An admitted junior college drop-out as a youth, Roache eventually earned his bachelor’s degree while working full-time to support his family. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate degree.
Prior to being elected Sheriff of San Diego County in Nov. 1990, Roache served 19 years in the department – rising to the rank of Captain.
In order to successfully run for Sheriff, Roache first had to win a court case overturning restrictions on a serving Sheriff’s Captain running for Sheriff.
When John Duffy declined to run against Roache, Duffy endorsed Jack Drown, as did the Deputy Sheriffs Association (DSA, which represents 1,400 Deputies). Roache ran as a reformer and accused Drown of being a Duffy clone.
After Roache was elected, he promoted Deputies who had supported him. He also transferred to less-desirable positions some Deputies who opposed him. This caused a chain of events that led the DSA to issue a no-confidence motion by a 92% majority. A DSA board member (Tim Drake) said the no-confidence vote was prompted by Roache’s tendency to promote his allies and punish his foes, Roache’s attempt to eliminate the Commander rank, and Roache’s personal style, which he characterized as angry and aloof.
After succeeding Duffy, who had labeled Roache as unfit to be Sheriff, Roache changed the patrol car colors from “Duffy green” and removing the name “Duffy Town” from the Sheriff’s training academy. (The academy since returned to using “Duffy Town” despite Roache.)
With opposition from the DSA and a general hostility between Roache and the County Supervisors and local media, Roache lost huge to Bill Kolender in the 1994 election for Sheriff. Supervisor Diane Jacob recalled “He had a bunker mentality, isolated himself. His temper flared.”
Roache remained active in community and civic affairs ranging from the Navy League and PTA to the San Diego County Homeless Task Force and participation as a Sunday school teacher.
