Sonoma County Sheriff's Office veteran appointed assistant sheriff

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Patrol Capt. Rob Giordano has been appointed an assistant sheriff under newly re-elected Sheriff Steve Freitas.

Freitas announced the appointment Monday to replace Assistant Sheriff Lorenzo Dueñas, a Santa Rosa native who is retiring in August after 25 years with the office.

Giordano joined the sheriff’s office in 1996 and since 2012 has overseen the daily operations of the field services department. Giordano also represents the Sheriff’s Office as an adviser to the county’s Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force subcommittee on community policing.

“What he’s known for is getting along with people within the sheriff’s office, at the county and, most importantly, out in the community,” Freitas said.

Giordano began his law enforcement career in 1989 with the Pittsburg Police Department in Contra Costa County. He was hired by the Sheriff’s Office in 1996 and has worked throughout the department in investigative roles with the sexual assault/domestic violence and violent crimes units and has held posts at the Roseland and Sonoma Valley substations as well as with the Sonoma Police Department, which is run by the Sheriff’s Office.

Giordano was promoted to lieutenant in 2011 and to captain in 2012.

Lt. Clint Shubel, a 17-year department veteran, will be promoted to patrol captain. Shubel started his law enforcement career with the Sausalito Police Department. Since 1997, he’s worked with the Sheriff’s Office in assignments including the SWAT team, the Sonoma Police Department and as a violent crimes detective. He headed the coroner’s unit as a sergeant.

Raised in Roseland, Dueñas served in the Marine Corps for six years, then attended Santa Rosa Junior College before getting a job as a Healdsburg police officer. Dueñas has been an assistant sheriff since 2010.

The assistant sheriff holds the top post when the sheriff is away and manages a broad set of administrative duties from discipline to hiring.