Orange County Register investigative editor Mark Katches emailed his staff yesterday about losing one of his prized reporters to the Los Angeles Times: "As staff departures go, this one is as painful as it gets..." Full text after the jump.

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As staff departures go, this one is as painful as it gets. Bill Heisel is leaving to join the Los Angeles Times as an investigative reporter in Orange County.

I've worked with Bill almost since the day he walked in the door seven years ago -- first on the Body Brokers as co-reporters, then as we launched our beat-based investigative reporting system and now as editing partners. He has helped build our investigations and our investigative process into something special -- both in his role as a reporter and as an editor and leader. We have a national reputation for our investigative work, and that is due in large part to Bill's key contributions. He is a two-time Pulitzer finalist and a two-time Loeb award winner. Still just 34 years old, he no doubt has many great things ahead of him. So watching him walk out the door and join the Times is not going to be an easy thing to deal with. Bill's last day will be March 9.

Mark Katches
Senior Team Leader,
County, State & Investigations
The Orange County Register