The Local Safety and Protection Account, a special account that funds a number of local public safety services – including the Rural Sheriffs Program – that are crucial to local law enforcement and help county district attorneys prosecute cases, is scheduled to end on June 30, 2010.
Chesbro’s AB 9 X1 and AB 66 would ensure this important funding continues so that our communities can remain safe.
“This funding is vitally important to local law enforcement programs, especially in rural California,” said Chesbro, who represents a vast district in far Northern California comprised of rural communities. “It represents the majority of state funding to local public safety. Sheriffs in the First Assembly District tell me that losing this funding will devastate law enforcement services in their counties.”
The funding means about $500,000 per year to sheriff’s departments eligible to participate in the Rural Sheriffs Program.
Six to 10 patrol positions will be eliminated from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department alone without extending the funding for Local Safety and Protection Account, said incoming Sheriff Mike Downey.
“Without this funding it will decimate our patrol force,” Downey said. “There will be a direct impact on the number of deputies we can put on the street. Our law enforcement to outlying areas will cease to exist.”
“This bill is the most significant piece of legislation that I’ve seen in the past four years,” added Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman. “Assemblymember Chesbro understands the seriousness of the situation and has stepped up to be a friend of law enforcement.”
Principal coauthors of this legislation are Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani and Senators Michael J. Rubio and Lois Wolk.
Coauthors are Assemblymembers Bill Monning, V. Manuel Pérez, Steven Bradford, Jose Solario, Norma Torres, Bob Wieckowski and Mariko Yamada and Sen. Noreen Evans.
The legislation is supported by the California State Sheriffs Association, California Police Chiefs Association, California Peace Officers Association, Chief Probation Officers Of California, California Narcotic Officers Association, California District Attorneys Association, California Coalition Of Law Enforcement Associations, California Fraternal Order Of Police and Peace Officers Research Association Of California.
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