March 4, 2023 - San Diego County Sheriff's Department officials give updated report on the in-custody death of Lonnie Newton Rupard.

46-year-old Lonnie Newton Rupard was in custody at San Diego Central Jail when he was found unresponsive in his cell on March 17, 2022. Sheriff's Deputies and Medical Staff performed lifesaving measures until he was transported to a hospital where he later died.

We extend our earnest sympathies to Mr. Rupard's family and friends during this very difficult time. We share in your grief for this immense loss. A Sheriff's family liaison is working with Mr. Rupard's family to update them on the investigation and support them as best as we possibly can.

Yesterday, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (M.E.) released its autopsy report. Mr. Rupard's preliminary cause of death is pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration with COVID-19 viral infection, pulmonary emphysema and duodenal ulcer as contributing factors. The M.E. ruled his manner of death as homicide. We thank the M.E.'s Office for its thorough report and respect its findings.

As part of its process, the Sheriff's Internal Affairs Unit began an investigation in April of last year. Investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Rupard's death to determine any violation of department policy and procedure.

The Sheriff's Homicide Unit is also investigating the incident and will submit its findings to the District Attorney's Office for review. We will also provide our findings to the U.S. Attorney's Office for review by its Civil Rights Unit regarding any potential violations related to Mr. Rupard's death. 

Since this incident, which occurred March 2022, several changes and advancements have been implemented within the Detention Services Bureau to help identify when a person in custody may need additional medical and mental health care. These changes have helped staff recognize when a vulnerable individual may not be able to advocate for themselves and staff need to intervene on their behalf.

• Wellness Checks – These checks are comprised of a Multi-Disciplinary Group (MDG) including sworn staff, mental health providers, nurses, correctional counselors and classification deputies. This group conducts one-on-one visits with incarcerated persons deemed most vulnerable. The wellness checks give deputies an additional opportunity to conduct hygiene inspections and allow maintenance staff to address any concerns about the cell or housing unit. The living conditions and hygiene of an individual can be an indicator that they may be in crisis.  Mental health clinicians and nurses assess the individual for any mental health or medical concerns and route them to the appropriate service provider for follow-up and recovery. These checks are done twice a week at George Bailey Detention Facility and San Diego Central Jail. They are conducted once a week at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility and Vista Detention Facility.
  
  
• Collaborative Care Meetings – Each week, a multi-disciplinary group from each of the facilities meets to discuss individuals in custody who may need additional care and/or may be at risk for harm. Staff members develop a course of action tailored to the individual's needs. These individuals could be those who receive Wellness Checks each week or an incarcerated person who may be behaving in a manner that is indicative of a possible mental health crisis or medical need.
  
  
• Sharing of Critical Information for Continuity of Care – It is common for forensic psychiatrists to provide mental health services or assessments to incarcerated persons within our facilities. For increased collaboration and continuity of care, the Sheriff's Department has required the psychiatrist to provide a briefing to Sheriff's Mental Health Staff prior to leaving the jail.  This enables Sheriff's Staff to provide the appropriate care to an individual immediately, instead of waiting for a written report in two weeks' time.  We are also working to streamline the timely sharing of mental health information and medical records from the California Department of State Hospitals when they transfer people into our custody.
  
  
• Conservatorship – We established a process to request conservatorship of a person in our custody who is unable to care for themselves. Conservatorship allows the court to order medical decisions on behalf of a person who refuses or is not able to take care of themselves.

At the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, we are committed to the safety of the people entrusted in our care. We are resolved in our core values of recognizing the dignity and value of every human life. We have instituted many changes in the last year, as well as initiated several investigations to ensure policies and procedures are being followed. These improvements and transparency in communicating with the public uphold our culture of accountability. We will never shy away from demanding more from ourselves for more targeted reforms that advance the well-being of people in our custody. 

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Department