COVID-19: Law Enforcement's Involvement from a Legal Perspective

Robert Faigin was appointed Special Assistant to the Sheriff in 2001.  He currently serves as Special Assistant/Chief Attorney to Sheriff Bill Gore.  He is responsible for providing legal advice to the Sheriff, Command Staff, and other departmental personnel.  As head of the Legal Affairs Unit, Faigin and his staff provide legal opinions, conduct research on a variety of legal issues affecting the department, review pleadings and departmental documents for legal sufficiency, and coordinate various litigation matters for County Counsel.  His current areas of emphasis include criminal law and procedure, civil rights liability, employment and labor law, detentions, and peace officer bill of rights.  Prior to joining the department, Mr. Faigin served as a Deputy District Attorney in Solano County and a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Lassen County.  As a prosecutor, he handled cases from charging to sentencing.  In Solano County, he prosecuted family violence cases including domestic violence, child and elder abuse.  In Lassen County, he prosecuted misdemeanor and general felonies including violent crimes, domestic violence, property and theft crimes.  He has tried over 50 jury trials to verdict in addition to hundreds of bench trials.  Mr. Faigin served as the State Chair of the California Peace Officers Association, Police Legal Advisors section.  He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the California Peace Officers' Association, and the California State Sheriffs' Association, and is currently the chair of the IACP Legal Officers' Section  Mr. Faigin holds a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law.  He is admitted to practice in both California and Nevada.  He holds a Master of Science in Public Administration from California State University Dominguez Hills.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science from the University of Nevada Reno.