Personnel and Compensation Committee approves two promoted positions in District Attorney’s Office

The Personnel and Compensation Committee approved two promoted positions in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office at its April 20 meeting.

Kathy Stegenga moved to create one additional Deputy Chief Criminal Investigator position under the DA Investigators salary schedule with a stated current annual salary of $151,708.76 and noted one incumbent would be entitled to permanent status; Robert C. Sassi seconded the motion and it passed with the committee voting "all in favor." David M. Hoovler, District Attorney, described the request as administrative steps to permit internal promotions, saying, "Both of his requests are for housekeeping purposes so they can open positions to promote people, so that underneath them can move up." He added that the office has "twenty-two investigators" divided into five units — "Forensics, Narcotics, General Litigation, Arson, and Crime Scene" — and that adding the deputy does not increase the overall size of the office.

Hoovler told the committee the new deputy would oversee the units and handle special investigations; the move, he said, is intended to support staff retention and maintain current operating standards. Chairman Stephen R. Hunter, Jr. clarified that the action promotes an existing individual and that the department does not plan to backfill the resulting slot. After the vote, Mr. Sassi requested a future update/presentation on the District Attorney’s Office, which Hoovler agreed to provide.

The committee also approved a separate motion to create an Executive Assistant District Attorney position, Grade 27 (DA Executive ADA salary range $92,718–$214,754). Hoovler described the candidate as an experienced litigator and writer and framed the promotion as necessary to provide additional supervision; committee members were told no additional funding is required and the motion passed unanimously.