Sheriff accused of unjust demotions  Deputies claim retribution
for backing Moore's foe in election Buy This Photo San Joaquin
County Sheriff Steve Moore at a March 30 news conference.Michael
McCollum/The Record  FRENCH CAMP - Current and former employees
are accusing San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore of demoting
highly decorated officers and decimating his department's canine
unit to "get even" with them for supporting his opponent in the
2014 election, allegations Moore strongly denies.  Retired Sgt.
Steve Walker and Deputy Ray Esparza said Moore summoned them and
two other canine patrolmen to his office in 2011, two to three
weeks after organizers for the department's canine competition
printed a paid advertisement for Moore's opponent in the event
program. Moore made a thinly veiled threat toward the canine
officers in that meeting, suggesting there could be consequences
if they continued to support Sgt. Pat Withrow's candidacy for
sheriff, Walker and Esparza said.  "During that conversation, we
were