Lake County sheriff's captain involved in boat death is fired

<p>A Lake County Sheriff's captain who was involved in a fatal boating crash has been fired, county officials said.</p><p>Lake County Sheriff Rod Mitchell said he cannot discuss the reason Perdock left the department April 23, but Perdock had been on administrative leave and under internal investigation for months prior to his official last day.</p><p>High ranking county officials said Perdock was fired and is appealing the termination. His attorney, Alison Berry Wilkinson, declined to comment.</p><p>Perdock became a lightning rod for criticism of the Sheriff's and District Attorney's offices following the April 29, 2006, boating crash.</p><p>He was at the wheel of a speed boat that dark night when it slammed into a sailboat, killing one of the passengers and injuring several others.</p><p>Perdock, who was off duty at the time, was never charged with a crime, angering many boaters and residents.</p><p>Instead, Carmichael resident Bismarck Dinius, who was steering the sailboat, was tried for boating under the influence and causing great bodily injury. He was intoxicated and allegedly failed to ensure the sailboat's lights were illuminated.</p><p>Dinius was acquitted last year and has since filed a complaint with the county — a precursor to a lawsuit — alleging Lake County officials, including Sheriff Rod Mitchell, turned a blind eye to Perdock's culpability and instead tilted incriminating evidence toward Dinius.</p><p>At trial, the defense accused Perdock of tampering with the investigation.</p><p>His departure follows a series of resignations, firings and reprimands in the department.</p><p>One officer was fired after he allegedly posted confidential department reports on the Internet. Another was demoted after crashing a helicopter during an unauthorized training, and two others say they were either forced out or left because of untenable work conditions. </p><p>One of Mitchell's political challengers has accused the department of cronyism, mismanagement and racial discrimination.</p>