HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06272000 - C122 C.122
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
.Adopted this Carder on June 27, 2000, by the following vote:
AYES: SUPERVISORS GIOIA,UILKEMA,DeSAULNIER, CANCIAMILLA and GERBER
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Re: Grand Jury Report No. 0005
On this date, the Board of Supervisors considered the consent item, Grand Jury
Report No. 0005, "The Sheriff s Marine Patrol."
Supervisor Uilkema moved to accept the consent items on the agenda, and
Supervisor Gioia seconded the motion.
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Item 0.122 is ACCEPTED, and
REFERRED to the County.Administrator and the Sheriff-Coroner.
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown..
Attested;Jae 27.2000
Phil Batchelor,Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors and Coqntydministrator
By: jju4X
Dep e
C.C.CAO
Sheriff-Coroner
RECEIVED
.SUN 19 200o
A REPORT BY CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA CO.
THE 199900 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY
725 Court Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Report No. 0005
THE SHERIFF'S MARINE PATROL
APPROVED BY THE GRAND JURY.
Date: tt.4. Ao
CAROL THEWS
GRAND JURY FOREMAN
ACCEPTED FOR FILING:
Date: .�. �
WALTER D. ROGERS
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 0005
The Sheriffs Marine Patrol
BACKGROUND
The Sheriffs Marine Patrol is a part of the Patrol Services Division of the Fiefd Operations
Bureau in the Office of the Sheriff. A sergeant is in charge of the daily operations of the four
regular deputies and volunteer reserves assigned. The Patrol mostly operates out of Delta
Station at Oakley, The Patrol operates around the clock, 365 days per year, on the waterways of
Contra Costa County. Seven boats are assigned of which four are normally on patrol at any one
time, weather permitting.
FINDINGS
1. Contra Costa County's shorelines abut approximately 200 miles of navigable
waterway extending from Richmond through San Pablo Bay, the Carquinez Strait,
Suisun Bay to Pittsburg at New York Point and then eastward on the San Joaquin
River to Mandeville Island and Old River where the county fine follows Old
River south. It is the largest waterway in the State of California. East of
Martinez, within the Delta, there are over 1000 miles of navigable sloughs and
cuts and numerous small islands.
2. Duties of the Marine Patrol include but are not necessarily limited to:
a. Enforcing the law.
b. Overseeing and enforcing water safety and recreational boating.
C. Providing a deterrent to criminal activity and interdicting criminal and
environmental offenses.
d. Investigating and reporting on accidents, which occur on the waterways.
e. Clearing waterways of abandoned and derelict boats and other hazards to
boating and water recreation.
f Providing emergency assistance to boaters in distress.
g. Assisting in search and rescue operations with other agencies.
3. Approximately 38,000 boats,jet skis and other watercraft are registered in Contra
Costa County.
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4. Total expenditures for the Marine Patrol for fiscal year 1998/1999 were $917,085.
Total revenues were $267,408. All of the revenues received during FY 98-99
came from the State Department of Boating and Waterways. Of the total revenue,
$86,400 was grant money from the State to assist in removal of derelict vessels
from the Delta Waterways. Net cost to the County was $649,677.
5. Marine Patrol Manpower:
a. The Patrol is essentially staffed by five full time officers, a sergeant and
four deputies. There is authorization for two additional full time deputies
but due to the present lack of funding the positions have not been filled.
b. The Patrol has four level tow reserve deputies and one level four reserve
deputy. The reserves assist the full time deputies and volunteer to serve
two shifts per month on the weekends. This volunteer effort enables the
Patrol to have more boats on duty when needed.
C. bevel two reserve deputies are uniformed and armed and have peace
officer authority. They work under the direct supervision of a regular
deputy. They provide most needed assistance during crime and/or
accident scene control and when transporting prisoners and evidence.
They also assist in the seamanship operation of the patrol boats. The level
four reserves wear uniforms but are not armed and are being phased out
due to the State's requirement to have peace officer status.
6. The Patrol cooperates with other law enforcement agencies, the U. S. Coast
Guard, the California Department of Fish and Game and the marine patrols of
other counties.
7. The Sheriff has seven patrol boats. The top speed of these boats is between 35
and 45 mph. Boats are equipped with VBF marine radio, sheriffs radio, radar,
global positioning system, depth sounder, loud hailer, emergency lights and
equipage for basic towing, limited firefighting and boat salvage operations.
Additionally, the Marine Patrol works closely with the Sheriff's helicopter which
is on call for emergencies and, when airborne, normally makes sweeps over the
Delta.
8. The Marine Patrol provides an essential service to the public at large and to the
boating public specifically. The increasing need for recreational facilities are
causing the public to view the waterways as an available resource. With a more
affluent public, boating-and other water-based activities will increase requiring
greater law enforcement capability.
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9. In the event of a major catastrophe, such as an earthquake, the ability to travel on
the water to assist in disaster relief would prove to be of utmost importance were
roads and bridges to become impassable.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 1999-2000 Grand Jury makes the following recommendations:
1, The Sheriff's Office should increase the available manpower of the patrol to a
level which will permit all available units to be deployed in an emergency.
2. The Emergency Services Division should consider and plan for the use of the
Patrol and other waterborne assets that can be made available or acquired in the
event of a catastrophic failure of the roads and bridges or acts of terrorism.
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