1999-2000 Yolo County Grand Jury Final Report*

It appears that the Davis Police Depart- implemented or requires further analysis. If the recommendation requires ment is currently functioning more further analysis, the respondent must identify the scope and parameters of smoothly and with higher morale in the the analysis and a timeframe for completion, not to exceed six months after workforce relative to a few years ago. publication of the report. It appears that a detailed and clear-cut Sections 933 and 933.5 mission statement needs to be developed within the Davis Police Department.

The Davis Police Department deserves to be commended for their emphasis on a community service approach.

The new I-80 under-crossing bicycle tun- Table of Contents nel appears to be highly controversial and raises some serious safety and law-en- forcement concerns. Studies .................................... Due to the decision to shutdown the cur- rent Davis firing range located on Pole Davis Police Department Line Road, serious questions and concerns West Sacramento Police Department have arisen about the availability of Winters Police Department firearms training facilities relative to the actual needs as mandated by law. Lack Woodland Police Department of proper firearms training may poten- Yolo County Sheriff's Department tially have serious ramifications for law The Yolo County Juvenile Hall enforcement in the City of Davis. Yolo County Y2K Strategy Plan 6. It appears that some of the parking enforcement rules, laws, or practices, as Complaints ......8 applied to the privately owned lots (e.g., shopping plaza lots), are not practical and Child Protective Services hence provide high probabilities of un- Esparto Community Services District (ECSD) fairness to motorists. Esparto Unified School District (EUSD) There appears to be a lack of any formal training of sworn officers for racial tol- Tours .................................... erance.

The Davis Police Department has not yet Martins' Achievement Place switched to the new 900 MHz frequency Monroe Detention Center and the Leinberger Center as mandated by the Federal Communica- Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District tions Commission (although not in viola- tion at this time). Yolo County Alcohol and Drug Services Yolo County Animal Shelter RECOMMENDATIONS Yolo County Coroner's Office and Morgue 00-01 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- mends that the Davis Police Depart- Addendum 12 ment develop a clear-cut mission state- ment as soon as possible. (Finding #2). (STUDIES: Davis Police Department- continued on next page) 1999-2000 YOLO COUNTY GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 4 department seems to have a full grasp 00-02 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- Winters Police Department lacks training and control on the law-enforcement situ- mends that the Davis City Council and necessary equipment to collect and ation in their city. conduct a study of the safety issues preserve evidence that may be effectively related to the new I-80 bicycle under- 2. It appears that the West Sacramento used in court trials. crossing and determine and meet the Police Department's morale and harmony 5. Since the Winters Police Department has law-enforcement needs before a seri- has improved significantly, under the new the lowest pay scales and retirement ous incident occurs. (Finding #4) Chief of Police. benefits in the county, the Winters Police The West Sacramento Police Department 00-03 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- Department has an exceptionally difficult mends that in order to achieve better appears to be fully aware and familiar time recruiting sworn officers for its force. racial harmony in the community and with the additional law-enforcement needs The Winters Police Department has not to deal with race related matters more and problems that would arise as a result yet switched to the new 900 MHz fre- effectively, the Davis Police Depart- of the baseball park that is currently quency as mandated by the Federal Com- ment provide formal and periodic train- under construction. munications Commission (although not ing to their sworn officers for racial The West Sacramento Police Department in violation at this time). tolerance and other cultural awareness has a done a good job of including racial aspects. (Finding #7) minorities in their force in order to main- RECOMMENDATIONS tain a good rapport with various racial 00-04 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- 00-07 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- minorities in their community. mends that the Davis City Council mends that the Winters City Council seriously study the issues relating to 5. The West Sacramento Police Department and the Winters City Manager's office proper fire-arms training needs and has done a very good job of public rela- should study the situation of its police facilities for its police force and make tions. force and find ways to increase the sure that the police force does not fall 6. The West Sacramento Police Department number of sworn officers. (Finding #1, behind in fire-arms training and meets allows their officers to take the patrol 3 and 4) or exceeds standards mandated by law. cars home. 00-08 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- (Finding #5) mends that the Winters City Council RECOMMENDATIONS 00-05 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- should seriously study the pay scales mends that the Davis City Council None and the benefits package for its sworn study the practicality and fairness officers. It is further recommended issues as related to parking enforce- RESPONDENTS that the pay scales and benefits be ment in privately owned lots (espe- West Sacramento City Council brought up to a comparable level with cially in shopping plaza lots) and make West Sacramento City Manager other law enforcement agencies in Yolo sure that the ordinances are enforce- West Sacramento Chief of Police County. (Finding #5) able in a fair and just manner. (Find- 00-09 The Yolo County Grand Jury believes ing #6). that all of Yolo county will benefit 00-06 The Yolo County Grand Jury believes when the new 900 MHz communica- Winters Police that the entire Yolo County will benefit tion frequency is adopted by the Win- when the Davis Police Department ters Police Department. (Finding #6) Department adopts the new 900 MHz communica- tion frequency. (Finding #8) RESPONDENTS BACKGROUND Winters City Council RESPONDENTS Members of the Yolo County Grand Jury Winters City Manager Davis City Council- met with members of the Winters Police Winters Chief of Police Davis City Manager Department as part of the Grand Jury's Davis Chief of Police annual oversight function. Woodland Police FINDINGS Department 1. It appears that the Winters Police Depart- West Sacramento ment is currently operating with fewer sworn officers than necessary. The depart- Police Department BACKGROUND ment is still operating with the same Members of the Yolo County Grand Jury number of sworn officers as when the city met with members of the Woodland Police population was 2,500, relative to the BACKGROUND Department as part of the Grand Jury's current population of 5,500 or more. Members of the Yolo County Grand Jury annual oversight function. The Winters Police Department is to be 2. met with members of the West Sacramento FINDINGS commended for doing an outstanding job Police Department as part of the Grand considering they are seriously under- 1. After apparent employee dissatisfaction Jury's annual oversight function. staffed and under-equipped. of several years in the past, the Woodland FINDINGS Police Department now appears to be Operation of Winters Police Department 3. improving in terms of morale, enthusi-. with fewer officers is jeopardizing the 1. The West Sacramento Police Department asm, effectiveness, and loyalty. safety of both citizens as well as sworn appears to be functioning properly, appro- 2. The Woodland Police Department largely officers. priately, smoothly, and harmoniously. The 1999-2000 YOLO COUNTY GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 5 FINDINGS 4. The Correctional Officers are concerned appears to be functioning smoothly. about the forthcoming administrative "To protect the public from the After three years of higher than normal changes that the sworn deputies will be delinquent acts of minors by providing personnel turnover, it appears to have taken out of the detention facility and for the safe and secure reception and been significantly reduced. put on the patrol and that they would temporary care of minors in detention 4. There appears to be a lack of any formal have to fill the role of deputies inside pursuant to provisions of the California training of sworn officers for racial toler- the facility without any commensurate Juvenile Court Law." - Mission Statement ance. pay and benefits. The Correctional Offi- of the Juvenile Hall The Woodland Police Department has not cers do not have Safety Retirement either. "We seek diverse individuals to join yet switched to the new 900 MHz fre- This situation could result in the depar- and strengthen our organization and we quency as mandated by the Federal Com- ture of as many as 15 Correctional Offi- strive to create a work environment that munications Commission (although not cers from the Monroe Detention facility. nurtures and encourages good people to in violation at this time). remain a part of our Yolo County team." The Sheriff's Department almost always -Yolo County Values has difficulty in filling the vacant deputy RECOMMENDATIONS positions. The basic care and needs of the wards 00-10 The Yolo County Grand Jury recom- are being provided.