TTuullaarree CCoouunnttyy CCiivviill GGrraanndd JJuurryy FFiinnaall RReeppoorrtt 22001199--22002200

Recommendations 3

• R1

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  Health and Human Services Agency continue recruitment efforts to attract Special Needs Resource Families. REQUIRED RESPONSES: 1. Health and Human Services Agency: Findings F1-F5, Recommendation R1 ***Disclaimer*** Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Section 911, 924.1 (a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Section 924.2 and 929). TTuullaarree CCoouunnttyy CCiivviill GGrraanndd JJuurryy FFiinnaall RReeppoorrtt 22001199--22002200 TULARE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: FROM HORSES TO HELICOPTERS BACKGROUND: The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) is the chief law enforcement entity of Tulare County. It provides law enforcement and public safety to the unincorporated areas of the County. Moreover, it stands ready, as needed, to supplement the law enforcement efforts of the municipal police departments serving the cities of Tulare County. The TCSO is the only modern department of Tulare County government whose origin can be traced directly to the establishment of the County in 1852. When the public sees Sheriff’s vehicles on patrol, it is only the tip of the iceberg. The TCSO is organized into six functional areas, with each headed by a Captain: • Investigations • Patrol • Operations Support • Administrative Services • Detention • Administrative Support They provide vital services to Tulare County under the broad heading of “law enforcement”. In order to be effective, the field of law enforcement requires a constant upgrade in the quality of training, the size and scope of facilities and the addition of the latest in criminal science technology. In the 19th Century, it was sufficient for Tulare County’s first Sheriff, William Dill, to patrol on horseback with two Deputies. Now, in the rapidly advancing 21st Century, the current Sheriff utilizes helicopters, airplanes, boats, drones, scientific laboratories, state-of-the-art technology, sophisticated communications networks, the latest methods of training and advanced storage and record keeping, to execute the TCSO’s primary responsibility of law enforcement and public safety. REASON FOR INVESTIGATION: Recognizing the substantial expenditure of funds made recently by Tulare County for TCSO, the Tulare County Civil 15 TTuullaarree CCoouunnttyy CCiivviill GGrraanndd JJuurryy FFiinnaall RReeppoorrtt 22001199--22002200 Grand Jury (TCCGJ) initiated an investigation directed toward facility enhancements, services offered and technological improvements. Whether the cost of a TCSO item is $2, $20,000 or $200,000, it is paid for with public funds. Such an investigation is, therefore, warranted under its oversight responsibilities and obligations. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION: 1. Conducted site visits 2. Interviewed witnesses 3. Reviewed documents FACTS: 1. The TCSO 2019-2020 gross spending budget of $121.4 Million is 9.4% of Tulare County’s total $1.286 Billion budget. Approximately $27 Million of the operating budget comes from revenue from various sources (fees, fines, permits, Federal and State aid, grants and others). This results in a “net” budget of $94.3 Million. This is the second largest operating budget among Tulare County agencies and departments. 2. The TCSO staffing consists of: • Full and Part-Time Deputy Sheriffs (sworn) • Full and Part-Time Correctional Officers (sworn) • Full and Part-Time administrative and support staff (non-sworn) 3. In recent years, TCSO has received funding and built several facilities that were needed to modernize and expand based on volume of activity and law enforcement needs.
• R2

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  The TCSO should continue to target selected programs for enhancement to a “best-of-class” status.
• R3

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  The TCSO should strive to increase revenue sources from Federal, State and other grant sources. REQUIRED RESPONSES: 1. Tulare County Sheriff : Findings F1-F4: Recommendations R1-R3: ***Disclaimer*** Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Section 911, 924.1 (a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Section 924.2 and 929). TTuullaarree CCoouunnttyy CCiivviill GGrraanndd JJuurryy FFiinnaall RReeppoorrtt 22001199--22002200 "GIVE ME LAND, LOTS OF LAND" BACKGROUND: Government entities at all levels in the United States are among the largest property owners and tenants in their respective areas. The same holds true for Tulare County. This scope of real estate ownership and tenancy entails significant capital expenditures, ongoing operating expenses, expertise and operating responsibility to be properly accountable to the taxpayers of the County. The management of real estate is an administrative function involving staffing, a detailed process, operating controls, budgeting, record keeping, analysis, implementation and monitoring. Traditionally, a government entity will house these functions in a Real Estate or Property Management Department. In Tulare County, the real estate function is handled by the Property Management Division (PMD) of the General Services Agency (GSA). The GSA is one of thirteen departments of the Tulare County government. The mission statement of the PMD is: “To secure, develop, and manage the properties and real estate assets necessary for the County to deliver services to the public.” In the course of their operations, the PMD is responsible for property acquisitions, dispositions, lease negotiations and tenant management. REASON FOR THE INVESTIGATION: The Tulare County Civil Grand Jury (TCCGJ) is given broad authority by the California Penal Code to perform reviews of county and city departments or agencies thereof. The decision is not necessarily based on suspicions of illegalities or malfeasance. It can be, as in the case of the GSA-PMD, to provide the general public of Tulare County with information regarding an important aspect of local government operations. The TCCGJ initiated an investigation into the practices and procedures of the GSA-PMD. Among those things of interest were the amount of real estate owned and leased by Tulare County and the process and procedures in place by the PMD to acquire and dispose of real estate. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION: 1. Interviewed witnesses 2. Reviewed documents 18