The findings of a bullying investigation against the sheriff are again being blocked from release.
Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick is appealing a lower court’s ruling allowing the release of a bullying investigation prompted by Supervisor and Chairwoman Lynda Hopkins. With that, the court of appeals has ruled the records remain sealed pending full review. The case will likely take six to nine months to resolve. The case stems from a August 2020 phone call during the Walbridge fire from which Supervisor Lynda Hopkins is accusing Sheriff Essick of harassment and bullying.