Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2007-2008

I’ll Be Able to Hear You Pretty Soon a report on the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Coast Sector Substation and Holding

Published: June 17, 2008 6 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 25 findings

F1
The Sheriff’s substation, located in Fort Bragg, shares the building in which the Superior Court is located. The entrance has manned security surveillance including a metal detector and x-ray machine.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The present staff consists of one lieutenant, one sergeant, seven deputies, and one deputy trainee. One Sheriff’s technical assistant manages the evidence room, does business and clerical duties, telephones, processes civil matters, concealed weapons permits, and acts as receptionist.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
One sergeant and two deputy positions are vacant.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Mendocino County Sheriff fill the vacant positions for one sergeant and two deputies; (Finding 3)
F4
There was no detective at the time of the visit, so deputies shared detective work. Since then, one deputy has been promoted to detective.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Deputies work a 10-hour shift.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Deputies are encouraged to volunteer time to community activities. Police Activities League (PAL) recently sponsored a children’s fishing tournament at MacKerricher State Park.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Staff shortages make it difficult to provide effective law enforcement.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Filling vacant officer positions is difficult due to the high cost of housing, remoteness, and lack of cultural and shopping opportunities.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
Sheriff’s deputies are on duty on the coast from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The Sheriff’s Office in Ukiah handles dispatch for the Fort Bragg substation.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
There is an information-sharing (muster) teleconferencing call each morning at 7 a.m. among the Fort Bragg and Willits substations and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s headquarters in Ukiah. The electronic muster allows officers in the three locations to see and hear each other in real time via a large screen video monitor. The system is up all the time, in case other communications are needed, such as a command staff meeting.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Most arrests are due directly or indirectly to abuse of alcohol or other drugs. Often crimes such as theft are for money to purchase drugs.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
Holding cells were observed to be clean and in working order. Prisoners must be physically observed at all times when they are in a holding cell.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Persons who are arrested and held in Fort Bragg are usually transported to the County Jail in Ukiah within two hours. Deputies may transport prisoners two or more times a shift.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The south coast has one resident sergeant and one resident deputy. There is one vacant deputy position. Persons arrested on the south coast are taken directly to the County Jail in Ukiah.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
Due to remoteness and lack of other forms of communication on the coast, communication between officers and/or their office has always been difficult. Patrol car radios work intermittently, and there is limited cell phone reception. Officer safety is compromised when deputies cannot call for back-up; citizen safety is also a concern when an officer cannot receive a call for service.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
The aging microwave system, which provided communication only intermittently, is being replaced.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
Emergencies requiring mutual aid may include the California Highway Patrol, the U. S. Coast Guard, local fire departments, Fort Bragg Police Department, State Park rangers and State Fish and Game officers. .
No recommendations for this finding
F19
The evidence room was observed. Records of evidence are kept by hand.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Mendocino County Sheriff explore the use of Asset Forfeiture Funds to secure a bar-coding system for the evidence room; (Finding 19)
F20
Evidence must be held until a case is final.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Mendocino County District Attorney notify the main evidence depository in Ukiah when a case reaches final disposition. (Finding 20, 21); Comments Purging of evidence is a tedious job requiring much investigation. With the availability of computers, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s office could furnish the date of final disposition of a case to the Sheriff’s main evidence depository in Ukiah. This change would reduce the time required for investigation by the evidence clerks. The Fort Bragg Sheriff’s substation provides a necessary and valuable service to coastal residents. There are great expectations that the new countywide microwave system will provide reliable communications, especially for coastal law enforcement and other coastal emergency providers.
F21
Purging of evidence requires time consuming investigation into the disposition of the case.
No recommendations for this finding
F22
An electronic fingerprinting machine is available for persons applying for certain licenses/permits, those seeking concealed weapons permits, and volunteer positions or jobs, such as those dealing with children.
No recommendations for this finding
F23
There is now an electronic security system to prevent break-ins. The system also covers the rear of the substation.
No recommendations for this finding
F24
The security gate to the rear of the substation has been repaired. It required a new motor and a new lock system that operates with a remote control.
No recommendations for this finding
F25
The barbed wire atop the fencing around the perimeter of the rear of the substation, that was cited in last year’s Grand Jury report, has now been repaired.
No recommendations for this finding

Comments 1

No Responses Found 2

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Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Mendocino County District Attorney Elected County Office