Solano County Sheriff's Office Thomas A. Ferrara, Sheriff-Coroner*

- The Solano County Civil Grand Jury found that local law enforcement agencies comply with the statutory requirements when providing training. However, bias training is only required and conducted every five years. Local law enforcement administrations agreed there is too much time between training sessions. Response to Finding 1 - I agree with this finding. <b>Recommendation 1</b> – County law enforcement agencies adopt a more frequent schedule of diversity and bias training over and above the current five-year requirement. Response to Recommendation 1 - I agree with the recommendation; POST has implemented an additional 4 hours of required training that includes Bias, Escalation vs. De-Escalation, Communication Elements, Listening Skills, Persuasion, People with Disabilities, and Team Communication During a Critical Incident; this additional training has increased the standard of Perishable Skills Training from 14 hours every 2 years to 18 hours every 2 years. <b>Recommendation 2a</b> – Law enforcement administration's seek increased funding for diversity and bias training. Response to Recommendation 2a - I agree with this recommendation; the Sheriff's Office is open to research and apply for grant opportunities for diversity and bias training. Should grants not be available, we will seek additional funding though the County budget process.

– More under-represented people need to be represented in decision making roles. Response to Finding 3 - I disagree partially with this finding; the term "under-represented" is vague and ambiguous; however, to the extent that it is intended to refer to all forms of diversity, the Sheriff agrees with this finding.

- California Penal Code section13651(a) states: "Every police department, sheriff's office, or other entity that employs peace officers shall review the job description that is used in the recruitment and hiring of those peace officers and shall make changes that emphasize community-based policing, familiarization between law enforcement and community residents, and collaborative problem solving, while de-emphasizing the paramilitary aspects of the job." All administrators mentioned the general population's lack of trust of law enforcement officers. Response to Finding 4- I agree with this finding.

- For some Law enforcement agencies employee turnover is an issue. Response to Finding 4- I agree with this finding.

– There are reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that extremist groups are infiltrating law enforcement agencies. While local law enforcement agencies investigate applicants as part of the vetting process, they rely on employee and citizen complaints to identify current staff social media postings for extremist ideology. Response to Finding 6- I agree with this finding.