Protecting Our Citizens
The patrol division of the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office is currently comprised of 4 sergeants and 16 patrol deputies. The patrol division is responsible for providing 24-hour law enforcement service throughout the unincorporated areas of Tehama County.
Law enforcement service includes protection of life and property, service of arrest warrants, and non-criminal related calls for service. This division is also responsible for conducting general criminal investigations, including death investigations, narcotic investigations, and juvenile investigations.
If you would like to participate in a “ride along” with a patrol deputy, complete the Citizen Ride Along form and drop it off at the Sheriff’s Office on Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff. A deputy will contact you to schedule the ride along, as staffing allows.
Honor Guard – In Valor there is Hope!
Pictured from left to right
(front row)
Deputy Shelley McCullough, CD Sergeant Colleen Lewis, Sergeant Andy Houghtby and Sergeant Rod Daugherty.
(back row)
Detective Sergeant Mark Levindofske, Deputy Mike Enyart, CD Scotty Kelley and CD Chris Thomas.
Lieutenant Rob Bakken
Lieutenant Bakken has worked for the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office since January 2001. During his employment with the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Bakken has held the ranks of Correctional Officer, Correctional Sergeant, Deputy Sheriff, Detective and Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Bakken began his employment in January 2001 as a Correctional Officer assigned to the Tehama County Jail responsible for the supervision and transportation of inmates. As a Correctional Officer, Lieutenant Bakken was assigned as the Jail Classification Officer, Inmate Programs Coordinator, Jail Training Officer, and Jail Training Coordinator.
Lieutenant Bakken attended the basic P.O.S.T. academy at Butte Community College in 2005. Upon graduation from the academy Lieutenant Bakken was promoted to the rank of Deputy Sheriff and was assigned to the patrol division. Lieutenant Bakken was assigned as a Field Training Officer and participated in the training of deputies in the patrol division and has been assigned as a shift supervisor for patrol shifts.
Lieutenant Bakken was promoted to the rank of Detective in 2018 and assigned to the Tehama Major Crimes Unit where he was assigned a variety of investigations including homicides, sexual assaults, and child abuse cases.
Lieutenant Bakken was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2021 and assigned to the Custody Division.
Lieutenant Bakken is currently assigned as the department Public Information Officer, Hostage/Crisis Negotiator, Computer Voice Stress Analyzer Operator and as a Report Writing Instructor.
When he is not at work Lieutenant Bakken enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
Sergeant Chris Benson
Sergeant Benson started his career in 1998 in the US Army. He spent three years stationed in Ft. Drum, NY. He was honorably discharged and was hired as a correctional officer in 2001. In 2003 he was called back to active duty and deployed to Iraq for the beginning of the war as Military Police.
Sergeant Benson attended the Butte Extended Academy and graduated in 2006. In February of 2007 he was promoted to deputy sheriff. Sergeant Benson has been assigned to various duties which include Patrol, S.W.A.T., Dive Team, Field Training Officer, T.I.D.E. Narcotics Task Force.
Sergeant Benson left Tehama County in 2018 and bought a ranch in Modoc county where he worked for 4 years as a patrol sergeant, training coordinator and K-9 handler.
Sergeant Benson returned to Tehama County in July 2022 as a patrol sergeant with his K-9 partner Rogue. Sergeant Benson has returned to the S.W.A.T. Team and is excited to help other deputies and employees reach their career goals.
Sergeant Zack Backus
Sergeant Backus began his Law Enforcement career in 2010 with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. While employed with Trinity County he served as a Correctional Officer, Dispatcher and Reserve Deputy Sheriff.
In 2014 he went to the Shasta County Marshal’s Office where he worked as a Bailiff. While primarily assigned to a trial court, he also worked in traffic court and family courtrooms.
In 2016 he was hired as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the Patrol Division for the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office and in 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant within the Patrol Division. In 2018 he was presented the Life Saving award for his actions on a traffic accident that he came upon, ultimately saving the life of a 17-year-old.
Sergeant Backus is currently assigned to the Crisis Negotiations Team as the Team Leader, Sheriff’s Honor Guard, a Terrorism Liaison Officer and the Tehama County Explorer Post Coordinator. His past assignments include being the City of Tehama Dedicated Area Deputy and Field Training Officer.
Sergeant Dustin Maria
Sgt. Maria began his career with the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office in August, 2012 as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. He promoted to Deputy Sheriff in April, 2013.
Sgt. Maria spent 6 years as a Patrol Deputy assigned to the operations division. During that time he has served as the Sheriff’s Explorer Advisor, President of the Tehama County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, First Aid/CPR instructor, Drone Operator, Field Training Officer, and promoted to Patrol Sergeant before pursuing an investigative assignment as a Detective. In 2023 Sgt. Maria promoted back to Patrol Sergeant.
Sgt. Maria has been awarded the Tehama County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association “Deputy of the year”, The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office “Case of the year”, and has been recognized by the California State Assembly for “Case of the Year”.
Sgt. Maria is a commercial helicopter pilot and was instrumental in the creation of the Sheriff’s Aviation program. When away from work, Sgt. Maria enjoys spending time with his dog, social events with friends and traveling.
Sergeant Steve Hoag
Sgt. Stephen Hoag served in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne 187th Infantry and upon completion of service in 1999, went into the law enforcement academy at Butte College where he began his law enforcement career.
Since graduating from the police academy in 2000, he has worked at the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office operating in the county jail as a Correctional Officer before becoming a Sheriff’s Deputy for the agency. As a peace officer he has been a Patrol Deputy and a Field Training Officer (FTO).
Sgt. Hoag worked in the Detectives Division as an Investigator for two years and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he became a Field Operations supervisor and has overseen the Dispatcher Unit and Animal Regulations Officers unit. Later in his career with the Sheriff’s Office, he supervised the Detective’s Division in the Major Crimes unit along with the Coroner’s Division.
Sgt. Hoag’s supplemental duties include Use of Force instructor and Taser program supervisor/ instructor.
