HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09231997 - SD4 =V4
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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS o�. _. •s
Costa
County
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR °°s~
rq coun''
County Administrator
DATE: September 23, 1997
SUBJECT: SHERIFF'S PROPOSED USE OF AB 3229 FRONT LINE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDS
(Chapter 134, Statutes of 1996)
Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background &Justification
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. HOLD scheduled public hearing as required by AB 3229 on Sheriff's request for Government Code
30061(b)(3) front line law enforcement funds.
2. APPROVE Sheriff's request to continue the Department's helicopter program, initiated in FY 1996-97, with
Government Code 30061(b)(3) funds.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
The State's fiscal year 1997-98 Budget continues the program authorized by the Local Law Enforcement
Supplemental Funding Act (AB 3229) by appropriating restricted funds for three separate programs: 1) an
estimated $337,691 to the Sheriff's Department for jail construction and operations; 2) an estimated $337,691 to
the District Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution; and 3) an estimated $2,026,146 to be allocated to County
unincorporated law enforcement and city police departments on the basis of population (of this amount, an
estimated $400,000 will be available for front line law enforcement services in the County's unincorporated areas).
The three County programs referred to above were included in the adopted final County budget for FY 1997-98
in Budget Units 0241, 0262, and 0263 respectively.
Regarding the Sheriff's use of front line law enforcement funds, Government Code Section 30061(c)(1), requires
that the Board of Supervisors hold a public hearing in September of each year on the Sheriff's requested use of
such funds in each year in which the State provides such funds. Fiscal year 1996-97 was the first year of this
program and your Board approved the Sheriff's request to use these funds to initiate a law enforcement helicopter
program. The Sheriff requests that funds available for the current fiscal year continue to be used for the operation
of this program. The Sheriff has provided a report on he status of the helicopter program.
Continued on Attachment: YES Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature(s):
Action of Board on: September 23, 1Approved as Recommended X Other
Vote of Supervisors: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
X Unanimous (Absent '-" ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: ) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Contact: George Roemer, 335-1055 Attested: September 23, 1997
cc: CAO-Justice System Programs P it Batchelor, Clerk of
Sheriff-Coroner 44K
oard of Supe ors
County Auditor-Controller Cou A i or
Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee
ine Wam er '
OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
Contra Costa County
Administration Division
335-1500
Date: September 9, 1997
To: Board of Supervisors
Via: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator
From: Warren E. Rupf, Sheriff f 1
By: Robert R. Henderson, Undersheriff
Subject: Status Report on the Sheriffs Helicopter Program
Last year, with the Board's aid, the Office of the Sheriff was able to launch a new helicopter
program using AB 3229 funds from the State. The time needed to select, order, equip, and
receive the helicopter, and the amount of time necessary to select and train its crew, delayed
actual operations which did not begin until June 23, 1997. Even with this small window of
operation, however, it is our belief the program proved its absolute value to the public.
In its first forty-two actual days of flight operation, the helicopter was used in more than one
hundred incidents. Its primary mission was to patrol the approximately one thousand miles
of waterways within the County. Its ability to cover an enormous area within a relatively short
period of time aided it in locating seventeen missing or overdue boats, as well as providing
other marine-related services that clearly increased public safety on the delta. Delta patrol,
although its primary function, was hardly the only area where its unique capabilities were found
to be beneficial. The helicopter was used, for example, to assist in locating six missing persons,
two downed aircraft, and five reported fires. It was used to assist in location of fleeing suspects
and to respond to emergency calls for assistance when public safety was jeopardized.
The helicopter program was designed to be one of the first successful attempts at regionalized
law enforcement services. Working in unison with the Alameda County Sheriffs Office, the
Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, through its helicopter program, proved that sharing
of limited resources like the helicopter can be an effective and efficient way to provide critical
services to the public at minimum cost.
It is our belief that the helicopter has already proven its absolute value to the public and is,
therefore, deserving of continued funding. It would be our intent, therefore, to continue
funding of the program through use of AB 3229 funds provided by the State for 1997/98
operations.
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