Score: +10
(10/5/0)
Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 2008-2009
Fort Bragg Substation and Holding Cells a Report on the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Fort Bragg Substation May 13, 2009
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 21 findings
F1
The Fort Bragg Substation is staffed by one lieutenant, one secretary who doubles as the evidence room tech, two sergeants and eight deputies (one is a trainee). The patrol area for the Fort Bragg office is the Navarro River Bridge to the north county line. The substation is also responsible for the south coast area which runs from the Navarro River Bridge to the south county line. South coast is staffed by one resident sergeant and one deputy.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
There is a large screen telecommunications system where an early morning briefing is held each day with connections between the Sheriff’s office in Ukiah and the Willits Substation.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
There are two holding cells at the Fort Bragg Substation. The inmate(s) are observed every 15 minutes.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The policy of the Sheriff’s office is to hold inmates for no longer than two hours and then transport them to Ukiah.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
A deputy from the Fort Bragg Substation transports prisoners as far as the Willits Substation where they are picked up by an inland deputy to complete the trip to Ukiah.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Prisoners are brought from Ukiah for court in Fort Bragg and are kept in the substation’s holding cells. FB Sheriff’s Substation Report TO EDIT 3-24-09
No recommendations for this finding
F7
There is one bilingual officer who receives additional pay for his language skills.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
All deputies are POST certified (Peace Officer Standards and Training). They attend a POST academy for six months training. The local academies are located in Santa Rosa, Chico and Eureka. The training is normally paid for by the individual but the department can sponsor someone as well. The cost of training is approximately $6,000.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
All of the officers carry tasers. Two were trained at a “Train the Trainer” taser school and then trained the others.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Tasers are worn on the opposite side from the handgun to prevent accidental shootings.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
New officers are on probation for one year.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The Sub-Station currently has no K-9 unit for officer protection and drug “sniffing.” It had one in the past and officers would like to reinstate it.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
seek funding for a canine unit for the Fort Bragg Substation. (Finding 12)
F13
Only the south coast officers take their cars home when off duty.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Each patrol car at the Fort Bragg Substation is shared by two officers who are responsible for keeping it washed and clean.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The patrol cars have cameras but no computers. The camera data are downloaded to disc at the end of the shift.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
There is a ride-along policy allowing civilians to ride with patrol officers.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
The State Corrections Standards Authority visits the substation, without notice, on a biennial basis. Other inspections of the substation are done by the Fire Marshall and OSHA.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
The County Sheriff’s Office in Ukiah handles all dispatch.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
The deputies on the north coast work ten hour shifts with no overlap. There is no coverage for a four-hour period. The south coast coverage varies; however, there is always someone on call.
No recommendations for this finding
F20
The evidence room has no computerized system for tracking evidence. A card system is still in use. For approximately 17 years the substation has requested a bar coding system. The Grand Jury noticed an abundance of backlogged material evidence awaiting clearance and proper disposal.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
implement a bar-coding system for evidence record keeping. (Finding 20)
F21
Confiscated firearms are destroyed in an Oakland foundry. Drugs and other hazardous materials are taken to a multi-agency purging area in San Francisco.
No recommendations for this finding
Agency Responses 6
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.