Embedded Files
Paul Kovacich graduated from Sacramento's Bishop Armstrong Catholic High School in 1967. He then enrolled at Sacramento City College where he earned an AA degree in Social Sciences. In 1972, he graduated from Sacramento State with a BA degree in Criminal Justice.
While earning his undergraduate degree, he served with various administrative programs with the California Division of Forestry, US Forest Service, and California State Beaches & Parks.
His performance evaluations consistently noted a high level of performance, and he obtained multiple promotions and commendations.
PCSO Portrait of Sgt. Kovacich
Tracy Police Department, February 1973
•Paul started his career in law enforcement in Tracy, California. For the first thirteen months, he was assigned to the patrol division and was then transferred to the investigation division specifically working burglary and narcotics cases. During this time, he was elected President of the Tracy Police Officer's Association, training officer Tracy Reserve Officer Program, and was also coordinator of the TPD Cadet Program.
•Paul Kovacich resigned his position with Tracy PD to accept employment with Placer County Sheriff's Office, so that he and Janet could live closer to their parents in Placer County.
•Paul also had regular employment as a peace officer for the California State Fair in Sacramento beginning in 1978, and continuing through 1996.
•When Paul began with PCSO on November 13, 1974, he was initially assigned to the patrol division of the Auburn Office. By December of 1979, he was transferred to the Investigation Unit working burglary cases. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to the Tahoe Substation. During this same period, he had enrolled at Sacramento State for a master's degree in Police Science.
•Paul returned to the Auburn Office in the fall of 1981, and began his work with the PCSO Corrections Unit, where he continuously served for eleven years before retiring in February of 1992. Within the PCSO Corrections Unit, he served as the Jail Supervisor, Court Security Supervisor, Minimum Security and Work Furlough Programs. He was personally involved in the development of the replacement jail facility that opened in 1985.
•Building on his direct work experience as a K-9 supervisor, and on the work for his MA thesis, Paul Kovacich was selected to initiate a complete K-9 program for the entire department. He was promoted to Unit Supervisor, responsible for the advanced training, yearly budget, public demonstration and lectures. Under his direction, the PCSO program expanded to include a total of six K-9 teams. In addition to working with PCSO, he had a direct contract to provide services to Auburn Police Department.
•On October 14, 1975, PCSO Kovacich joined the officers from the force at North Lake Tahoe to capture Kenneth Meller. The subject's crime spree began with a bank robbery in Round Hill, Nevada. In flight from that scene, he drove to Zephyr Cove, where a Nevada State Trooper had pulled Meller over for speeding. The suspect fatally shot that trooper with a rifle, then fled toward California, making it into PCSO jurisdiction at North Lake Tahoe.
•Meller took four hostages at gunpoint near the Innisfree Beach area where a standoff with PCSO officers (including Kovacich) continued for hours. The ordeal ended after negotiations with Meller included his surrender and return to Nevada to face charges.
•Following the verdict, Kovacich and K-9 Adolph subdued Meller after a violent outburst in his cell at the Placer County Jail.
Photo: Steve Capps for Auburn Journal, Oct. 17, 1975
In November of 1976, Gerald Thomas Meller was tried and convicted in Auburn on homicide and given the death penalty. After the verdict, Meller was being held at the Placer Jail awaiting sentencing. Things had already been tense with Meller lunging at a news photographer after the verdict was read. Then, on the evening of December 3, the jail staff alerted to a "commotion" in his cell--Miller had got a hold of a 2 foot long board and was defying the staff on duty. Deputy Kovacich and K-9 Adolf responded to the jail and quickly got Miller to submit within minutes.
Auburn Journal, November 26, 1976
Letters of Appreciation from Sierra College
March 22, 1977 & December 15, 1978
•On March 2, 1978, Paul Kovacich and Adolph were called to the scene of the double murder of PG&E employees Carla Burkart and Bill Harrington, to assist with the search for the suspect:
Photo Credit: Steve Capps for the Auburn Journal
Photo Credit: Dennis Wyatt for the Roseville Press-Tribune
Photo Credit: Dennis Wyatt for the Roseville Press-Tribune
•On December 14, 1978, Lincoln Police Department called for an assist to apprehend an armed burglary suspect at the downtown pharmacy. PCSO Deputy Kovacich and K-9 Adolph actively participated in the arrest.
•On Friday, February 9th, 1979, Auburn PD responded to the Sprouse Reitz Store where Samuel Cleveland Mitcham was causing a disturbance. He was threatening the daughter of the owner, and trying to abduct her. As the responding officer attempted to subdue the subject, the offender bit the officer.
•Mitcham was apprehended at the scene and transported to the County Jail. The arresting officer's report shows that the subject was apprehended shortly after 1pm. On arrival, Mitcham refused to comply and had to be carried from the patrol car.
•Within a few hours, Mitcham is no longer in custody and has started a rampage at the shopkeeper's house. APD call for backup and Deputy Kovacich/K-9 Adolf responded and captured the suspect.
•The arresting officer's report clearly identified that the subject was a danger to the community:
Deputy Kovacich and K-9 Adolf received a commendation letter from
Auburn PD Chief Robert Hensley & Officer Adams
•As the memo from APD Adams makes clear, that department had been chasing Mitcham around the neighborhood surrounding the shopkeepers residence (Chamberlain Ave). "Within a couple of minutes" after arrival on scene, Deputy Kovacich and Adolph had Mitcham in custody.
•On January 26, 1980, Paul was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to the PCSO Substation at Tahoe City. More commendations followed:
•On January 27, 1982, Sgt. Kovacich completed the requirements to obtain a Supervisory Certificate from California P.O.S.T.
•On April of 1982, Paul completed his Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice at CalState Sacramento. The thesis submitted and accepted for his MA degree was a guideline for police departments to develop K-9 programs and training protocol.
•Also in April of 1982, Paul returned to Auburn where he became the Supervisor of Placer County Jail and began building a larger K-9 program for the entire department. He frequently conducted school demonstrations and received heartfelt letters of commendation:
PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMENTS
** PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR 1982 - 1983 **
Retired from Placer County Sheriff's Office
February 9, 1992
•In addition to serving with the Placer County Sheriff's Office, Paul Kovacich regularly worked the California State Fair. That event is held annually in Sacramento.
•From June, 1993 until his conviction in 2009, Paul was licensed as a Private Investigator and Agency Manager in California.
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