The impact of SSD staff reductions in the context of history:

In 1970 there were 367,349 people living in Unincorporated Sacramento County, patrolled by 185 sheriff’s deputies. Today there are 563,514 people living in the same area, soon to be patrolled by 171 sheriff’s deputies. It was also an entirely different climate; there were no gang problems. Mere possession of marijuana led the list of felony arrests. In 1970 there were 16 homicides in the unincorporated county (and only 4 in 1969). Fewer people were living in condensed clusters of high density, multi-family dwellings. Litigation against public agencies was unheard of; it was clearly a simpler time.

Advance the hands of time three decades and much has changed. Sacramento County has endured many crises including mass murders, serial killers, the nation’s largest single hostage siege, the proliferation of the narcotic-gang lifestyle and all of the related challenges; we have recorded more than 70 homicides in the unincorporated area in a single year. Policing this community has become far more complex and challenging. The population of Unincorporated Sacramento County, the region’s largest single population center, includes people living in everything from high density government subsidized housing projects to suburban ranch style homes and open rural lands. The dedicated and uniquely qualified people charged with the delivery of law enforcement services to this county have created an incredibly efficient system through which those services are delivered. Notwithstanding the low staffing ratios in terms of officers per 1,000 population, such professionals have managed to keep crime levels relatively low, and the rate at which such cases are solved among the highest in the nation (82% of all 2009 homicide cases have been solved, 86% of the homicides for 2008 have been solved).

This has been accomplished through wise use of specialty programs which enhance organizational efficiency with minimal cost to the taxpayers. Most notably, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department has accomplished a tremendous benefit through the complete implementation of Community Oriented Policing, in which Problem Oriented Policing officers (POP) work collaboratively with community volunteers and traditional patrol officers for the purpose of seeking long term solutions to problems that threaten the quality of life in a community, versus merely reacting to situations when things have already gone bad and people are forced to suffer. Specialty units such as air-support and canine units significantly increase operational efficiency as well as public and officer safety. Statistics provided by the Airborne Law Enforcement Association indicate the value of a single two-person helicopter crew can do the work of 19 two-person patrol cars on the ground. In Sacramento County, those airborne law enforcement resources average a two minute response time to critical calls, and in many cases eliminate the need for ground response, leaving officers free to respond to calls for service and patrol neighborhoods. These specialty units, working in conjunction with gang detectives and a variety of specialized personnel have made the difference in the success of public protection efforts in the County of Sacramento. While the editorial writers at the Bee may not appreciate the value of such resources, the general public have been served very well by the total compliment of services provided in the unincorporated areas and throughout the county.

The growth in the county’s long time cities, as well as the incorporation of new cities is undeniable. The fact that the leaders in those cities have sought appropriate law enforcement staffing levels is laudable but does nothing whatsoever to benefit the residents of the vast unincorporated area of Sacramento County. Municipal police officers working in the incorporated cities do not respond to calls for service or engage in law enforcement efforts outside the confines of their cities. Robust law enforcement staffing in those cities is impressive but does nothing whatsoever for the residents of the unincorporated areas, to suggest otherwise is indefensible. Finally, any suggestion that reducing the number of deputies assigned to the court facilities or the airport would increase public safety in county neighborhoods is absurd. Those resources are paid for by the Superior Court of the State of California, and the Sacramento County Department of Airports respectively. The county general fund is not impacted one bit by such contract services. The fact is, if the airport or the courts were to reduce their staffing of deputy sheriffs it would not increase patrol staffing one bit, it would only result in additional deputies being laid off.

John McGinness
Sacramento County Sheriff

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