Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 09/10/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DA HIRES VETERAN OFFICERS FOR BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced the recent addition of three personnel to the Bureau of Investigations. In the past few months, the office hired John McCutcheon, Ed Hemphill, and Tim Dempsey as Investigators.

District Attorney Passalacqua stated, "These three individuals are top-notch peace officers who are well respected throughout the county and state. DA Investigators McCutcheon, Hemphill, and Dempsey bring extensive knowledge and experience in law enforcement to the office."

John McCutcheon, a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, recently retired from his position of Supervising Sergeant of the Investigations Bureau for the Ukiah Police Department after serving the Ukiah community for 23 years. As Detective Sergeant, McCutcheon was extensively involved in working with Sonoma County law enforcement on regional gang issues. His duties also included being the department liaison to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office, Courts and other allied agencies. Investigator McCutcheon recently moved to Sonoma County and began working at the DA’s office on May 8, 2007.

Ed Hemphill received his bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University. He began his career in law enforcement at Berkeley Police Department in 1973 and transferred to Santa Rosa Police Department in 1980, where he rose through the ranks to Lieutenant. He served the Santa Rosa Community in a variety of assignments including narcotics, SWAT, and violent crimes investigations. After 27 years of service with Santa Rosa Police Department, then Lieutenant Hemphill retired to begin his position as Investigator with this office on May 8, 2007.

Tim Dempsey, a Sonoma State alum, has worked in law enforcement for the past 28 years. After serving with the Eureka Police Department, he relocated to the San Francisco Police Department in 1982. His last role in the San Francisco Police Department was as an Inspector in the Special Investigations Division, investigating public corruption. He also served two years as a Homicide Inspector and five years as a deputized US Marshall for the FBI where he targeted the public gang leadership, and co-authored the Federal Wiretap Order in that case. Investigator Dempsey has been residing in Sonoma County for four years and started with the Bureau on August 14, 2007.