Release Date: September 11, 2009

Contact:

James D. Ellison, Chief Assistant District Attorney

(805) 654-5082

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the retirement of Deputy Chief Investigator Vinse Gilliam. Deputy Chief Gilliam has provided 30 years of exemplary service to the District Attorney's Office. Prior to joining the District Attorney's Office in 1979, Deputy Chief Gilliam served six years with the Glendale Police Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles. While serving as the District Attorney's deputy chief investigator, Gilliam brought a focus to crimes involving a variety of fraud activity, including consumer fraud, workers' compensation fraud, insurance fraud, and non-sufficient funds check investigations. Under his leadership, the Bureau of Investigation expanded into areas not traditionally handled by district attorneys' offices. His contributions and innovations will long serve this office, local law enforcement, and our community.

District Attorney Totten is pleased to also announce the appointment of Ken Valentini to the position of Deputy Chief Investigator. Deputy Chief Valentini joined the District Attorney's Office in February 2003, after having served four years at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and nine years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He also served in the United States Marine Corp for four years. During his tenure in the District Attorney's Office, Deputy Chief Valentini has held a variety of assignments, including Economic Crimes and Special Investigations. Since September 2007, he has been a supervising investigator in each of these units.

Deputy Chief Valentini holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration-Management and a second Masters Degree in Business Administration-Finance. He is known for his unwavering integrity, strong leadership skills, common-sense approach to management and his commitment to team work.