Then & Now: Livermore Stories is a local history lecture series co-presented by the Livermore Heritage Guild and the Livermore Public Library. Dublin City Historian Steve Minniear will present a program entitled “The Alameda County Sheriff’s Department: A Storied Past!” in the Civic Center Library Storytime Room on Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. Registration is not necessary to attend this free event.

Steve Minniear is the author of Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. Book summary from Arcadia Publishing: “In 1853, Alameda County was formed on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. On the land route to the California goldfields, the primarily agricultural county had problems with cattle rustling and thievery. It had the reputation of being one of the most lawless areas around. From famous lawmen like Harry Morse to infamous outlaws like Joaquin Murietta, the sheriff and deputies of Alameda County had their hands full. As the county changed, so did the law enforcement challenges. By the 20th century, the sheriff's office was dealing with antiwar demonstrations, riots, kidnappings, suburban and rural crime, earthquakes, and other disasters that found the men and women of county law enforcement always ready to respond. Often the challenges became newsworthy. During the 1960s and 1970s, the sheriff's office riot squad became internationally known as the "Blue Meanies." Steven Minniear, a local historian, collected and assembled photographs and information from throughout Alameda County to bring to light the forgotten stories of the sheriff's office. Many of these previously unseen photographs come from the Alameda County Sheriff's Archive. In that process, he uncovered the lost stories and forgotten incidents that shaped the office and the communities it serves.”