by Jay O'Brien
Thanks to the efforts by Rio Linda/Elverta Honorary Mayor
Norma-Lee, the Sheriff has provided a new Police Protection statement
for the Elverta Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR),
replacing the statement written by the County's Department of
Environmental Review and Assessment (DERA). Chief Deputy Dan Drummond,
in charge of field services for the Sheriff's Department, responded
quickly when contacted by Honorary Mayor Norma-Lee. Drummond provided
The NEWS with a copy of the new statement. Drummond told The NEWS that
the Sheriff's Department was not consulted by DERA about the Elverta
Specific Plan.
The original DERA statement, printed in The NEWS July 31, 2003, said
that the Sheriff's Department "no longer provides patrol and
investigative service in response to all citizen complaints". DERA also
said, representing the Sheriff, "Visits on residential burglaries,
noise disturbances, vandalism, vehicle thefts, vehicle burglaries, and
preventative patrol are no longer provided." Contrast those DERA
statements to the new language, provided by Chief Deputy Drummond, that
follows.
(Proposed language for Draft EIR, Elverta Specific Plan)
The Sheriff's Department provides general and specialized law
enforcement services to Sacramento County, local police protection to
the unincorporated area, and contract police services to some of the
cities in Sacramento County. Local police protection includes
response to calls for service, investigations, surveillance and
pro-active patrol activities.
Demand for local police protection exceeds the supply of
resources. The demand results primarily from population growth
and increased business activity. Changes in crime trends may
cause the Sheriff's Department to change response priorities based on
specific needs. The supply of resources is linked primarily to
the County General Fund. Growing demand and a relatively slower
growing resource base has led to the perpetual struggle to maintain an
adequate level of police protection.
The Sheriff's Department has undergone a major reorganization and
decentralization process that provides localized local police
protection in the identifiable communities in the unincorporated
area. The stationhouses located throughout the county house
patrol and investigative personnel dedicated to specific geographical
boundaries. Certain types of reports of criminal activity are
completed at the community service centers. Patrol officers
respond to crimes in progress, residential burglaries, noise
disturbances and other events requiring immediate law enforcement
intervention.
Obviously as more business and residential development is completed,
the demand for services increases. Without commensurate increases
in resources, service levels will diminish. As development is
contemplated, the Sheriff's Department planning staff should be
consulted for recommendations to reduce service impacts. The
design of a development can influence the demand for services through
the presence or absence of internal security measures.
Circulation design can also affect the ability of the Sheriff's
Department to provide timely response to calls for service.
