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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ 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 11 findings
F1
Page 19
The ACS facility is old, outdated, and insufficient to care for and house animals.
F2
Page 19
Funding to purchase one additional new vehicle is needed.
F3
Page 19
Through interviews, the CCGJ determined that when funded properly, ACS functions more effectively under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Office. Under the administration of the Sheriff’s Office, an ACS Officer would command more respect and authority within the community, have the authority to issue citations, make arrests, and enforce codes and licensing laws.
F4
Page 19
Currently, revenue collected by ACS goes directly into the County General Fund instead of enhancing the ACS budget, limiting funds available for their specific needs.
F5
Page 19
Due to a lack of funding, ACS has not complied with all of the recommendations made in the Bickmore Hazard Assessment Report.
F6
Page 19
ACS does not have an official uniform policy, does not provide uniforms to its officers, and does not have adequate funding for uniforms. The officers do not have a professional, identifiable appearance.
F7
Page 19
There is an insufficient number of office personnel to keep the ACS office open eight hours a day, five days a week, limiting public access to available services.
F8
Page 19
A Policy and Procedure Manual does not exist, resulting in inconsistent practices and procedures, and a lack of structure for the department and its employees.
F9
Page 19
The signed preliminary MOU between the Humane Society and Calaveras County to build a new animal shelter facility was terminated after the county expressed a desire to rewrite the terms of the MOU.
F10
Page 19
ACS does not have a current training manual resulting in operational inconsistencies.
F11
Page 19
There is not a current written policy and procedure on how evidence is handled, logged, transported to the Sheriff’s Office, or otherwise properly stored. This has resulted in a loss of evidence and documentation, which likely will occur again due to a lack of policy and procedure.
Recommendations 10
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R1Page 20By the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the BOS must commit to one of the following: a) Provide ACS the necessary budget to allow for the building of a new facility, b) Investigate vacant county buildings for use as a replacement Animal Shelter and authorize funding to conduct a feasibility assessment of the old jail facility, c) Eliminate ACS in Calaveras County, thus requiring the outsourcing of operations.
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R2Page 20The BOS needs to allocate to ACS the necessary funds in the 2019-2020 budget for one additional properly equipped new vehicle.
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R3Page 20The BOS should place ACS under the management of the Sheriff’s Office and provide the necessary additional budget to operate, equip, and staff ACS properly. This should occur within the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
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R4Page 20Any donations or fees collected by ACS should be directly allocated to the ACS budget instead of being directed into the County General Fund.
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R5Page 20By the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the BOS should provide the necessary funding to bring ACS into compliance with all of the recommendations made in the Bickmore Hazard Assessment Report.
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R6Page 20ACS needs an official uniform policy by the end of the 2019-2020 fiscal year; additional funding for uniforms is needed in the 2020-2021 fiscal year budget.
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R7Page 20In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the BOS needs to approve the budget necessary for hiring additional office personnel for ACS.
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R8Page 20ACS management needs to develop a Policy and Procedure Manual using industry standards provided in “Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters” 2010
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R10Page 20ACS management needs to create a training manual
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R11Page 20ACS management needs to establish written evidence handling procedures