Opinion ID: 213397
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Influence on Programs

Text: The majority argues that Bardzik had influence on the department's programs, Maj. op. at 1146-47, and that this is the `most critical factor' in the policymaker analysis. Maj. op. at 1146 (quoting Walker v. City of Lakewood, 272 F.3d 1114, 1133 (9th Cir.2001)). The majority misreads Walker: influence on programs was the most critical factor in Walker because the city of Lakewood had delegated total control over its fair housing program to the plaintiff. Walker, 272 F.3d at 1133. There is no indication that influence on programs is per se the most critical factor in every case. Certainly the Sheriff's Department had not delegated total control over the Reserve Division to Bardzik, given that Bardzik had to seek approval from his superiors for virtually every action he took. Moreover, many of the programs mentioned by the majority as evidence of Bardzik's influence do not support the majority's position. The majority refers to an audit of the Reserve Division that Bardzik helped conduct. But the majority itself points out that Captain Twellman headed that project, not Bardzik. Maj. op. at 1146-47. Further, the goal of the audit was to bring the reserve members into compliance with already-established standards set by a state commission, not to set new policy. Bardzik apparently initiated some programs to train reserve members in swift water rescue and computers, but as discussed earlier, under Thomas, the training of subordinates is not determinative in policymaker analysis. 881 F.2d at 832. Bardzik also initiated the decentralization program, but this served to reduce his influence, relinquishing much of his supervisory authority to the reserve liaisons and other officials in each of the department's divisions. On balance, the record clearly indicates that Bardzik did not have any significant influence on the department's programs.