Aug. 16--MODESTO -- Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson has publicly apologized for using the term "limp, lame and lazy" when referring to a list of deputies unable to work because of injuries or family medical leave.
The demeaning name for the list was the focus of some testimony in a civil trial. Former deputy Dennis Wallace sued Stanislaus County, alleging discrimination after he was forced out of his job.
Wallace claims Christianson, his administrative staff and the county did not allow him to return to work after a series of on-duty injuries.
The trial ended Wednesday with a hung jury. The jurors, however, voted unanimously that the Sheriff's Department and the county did not discriminate against Wallace.
Christianson testified during the trial he used the term "limp, lame and lazy" when dealing with staff reductions forced by budget cuts. He said Thursday he regrets making those comments.
"They were never meant to be disparaging or demeaning," Christianson said. "The comments were simply made out of frustration."
In his public letter to The Bee, Christianson wrote, "I offer my sincerest apologies to those individuals affected and to the community we serve."
Wallace said Thursday that Christianson's apology doesn't seem to be sincere. He said it's a first step in acknowledging the sheriff made mistakes, but the apology is too late.
"Any apology is great, but why wasn't it done at trial? Why wasn't it done before trial," Wallace said. "If he was truly sincere, why didn't he apologize at trial?"
The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for four days. The majority voted that Wallace could do the job of a deputy without presenting a danger to himself and others.
But the jury couldn't obtain a majority of nine votes when deciding whether the county offered Wallace appropriate accommodations to continue working after his injuries. The jurors also couldn't determine whether the county's process was adequate in helping Wallace find an appropriate job.
See Friday's Bee and modbee.com for more on this story.
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