The #$@*!! Roof Still Leaks:

The annual budget for the WPD provides for one Chief, three Sergeants, 10 Officers and five Dispatchers.

At the time of the visit, the actual staff consisted of one Chief, who is bilingual; three Sergeants and one acting Sergeant; six Officers, one of whom was on sick leave and another who was out on worker’s compensation; four 1 The “sally port” is adjacent to the parking area and provides a secure area for transferring arrestees to or from the jail. 1 of 5 Response: Mendocino County General Services Director Mendocino County Mental Health Branch Dispatchers and one Trainee Dispatcher. In addition, there is one part-time Officer in charge of prisoner transport, who also acts as an investigator; and one Reserve Officer, who assists at special events.

Staff shortages are covered by the use of overtime and supervisors are required to perform field duties.

WPD cannot contribute an officer to the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force due to staff shortages.

Officers work a 12-hour shift. Replacing an Officer on an eight hour shift is easier, as one Officer can stay four hours longer and another Officer can come in four hours earlier.

Recruiting applicants is difficult: about 30% of applicants fail the background check. There is a shortage of affordable housing in Willits, and the City is remote. On the plus side, employee benefits are excellent and the pay rate is competitive with nearby law enforcement agencies. The pay is not competitive with Santa Rosa or the Bay Area. Various agencies are contacted to locate potential recruits.

Training for new officers includes ride-alongs. The length of training time can vary with seasonal community activities.

All Officers have Peace Officer Standards and Training certification (POST).

The current budget contains funds for officer training.

Some Officers are trained in the use of tasers, a non-lethal weapon available to WPD Officers. Tasers are an effective psychological deterrent; it is seldom necessary to actually use them; usually when an individual sees the taser, they become compliant.

Gangs are not a major problem at this time; but they are a concern. There has been some tagging (graffiti) but little violence.

The Gang Resistance Is Paramount (GRIP) program is presently offered to fifth graders. The program is a collaborative effort of the schools, police departments, Alcohol and Other Drug Programs (AODP), the Nuestra Allianza of Willits, and other after-school programs.

The City has revised its ordinance to regulate the outdoor cultivation of marijuana.

Occasionally there are homeless encampments on the North Coast Railroad Authority property. The encampments are removed when requested by the property owner. Response: (Mendocino County Mental Health Branch) The Department does not have knowledge of this finding and cannot agree or disagree.

There are more homeless transients during the summer months. Response: (Mendocino County Mental Health Branch) The Department does not have knowledge of this finding and cannot agree or disagree. 2 of 5 Response: Mendocino County General Services Director Mendocino County Mental Health Branch

The closing, in 2000, of the Psychiatric Holding Facility (PHF) in Ukiah has hampered the WPD. Now, if an officer detains an individual, under §5150, who poses a danger to him or herself or to others, but who has not been accused of a crime, the only facility available is Howard Hospital which has no mental health worker on site.2 The Officer must wait for a crisis worker from the County Mental Health Branch. Response: (Mendocino County Mental Health Branch) The Department cannot report on the experience of another Department and does not agree or disagree with this finding.

Mendocino County Mental Health Department operates a satellite clinic in Willits staffed with a mental health crisis worker, who is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. If the Willits clinic is closed, a crisis worker has to be sent from Ukiah to assess the patient. The WPD tries to stay and watch the person at the hospital, but, if they are called out, the patient may well leave the hospital. The patient can only be detained for 23 hours. After that, the patient must be released or transferred outside the County because the County has no appropriate facilities. Response: (Mendocino County Mental Health Branch) The Department agrees that MCMH operates a satellite clinic in Willits staffed with a mental health crisis worker, who is available from 8am to 5pm on weekdays. If the Willits clinic is closed, a crisis worker must be sent from Ukiah to assess the client. We cannot agree or disagree with the rest of the finding because we do not have knowledge of another Department’s experience.

An individual detained under a “5150” who is accused of a crime is transported to the Mendocino County Jail, where there is a mental health worker.3 Response: (Mendocino County Mental Health Branch) The Department does not have knowledge of this finding and cannot agree or disagree.

The officer in charge of the evidence room was working the night shift and was unavailable for interview or to provide access. The WPD has a bar coding system for identifying the stored items.

A Homeland Security grant was used to purchase a new electronic fingerprinting machine, which is used for those who are cited and released. The machine is connected to the County’s secure internet connection. California Welfare and Institutions Code §5150 provides for up to a 72-hour hold when an individual poses a risk to self or others. As permitted under California Welfare and Institutions Code §5150 when an individual poses a danger to self or others 3 of 5 Response: Mendocino County General Services Director Mendocino County Mental Health Branch

WPD has limited access to the County’s JLAN criminal justice records system. This system will produce limited statistics. If more extensive statistics are desired, a request must be submitted to County Information Technology for custom programming.

WPD does not routinely participate in the Sheriff’s teleconferencing muster at 7:00 a.m.

A visual examination of the three holding cells showed that they were clean and sanitary. Holding cells, if occupied, are under constant visual observation. The holding cells are shared by the Sheriff and WPD pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding regarding use and maintenance.

Staff shortages require that prisoners be transported promptly.

The sally port is fully operative.

Some cell phone 911 calls are forwarded to the WPD by the California Highway Patrol; others go directly to WPD. Landline 911 calls from Willits go directly to the WPD. The 911 system is being updated.

WPD dispatches for the Little Lake Fire District.

There is no sign near the street to direct people to the County owned building which is occupied by WPD, the Superior Court and the Sheriff’s substation. Response: (Mendocino County General Services Agency) – The General Services Agency Director agrees with this finding.

There is no sign at the corner of Main Street and Commercial Street directing people to the WPD, the Little Lake Fire Department, or the County complex on Commercial Street.

Since this County-owned building was constructed in 1988, the roof has leaked into the WPD downstairs offices. It is still necessary to cover the office equipment with plastic tarps when it rains. Response: (Mendocino County General Services Agency) – The General Services Agency Director agrees with this finding.