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LAKEPORT – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the sheriff's application for grant funding that will provide funding to cover positions in the fight against illegal marijuana.
Following a discussion in which board members raised concerns about some of the application's wording, the supervisors gave unanimous approval to Sheriff Rod Mitchell seeking the $275,000 grant from the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA).
Mitchell explained that the funds would cover two deputy positions which currently covered by the county's general fund, along with partial payment of a prosecutor and some operating and overhead expenses.
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration grants that the sheriff's office receives are used for overtime and other expenses, not for regular staff time, Mitchell said.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington asked what the reduced obligation to the general fund would be. Mitchell said, among other things, it would cover senior Det. Steve Brooks, who is assigned to the program. Currently, Brooks is assigned full-time to suppression, with the $90,000 for his position being covered by the general fund, with the exception of overtime.
The Cal EMA grant would cover Brooks' position, which Mitchell said would allow him to redeploy another position to assist with other crime fighting programs.
Farrington asked about how the county can place greater focus on methamphetamine eradication. Mitchell said he has another grant that covers one detective and one sergeant who are focusing on methamphetamine issues.
If the money went away, Farrington wanted to know about Mitchell's succession plant.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox said, typically, when funding goes away, the positions are eliminated. However, because the sheriff's office commonly has a number of vacancies, “It's never been a problem with this department,” said Cox, who credited the sheriff with carefully tracking positions.
Rushing noted that the grant's project performance requirements include monthly statistical tracking. That led her to ask how the department measures success.
Mitchell said they document and track the number of plants seized, people arrested or contacted, and weapons seizures as part of that analysis.
Rushing also asked about the program objectives and the focus on illicit grows. Mitchell assured her and the board that his agency is focusing on large illicit operations, particularly those sponsored by Mexican cartels, and not Proposition 215 patients, who he said often call his department to request compliance checks.
Rushing questioned the law enforcement and prosecution component, which included looking at the conviction rate. She wanted to know if they were measured on whether or not they busts are good ones.
Supervisor Rob Brown pointed out that not all eradications result in arrests. Mitchell added that they're also dealing with grows that damage public lands.
“I don't think there's any citizen of Lake County who doesn't want to see Mexican cartels out of here,” said Rushing, noting the damage the cartels do to public lands and the danger they pose to the public.
Mitchell said Dennis Reynolds of Lake County Probation has a great deal of expertise on the environmental damage aspects, and will make a presentation at a Thursday meeting of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The special 6 p.m. meeting, to be held in the board chambers in Lakeport, will look specifically at marijuana grows and the impacts on habitat.
“It's a whole lot more than just the marijuana and the people with guns,” said Mitchell, noting the “significant” damage.
Rushing said she was concerned about the eradication program itself. “We'll never get there with this amount of money,” said Rushing.
The real question, she said, is whether or not it's solving anything.
Rushing also wanted the language of the grant's problem statement and objectives worked out, with the board having input. Mitchell said he can make that language clearer.
For Rushing, the language issue made it appear that they were going after all marijuana grows. Brown said he read it as only calling for illegal grow eradications.
In addition, Rushing wanted more specific language inserted to make it clear that the cartels are the target of the enforcement.
Brown suggested there also are “a bunch of white guys” trying to profit from Proposition 215.
Rushing suggested changing the language to include mention of cartel-based operations and illegals. Added Brown, “Sometimes it's just white trash.”
Brown pointed out that the grant will free up $90,000 from the general fund.
During the discussion, Brown went on to note that many sheriff's deputies now feel like they're getting beat up for no reason, and he wanted to give recognition to Brooks, who he said has committed himself to fighting illegal marijuana.
“You don't see him, you don't hear him,” said Brown. “You hear about him. The guy is phenomenal.”
Brown said Brooks uses a lot of discretion and doesn't bother Proposition 215 patients, but goes after illegal grows “with a vengeance.”
Rushing said she wanted to have a discussion at some point about how the community can reclaim itself from the influence of illegal drug activity.
Mitchell said he would submit a grant application with revised language for Cox and County Counsel Anita Grant to review, which will allow him to still meet the grant's time frames.
If they're successful in getting the grant, Mitchell said he'll look forward to redeploying another detective to crime fighting.
The board granted support to the application, with revisions, in a 5-0 vote.
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