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From: "Inez" <>
Subject: [News] Red Bluff Daily News
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 09:56:27 -0800


Red Bluff Daily News
Red Bluff, Tehama County, California
March 15, 2001
By....Christine Vovakes, correspondent


Redding.......
John BALMA, who was Redding's police chief in the early 1940s then
Shasta County Sheriff from 1946 until 1982, suffered a stroke last week and
died Friday at his daughter Cindy McCASLAND's home in Redding. He was 82.

"He was a wonderful father," she said. "He died peacefully with his
children around him."

An old-styled Western sheriff whose expertise on horseback involved him
in mountain posse hunts for missing persons, he was also noted as a
progressive leader. BALMA's officers advised suspects of their rights
before the 1966 Supereme Count ruling made the reading of Miranda a law,
said current Shasta County Sheriff Jin PAPE, who joined the department as a
deputy in 1965.

"When we took statements, John wanted us to be concerned about the
constitutional rights of the individual. So when the Miranda decision came
down, it enhanced what he already had us doing," he said. "He was a very
progressive leader. When he spoke, you paid attention."

Many Tehama County law enforcement personnel knew him, including
Undersheriff Dennis GARTON who said BALMA was "an excellent man, very
respected."

He was born May 1, 1918, to Italian immigrant parents, Charles and
Battistina BALMA, in the mining town of Kennett, which was submerged under
Lake Shasta after the dam was built.

BALMA graduated in 1939 with a two-year degree from law enforcement
school at San Jose State College. He immediately joined Redding Police
Department, became chief two years later then took a leave of absence to
join the U.S. Army Air Corps. He flew 50 missions over Europe and Africa as
a nose gunner on a B-24 bommer.

At the war's end, he returned to Redding as police chief, but resigned
to run for sheriff. At the age of 28 he was the youngest sheriff ever
elected in California, and when he decided not to seek reelection in 1982,
he was the longest tenured person to hold that office.

Among the programs he put in place during those 36 years were police
officers standards and training education for deputies--now mandatory--and
the police science program at Shasta Collage.

He started the Sheriff's Posse Rodeo which gave children with
disabilities a chance to fish and ride horses. That program was very
special to him, POPE said of BALMA, whose disabled son, John Steven,
preceded him in death.

In addition to Cindy McCASLAND, BALMA is survived by daughters Mandi
KESTEL and Candy BALMA, both of Redding; sons John Charles of Los Angeles,
Jeff of Redding, and Eddy of Bali, Indonesia; brother Rudy of Bella Vista;
five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Frances, BALMA's wife of 53 years, died in 1994.

A viewing will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at McDonald's
Chapel, 1275 Continental St. in Redding.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's
Catholic Church, 2040 Walnut Ave., with burial in Redding Cemetery.


Submitted by
Inez Moyle



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