Us against them.”
It would be a real shame if the Mono County Good Ol’ Boy Club got broke up. Maybe Dan Paranick could lobby to get some kind of legislation passed to make Mono County exempt from elections.
Ingrid, Thank you for telling us the details of your auto mishaps. They are all obviously very minor. Things do happen. The fact that you may not be the best off-road driver does not mean you won’t be a good sheriff. What we need in the top position are high ethical standards. We don’t elect a sheriff for their driving skills.
I have known Ingrid Braun for about 15 years. I worked for her as a field supervisor while she was a watch commander. I can say with absolute certainty that her integrity is beyond reproach. She has qualities about her that balance heart and head without disregarding either. I have seen first hand the professional standards that she sets and the fair and balanced discipline she imposes. I will not speak on her opponent but I will opine that Ingrid would be a valuable asset to any professional Department she would lead.
I used to work with Ingrid with LAPD. Even as a young officer and detective, she was always intelligent, hard working and knew her job. As she rose through the ranks to Lieutenant she was well respected and outstanding supervisor. As with any job, public or private, a new boss won’t be able to change things overnight, but I believe she will make an outstanding Sheriff.
LAPD wrote the book on us vs them policing. They behave like an occupying army rather than a police force. When I hear words like that from anyone who rose up in the ranks of LAPD I just roll my eyes and shake my head. Don’t let the smile fool you, LAPD officers are rough customers. I know, I grew up under their boot.
Ingrid sounds solid to me… She appears thoughtful, caring and very methodical… I have never met or do I know Ingrid but she appears to have vision, balance, faith and Trust from the Mono County Community … In complete honesty, and per confidentiality, I understand why the current Sheriff can not disclose some information Ingrid. Ingrid, to me, sounds pretty solid… Don…
It’s ashame that we can’t elect a new CHP Commander for Bridgeport area which includes Mammoth while we are at it.
In general I am not in favor of electing sheriffs or a CHP chief were that possible. I feel strongly that the top law enforcement officer in a jurisdiction should be answerable to an elected representative body, and an elected sheriff is not. As with the military, law enforcement should be answerable to our elected representatives.
But beyond that, what is going on with the CHP the last ten years or so? They used to be the most professional law enforcement agency in the state with level headed officers who were the least likely to over step their bounds or violate your rights. But in the past decade they have become as arrogant and abusive as the old LAPD I remember so well. What dymanic has changed the CHP so drastically?
DT…their dynamic HAS changed drastically because they’re hiring the boys and girls that are coming home from the middle east that have seen too much,too fast and are programmed to be SOLDIERS, not peace officers. (my opinion only). ,There’s an officer (CHP) up north somewhere, being investigated for nearly beating a trucker to death, who was hired even AFTER they knew he was a former MMA fighter. What does that say for the CHP hiring practices ?
Mr. Rick, as a veteran of both wars I am offended you would assume we as vets are crazy because we have seen combat. The whole “PTSD” diagnosis is used too often and abused to get $$$, and that’s it.
I can only assume from your comment you are not a veteran of any branch of service and have no idea what you’re talking about. I am a good cop and I have served nearly three years in the middle east. I have seen combat (more than some less than others) and have assisted in taking lives. I have a solid head on my shoulders and so do my brothers and sisters in arms. It’s people like you which taint the image of our vets coming back.
Yes, there are bad apple in every professions; and maybe a few of those apples are veterans. But they do not represent the body of those who are being hired.
And to address the CHP issue….it is not that they are hiring “crazy” veterans; it is that they have raised their standards (minimum passing scores) on their written tests. This has disqualified many men and women who have common sense but are not book smart. CHP is trading scores for common sense. That is AN issue….not THE issue. CHP is a good agency and the majority of their officers are good men and women.
Deputy-Vet.. my comment was not to disparage returning vet’s. It was to question the hiring practices of some law enforcement agencies, namely, the CHP. There is NO WAY, a former MMA fighter should be wearing a badge and a gun. Maybe they should put more emphasis on their background investigations for prospective cadets than they do on their written tests. The written tests are nothing but common sense and anyone that can’t pass one shouldn’t be driving a garbage truck. I’m glad you got out of there with a solid head on your shoulders and I thank you for your service.
Funny how he goes from “looking at the big picture’ to “she abused her patrol vehicle”. I can’t even BEGIN to say how much I look forward to a debate between these two. Hopefully, it will be held on neutral ground where Ralphie can’t attempt to intimidate the crowd with his goon squad.
Good point Big Rick. The “Goon Squad” technique did not work out so well for Ralph when he used it to try and intimidate the Board of Supervisors. It sounds like they are the ones that called Ingrid and asked her to run for sheriff!
Thanks Goon Squad! Keep it up.
Our Sheriff needs to be challenged and held accountable to the folks that hired him! We have a chance to hire a fresh thinking and acting top cop to reign in this office. Go Ingrid!!!!!
I’m pleased there may be a real election instead of passing of the torch, and maybe a well past due image change of the Sheriff’s Department within the local community too.
@BDGP
I am in total agreement with you and I am also glad there will be a real election. I am confident that Candidate Braun will be elected. I believe the citizens are tired of how the department is being run and the attitudes that are displayed by the current sheriff and his “Goon Squad” daily.
One thing that definitely needs to be kept in mind is Undersheriff Weber’s 1 year contract is up and the BOS are currently reviewing his job performance. They are trying to decide to renew it or not. I hope the citizens will speak out about this. From what I read on this blog they aren’t too pleased with his actions either. I also believe that if they do renew his contract that will impede the changes that a new sheriff would bring.
We need a change and for the community and I hope the BOS does their job and keeps what the citizens want in mind. I would find it hard to believe that after all these posts they cannot clearly see what Mono County citizens are sick and tired of.
Not too pleased with what “actions?”
Ms Braun, Please tell details of “mishaps” and what you would do with employee in same situation in terms of training and discipline.
She may have had her mishaps and can use that as a learning experience to train and educate our Deputies on slowing down and not tailgating, etc.
Slowing down when not in code and responding to a call would save Mono County countless dollars on wasted fuel, needless wear and tear, not to mention how many vehicles got wasted this year in deer strikes and never even making it to the call they were responding to.
BDGP, she has posted here before and I was honestly hoping she would answer as Chief Watson does. Plenty of people that learned to drive here would get in three accidents in the first six months driving in LA. If “mishaps” were the reason to fire her, then I want to know what she has to say before I vote.
I may not always respond in this forum, as I believe the discussions are healthy enough. But Pedro is right, I should explain my mishaps, which was my word choice, not Bennett’s.
In spring of 2012, I brushed a guardrail going up Deadman, causing paint transfer to the driver’s side of my patrol vehicle. In summer of 2012, I hit my passenger side mirror on a tree while driving at night on rugged off-road terrain north of 120 East. Another deputy and I were searching for lost tourists who were stranded. Finally, in winter of 2013, I was checking a campground off Rock Creek at night. I lost traction in the snow and struck the passenger side of my patrol vehicle on yet another tree. This time I broke the mirror and dented the side.
Each accident was my fault. None of the accidents involved other vehicles or caused injury. All of the accidents were with the same patrol vehicle, and only the last one put the vehicle out of service.
As for training and discipline, my approach would be progressive and responsive to each incident. A patrol deputy drives ten hours a day, four days a week, covering many miles in each shift. Accidents are bound to happen. For at-fault accidents, any training and/or discipline would be commensurate with the circumstances. For example, while with the LAPD, my husband had three minor accidents in less than two years. He received a two-day suspension for the last one. He never had an accident again. And, yes, he granted me permission to use him as an example.
I drive for a living, If I had repeat collisions w/ my company vehicle 3 times [especially during my probation period] I would expect to be terminated…Is it different because you are law enforcement?..Do as I say not as I do…..And as for the 2 times I called you[and when i had vehicle vandalism, thanks for the non follow up.
I have well over one million miles driving commercial vehicles including heavy school busses and gasoline tank trucks. Three at fault collisions in a year would have cost me my commercial license. The second one would have cost me my job.
Tom O & DT,
Don’t put your type of driving in the same category of Law Enforcement Officers. LE Officers are taught to drive much more aggressive than a commercial Truck Driver of or a driver of the Big Yellow Bus.
You missed the point, whatever. I guarantee you I have more experience in every scenario she mentioned, let alone winter driving….. just sayin
Thank you for the reply. What you describe wouldn’t keep me from voting for you and we can move on to other questions.
Buy a old car and practice off-road. Or use your boss’s like I do when they’re gone. Enter the Demolition Derby at county fair if you really want local respect.
DT
First, miles from playing grand theft auto don’t count. Second, if you’re not smart enough to replace a broken mirror or clean paint off vehicle yourself…. Third,… oh, just forget it.
Tom O,
I walked to school in the snow and it was uphill in both directions!
wow, that’s some impressive driving there… lol.
You sound like a nice person, honestly. And I might even vote for ya. But I’m sorry to say, I would’ve definitely have let you go too, crashing that many times in one year…
Good thing it really has little to do with being a good law enforcement officer.
good luck with the election!
I have to say I have Major respect for those who address the public concerns in any forum, There is much disconnect, and We must be receptive to one another if we really want better for ALL!
Special Thanks to Ingrid Braun and Dan Watson, for taking the time to respond to the people.. That’s leader status in my book!
In looking at all the comments in regards to Ingrid’s running for Sheriff it didn’t surprise me to see all the usual haters bashing the Sheriff dept. What’s funny to me is the lack of forward movement from those posting the bashing. Just for FYI, we won the war, Japan is no longer a threat! Sorry, had to do it, it won’t matter who is in office as sheriff those comments will always be there.
What did interest me was Ingrid’s comments that the Mono County Sheriff department has an “Us versus them mentality” and “it’s time for a change in leadership and how the Sheriff’s department interacts with local people and tourists”.
Now if she was referring to a larger agency, lets say in the LA area, I may have agreed with her. But saying that about the Mono County Sheriff department is way out of line. Talking about out of touch, unfortunately she needs to come up with something else to run on other than that.
The men and women of this department volunteer hundreds of hours to numerous organizations and community members throughout Mono County each year, and we donate into the thousands of dollars to these organizations and community members as well. That doesn’t come from an “us versus them mentality” Ingrid! You may want to do your homework before you attack my department! You don’t hear about all the great things we do because we don’t brag about it! Matthew 6:3,4 <<Bible verse look it up!
Now, on duty we put in more hours than what we are paid for, we help those who need it and those who don’t know they need it. We work holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, we work every day and we are committed to this county and all who visit it. The members of MCSD do everything from law enforcement to school events to changing tires on the side of the road. It would be a very long list to show everything we do as a department!
I believe you’re a good person, in fact I know you are. Don’t belittle yourself and make statements that are just not true! I’m sure you have people telling you what to say, and feeding you negative and fragmented information about MCSD. Reality is Ingrid; from December 2012, the day Ralph Obenberger took over this department, to date, this is a great department to work for. There is a family atmosphere here now, and that’s how it should be, that’s what community members should want for their Sheriff’s department.
Under this NEW administration a lot of great changes have come and it shows on a daily basis. It shows in the positive attitudes of everyone that works here. It shows in the work ethic of each person. Its shows in the backing that Sheriff Obenberger has from the members this department. I know of several department members that have offered him their time, talent and treasure (it’s biblical, look it up!) toward his campaign. In all my years I haven’t seen that kind of commitment from department members toward a sheriff. This is truly a great place to work and Sheriff Ralph Obenberger along with Robert Weber, Phil West and Mike Booher has made it that way. I’m sure I’m not speaking out of place when I say that 2013 was the best year this department has seen in well over a decade. That is a direct reflection of our NEW administration.
We are in the towns and communities more than ever, our cases have almost doubled and we have great people working here to support all of it. Again, what a great department!
Ingrid, the last statement of yours that stuck out was “the Supervisors were just doing their jobs.” Again, you don’t know what happened or what was happening. It is not the Board of Supervisors job to tell Sheriff’s department employees or any employee that they are the boss now! It is not their job to go around the county saying “I hold the purse strings now!” It is not there job to make uneducated statements that could jeopardize the county and its employees. What all that is called is an abuse of power, it’s a large ego, it’s called unprofessionalism and what it equals is a disservice to our county.
In closing, Ingrid before you start bashing MCSD with your negative statements, do some research. Oh and have some integrity, tell all the reasons that led up to your dismissal from the sheriff’s department and the reasons why you waited until now to divulge your car accidents.
The original story of your dismissal happened last year and you said nothing. We all know it wasn’t just crashing vehicles that led to your dismissal. Matthew 7:1-3 <<< Bible verse
God Bless
Just want to point out that Sierra Wave learned that Sheriff Obenberger had told some people that he fired Ms. Braun due to car crashes. She did not bring it up. She responded to it.
Benett Kessler
The more important issue should be why would the current Sheriff illegally divulge ANY personal matters?
A slightly smaller, yet important issue would be why wouldn’t the current Sheriff provide training for any employee who had a mishap in a vehicle?
Also, why wouldn’t the current Sheriff have informed Braun (in writing) that she was being terminated due to her driving mishaps?
Sound like he just didn’t want anyone in HIS department that understood Sheriff’s work for, not against the community.
I don’t believe probationary termination requires a reason.
Benett Kessler
While you are correct about not needing a reason to release an employee during probation it is extremely concerning that the County (Sheriff Obenberger) is publicly releasing confidential employment records/information. I would hope the County would investigate this breech of confidentiality immediately and take appropriate action. Highly unlikely though.
While probationary termination does not require a reason, it does show the current Sheriff’s lack of experience. When any employee has a performance problem, it is incumbent upon the supervisor/manager to counsel and train the employee. This method of leadership saves money and increases moral.
Failure to do so, results in most terminated employees suing your department (your county) and usually involves a financial cost (from you tax dollars).
When an employee is terminated because “they don’t fit the big picture” it shows a true lack of leadership, at best.
Luckily Deputy Braun made a reasoned decision NOT to take out her frustrations on the Mono County taxpayers, (by filing a law suit) and run for Sheriff.
There’s a disconnect alright – all you need to do is read the paranoid comments regularly
posted here on anything related to law enforcement.
Unfortunately a new Sheriff probably won’t be enough to overcome the deep seated issues some have with law enforcement, but maybe it will be a start.
I agree that it may not be enough to overcome the deep seated issues with our local LE, but non-the-less it is a start, a fresh one at that.
Maybe we can get our local LE to follow the law instead of being above it and possibly some education on the Constitution.
I don’t think everyone is parnoid, I think most are fed up with how things are being done and handled.
Well Charles, I don’t see my comments as paranoia, I like to think I have valid concerns for the society we live in, and this draconian justice system that feeds off the public is far from justice.
The paranoia that I see that is most damaging is the paranoia of how we look at one another, and fear what “could” happen.
I just wanted to say I am very hopeful that you are elected Ingrid, there is definitely a change needed for the community of Mono County. A lot of people have been hurt by the current administration and unfortunately a lot of good employees lost in the process, I also believe that the taxpayers of Mono County have been and will continue to be hurt by the current administration actions. Hopefully you can take over and make the necessary changes that are most definitely needed.
I agree with the changes that you have suggested and I hope you can make it a better work environment for the few remaining honest employees that are left on that department. I applaud you for stepping up for your community. Thank you and best of luck 🙂
Who exactly has been “hurt” and which “good employees have been lost”?
The fact that Braun already has support from a former Mono County Sheriff and several Mono County leaders at this early stage, speaks volumes about the total lack of leadership from Sheriff Obenberger and Undersheriff Weber.
I am sure that there are many employees who are terrified that Obenberger and Weber will cotinue their reign and are afraid to speak up.
Kudos to those Mono County leaders and citizens who are astute enough to realize the leadership problems at the Mono County Sheriff’s Department and were willing to contact Braun and give the people a choice on how they want THEIR sheriff’s department run.