Solano County Sheriff's Office Annual Report 2014

Y T N U O C SOLANO OFFICE S ’ F F I R E SH PORT 2014 ANNUAL RE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS MISSION, VISION AND VALUES

3

CORONER’S OFFICE

16

MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF

4

ANIMAL CARE DIVISION

17

MESSAGE FROM UNDERSHERIFF

5

SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

18

COMMAND STAFF

6

SUPPORT SERVICES

19

PATROL SERVICES

Patrol Bureau

Marine Patrol

Canine Unit

INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES

7

10

Property and Identification

ADMINISTRATIVE BUREAU

20

SHERIFF’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

22

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)

Mutual Aid Mobile Field Force

General Crimes Unit

Hostage Negotiation Team

Environmental Crimes Unit

Tactical Dispatch

Resident Deputy

Stolen Vehicles Unit

CUSTODY DIVISION

25

Cal-MMET

STANDARDS AND ETHICS

30

Sheriff’s Enforcement Team

Personnel and Backgrounds Unit

COURT SERVICES

14

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

31

SHERIFF’S SECURITY SERVICES

15

PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL

33

S E U L A V D N A N MISSION, VISIO MISSION STATEMENT The Solano County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to the safety and well being of all persons within Solano County. Through comprehensive community, intergovernmental and employee partnerships, we will provide effective law enforcement; safe, humane, secure jails, and security for the Courts. We are committed to provide professional community oriented service incorporating problem solving strategies to ensure the quality of life set forth in our constitution.

VISION With recognition and respect for our diverse community, we will employ technology, problem solving strategies and community partnerships in the provision of attentive public safety services.

VALUES Integrity An honest application of ethical standards in all situations.

Trust A confidence that expectations will be met.

Respect To be considerate of everyone’s

individuality and attributes. To value their contribution.

Teamwork Working together to achieve a common goal.

Communication To create and maintain

an effective environment supporting an open exchange of ideas and information.

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F F I R E H S E H T M O MESSAGE FR With 2014 now behind us, I present our annual report, highlighting the exceptional work of this agency over the past 12 months.

As you will read, this has been a year of partnership, expansion and modernization.

This annual report will tell a story of challenges and successes. The great men and women who make up the Solano County Sheriff’s Office have outdone themselves and exceeded all of my expectations.

The agency has undergone significant growth this past year. We have expanded our services to areas previously unknown to the Sheriff’s Office.

Our Animal Control Bureau is one example of this expansion. After absorbing the Solano County Animal Shelter nearly four years ago, we continue to fine-tune our animal care services. Because of the success that this program has experienced, the city of Vallejo has chosen to contract with us for all animal control related services.

The amount of security services that we provide has also increased drastically. Our sheriff’s security officers are now assigned to both static and mobile posts throughout the county. These posts include, but are not limited to: county libraries, courthouses, and county parks.

Another partnership that was formed last year was between the Sheriff’s Office and

Solano Community College (SCC). In August, the SCC Governing Board unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding, making the Sheriff’s Office responsible for all law enforcement services for their three campuses.

The final success story related to the growth of the Sheriff’s Office in 2014 was the completion of our new Stanton Correctional Facility. This maximum security 127,800 square foot facility includes 362 beds. The Stanton Correctional Facility was primarily financed through the State AB900 funding and will act as the benchmark for how technology can revolutionize the corrections industry. We have also secured an additional $23 million through SB1022. This funding will be dedicated to the training and vocational education of our inmates.

We are four years into the AB109 re-alignment of jailprison services and I could not be more pleased with the hard work of our staff in addressing this transition.

Hand in hand with our public safety partners at Solano County Probation and the District Attorney’s Office, we continue to keep the community’s safety as our first priority. I would also like to thank County Administrator Birgitta E. Corsello, as well as the entire Board of Supervisors, for their continued support of the Sheriff’s Office as we strive to make Solano County a safe place to live, work and visit.

Thomas A. Ferrara

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

F F I R E H S R E D N U SAGE FROM THE

MES

As we present this first Annual Report

to the community, I would like to take a moment to thank the members of the Sheriff’s Public Information Team that were instrumental in putting this report together. But most of all, I would like to thank the more than 760 employees and volunteers that make up the Solano County Sheriff’s Office. The daily effort and dedication of these men and women to providing the highest level of public service is remarkable.

We have a lot going on here at the Sheriff’s Office.

Besides the deputies you see responding to 9-1-1 calls in the unincorporated areas of the county, we have more than 265 correctional staff working the county jail system, providing a vital and often underappreciated service to the safety of our community. We also operate a countywide communications center that provides public safety dispatching service for not only the Sheriff’s Office, but also for the cities of Rio Vista, Dixon and the Solano Community College District, not to mention five fire districts, Solano County Probation and the District Attorney’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office is also the central repository for all criminal and civil bench warrants issued in Solano County. We currently have more than 10,000 active warrants on files in the Sheriff’s Records Bureau. As the sheriff mentioned, we also took on the challenge of running the county’s animal shelter in 2011. Since that time, we have increased the live-release rate every year and are working hard to continue that trend. In addition, we run the county’s Office of Emergency Services, Coroner’s Office and many other support services that help keep Solano County safe.

I am proud to serve as your undersheriff, and as I enter my 27th year of service here, I look forward to the challenges that 2015 will bring.

Gary T. Elliott Jr.

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F F A T S D N A M M CO

Gary T. Elliott Jr.

Thomas A. Ferrara

Undersheriff

Don Bevins

Gary Faulkner

Captain

Eric Thelen

Lieutenant-Sheriff

Jeff Brackett

Lieutenant-Sheriff

Cathy Raymos

Custody Lieutenant

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Tom Norris

Carol Cain

Captain

Brad DeWall

Lieutenant-Sheriff

Nursing Manager

Angelica Russell

Sheriff-Coroner

Director of Administrative Services

Systems & Programming Manager

Denton Autry

Lieutenant-Sheriff

Denise Cantrell

Support Services Manager

Don Ryan

Emergency Services Manager

William Hornbrook

Alex Benetti

Lieutenant-Sheriff

Emergency Services Assistant Manager

Renee Smith

Jeff Liddicoat

Administrative Services Manager

Scott Bradford

Custody Lieutenant

Inmate Programs & Services Manager

Rod Marsh

Custody Lieutenant

Lorraine Tang

Senior Staff Analyst

Mitch Mashburn Custody Lieutenant

Angela Donovan Staff Analyst

PATROL SERVICES PATROL BUREAU The Sheriff’s Patrol Bureau patrols the unincorporated areas of the county, which is spread out over 900 square miles. One lieutenant manages the Patrol Bureau with the help of four sergeants, one for each patrol team. Each team consists of eight deputy sheriffs, including two field training officers and one canine handler, for a total of 32 deputy sheriffs. This allows us to achieve 24-hour coverage with each patrol team working a 12-hour shift.

Patrol responds to a variety of calls for service from our 9-1-1 dispatch center and is also involved in proactive patrol, such as issuing traffic citations.

Calls for service range from petty theft to homicide and include warrant service and back-up to the seven cities located in our county. When patrol deputies have the available resources and time, they conduct complete criminal investigations into complex cases.

Below is the statistical summary of our major calls for service in 2014.

Other Crimes 632 Alarm Property Calls Crimes 1,894 472

Violent Crimes 360

Hospital Details 336

11%

14%

8% 43%

8% 16%

Agency Assits 699

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Another function of Patrol is the preparation for, and execution of, two major county fairs. We set up security, staffing and public relations booths for both the Dixon May Fair and the Solano County Fair.

MARINE PATROL The Solano County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Program consists of four deputies and one sergeant operating three vessels and two personnel watercrafts. The program provides public safety

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

resources to recreational and commercial boaters on the 150+ miles of navigable waterways in Solano County. The Marine Patrol Bureau primarily patrols the western portion of the Sacramento/ San Joaquin River Delta and enforces federal, state and local laws on the waterways. Additionally, the Marine Patrol Bureau provides support for Search and Rescue as well as the Solano County Sheriff’s Dive Team. As part of our focus on water safety, life jacket loaner stations have been set up

at Sandy Beach Park and Lake Solano Park, and we participate in a life jacket exchange program every year. In a partnership with the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Division of Boating and Waterways, we have removed seven sunken vessels that were navigation and environmental hazards to our waterways and 13 vessels that were in danger of sinking or becoming waterway hazards.

CANINE UNIT The Sheriff’s Canine Unit provides Solano County with a multi-dimensional service that includes narcotic and bomb detection as well as tracking and suspect apprehension. The team currently is composed of five canines and their handlers.

Four teams are assigned to patrol and one works inside the jail.

2014 HAS BEEN A LANDMARK YEAR FOR THE SHERIFF’S CANINE UNIT.

The unit has been utilized for dignitary protection of former presidents, ambassadors and luminaries from around the world. The unit has also worked in conjunction with the US Postal Service by providing parcel interdiction. These services resulted in seizures of more than one million dollars of illicit money.

Below is a summary of the unit’s major incidents in 2014.

APPREHENSIONS

NARCOTICS

DIGNITARY PROTECTION

SUSPECT TRACKING SUCCUSS RATE

BUILDING/AREA SEARCHES

47

551 lbs

5

80%

676

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S E C I V R E S E V I T A INVESTIG The Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau is responsible for the investigations of criminal cases that are above and beyond the scope and resources of the Patrol Division. This includes all misdemeanor and felony crimes for both local and state laws where other agencies do not have the primary investigative responsibility. These cases often require a large amount of resources for an extended period of time. They may need detectives with specialized training, knowledge and equipment. These types of investigations extend beyond a patrol deputy’s area of responsibility (beat).

Detectives are able to focus on their investigation without the interruptions a patrol deputy would normally have, handling calls for service. Detectives in the Investigations Bureau investigate crimes against persons and property such as, but not limited to: homicides, sexual assaults, fraud, elder and child abuse, domestic violence, child pornography, inmate on inmate crimes, and sexual registrants. In addition to criminal investigations, the detectives also conduct follow-up investigations on all missing persons, runaway juveniles and other cases required by law.

The Investigations Bureau detectives interview victims, witnesses and alleged perpetrators. They respond to significant crime scenes and work with the department’s Property and ID Unit as they sift through fingerprints, look for traces of blood, and perform other evidence collection. The Investigations Bureau personnel work with other local, state and federal agencies to solve crimes

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

and bring perpetrators to justice. The Investigations Bureau is divided into four main units: General Crimes, Environmental Crimes, Resident Deputy and Stolen Vehicles. In addition to these units, the bureau has a detective assigned to the region’s Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force (NC3TF) in Napa County.

GENERAL CRIMES UNIT During the calendar year of 2014, the Sheriff’s Office General Crimes Unit worked on 938 cases, served 39 search warrants and made 14 arrests.

They interviewed over 800 victims, witnesses and suspects. They registered 133 sex offenders and conducted eight Sexual Assault & Felony Enforcement (SAFE) compliance sweeps throughout Solano County.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT This unit is a collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office and Solano County Resource Management.

One of the primary purposes of this unit is to locate, investigate and identify those responsible for illegal dumping in Solano County. In 2014, the unit investigated 132 illegal dumping cases during this past year and participated in 11 mutual aid responses in surrounding counties.

RESIDENT DEPUTY The Resident Deputy Program involves deputies assigned to the community where they live, focusing their efforts on crime prevention by

collaborating on community issues with residents, businesses, homeowners’ associations, schools and other local and state agencies. They also oversee some Neighborhood Watch groups. Our current resident deputy attended over 20 community meetings during 2014 and participates in at least three Neighborhood Watch groups.

STOLEN VEHICLES UNIT The goal of the Stolen Vehicle Unit is the reduction and prevention of vehicle thefts. The unit is responsible for assisting with the recovery of stolen vehicles and the prosecution of those who steal vehicles and other vessels. During 2014, the unit conducted more than 100 investigations, executed over 50 probation/ parole searches, and recovered over 120 vehicles.

CAL-MMET STATISTICAL INFORMATION 2014 Methamphetamine Seized: 23.8 pounds

Estimated Value: $226,100

Cocaine Seized: 154 grams

Estimated Value: $1,000

Heroin Seized: 9 grams

Estimated Value: $720

Marijuana Seized: 574.4 pounds

Estimated Value: $1,723,200

Marijuana Plants Seized: 7,032

Estimated Value: $21,096,000

Concentrated Cannabis Seized: 20 ounces

Estimated Value: $8,000

Hashish Seized: 54 grams

Estimated Value: $200

Various Pills: 188

Estimated Value: $940

SEARCH WARRANTS WRITTEN/SERVED

ARRESTS

GUNS SEIZED

27

133

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CAL-MMET The Solano County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team is responsible for the investigation of narcotic-related crimes such as sales, possession for sale, the sale of precursor chemicals, and the manufacturing of dangerous drugs.

Investigators work and train in the narcotic investigative arena. They handle everything from simple sales cases to more complex clandestine laboratory cases, and Title III wiretaps. Additionally, investigators are tasked with maintaining suspect databases and statistics with regard to caseload, search warrants written, drugs found, and arrests made. Investigators are responsible for obtaining

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realignment program and the sheriff’s expanded Alternative to Custody (ATC) program. SET not only completes field compliance checks on the individuals placed on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) and ATC, but also pursues those individuals out of compliance with the terms of their probation. SET is comprised of four deputy sheriffs, one Fairfield Police Department officer, one Vallejo Police Department officer, one agent from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDRC), and one Sheriff’s Office sergeant. This team regularly completes daily compliance checks throughout Solano County and works with other local law enforcement agencies, including County Probation and State Parole.

background information on witnesses, leads and suspects, and for coordinating their activities with the other narcotic units in the county.

In addition to narcotic-related cases, the team has the knowledge, training and skill set to assist with a multitude of investigations, including gangrelated crimes, major crimes against persons and major property crimes. The team routinely assists

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

the General Investigations Bureau and interfaces with a variety of other teams and agencies.

SHERIFF’S ENFORCEMENT TEAM The primary purpose of the Sheriff’s Enforcement Team (SET) is to provide for public safety through field compliance checks of those individuals who remain out of custody as a result of California’s

During 2014, the Sheriff’s Enforcement Team conducted 276 compliance checks resulting in 162 arrests; an additional 239 arrests were made for unrelated new crimes and outstanding warrants, for a total of 401 arrests during 2014. During these activities, SET seized or recovered 16 firearms, two stolen vehicles, and 256 grams of illegal drugs.

In May 2014, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff’s Enforcement Team and Cal-MMET conducted a joint operation in the city of Vacaville with the United States Marshals Service, Solano County Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force, Solano County Sheriff’s Office Custody Division

gang investigators, California State Parole Agents, Solano County Probation Officers and the Vacaville Police Department. The Vacaville Police Department coordinated the operation to occur prior to the annual Fiesta Days celebration in order to ensure public safety throughout the festival. As a result of this operation, numerous arrests of gang members and associates were made.

During the month of June 2014, SET partnered with Cal-MMET, the United States Marshals Service, the Solano County Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force, and the Fairfield Police Department to conduct joint operations in the city of Fairfield. This joint operation led to the arrest of 43 suspects for charges including, but not limited to: outstanding warrants, parole violations, probation violations, weapons offenses and controlled substance violations. Four firearms were recovered during this operation.

SET STATISTICS 2014 ARRESTS

RECOVERED GUNS

DRUGS

COMPLIANCE CHECKS

STOLEN VEHICLES

401

16

256 grams

276

2

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S E C I V R E S T R U O C COURT SERVICES BUREAU In 2014, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office Court Services Bureau (CSB) was responsible for the security of over 1,000 court employees, including 29 judges and two commissioners of the Solano Superior Court System. The Solano Court System consists of four courthouses with 29 courtrooms.

Each courtroom has one deputy sheriff assigned for security of the judge, court staff and the public.

The Solano County Court System managed 17,210 civil and criminal case filings in 2014. CSB worked in partnership with the Superior Court to enhance security throughout the county’s court facilities. In 2014, CSB screened nearly 338,000 individuals who passed through courthouse weapons screening stations, confiscating approximately 15,632 items of contraband. In addition, CSB responded to 1,320 calls for service in and around the court buildings.

CIVIL BUREAU The Sheriff’s Office Civil Bureau works in conjunction with the civil courts of Solano County to serve civil process in the manner prescribed by law. It is the goal of the bureau to serve all processes in a timely manner while maintaining an impartial position between all parties involved.

Included in their list of duties are enforcing and maintaining judgments, disbursing payments, conducting evictions, real property and personal property levies, till taps, installing keepers, and service of court documents (restraining orders, bank levies, notice of court hearings, notice to vacate, etc.).

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Civil Bureau has three civil deputies who serve the Solano County area, which is made up of Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon, Benicia, Vallejo, Rio Vista and Suisun City. Our office staff consists of a supervisor, one senior clerk and four legal procedure clerks. Some of their daily duties include inputting paperwork for service, scheduling evictions, maintaining records and balances owed on judgments, and responding to a high volume of phone calls from the public. In 2014, the Civil Bureau generated $447,552 in revenue and completed 9,259 various services, some of which consisted of:

Evictions

1,203

Restraining Orders

1,824

Bank Levies

1,139

Earnings Withholding Order

553

Real Property Levies

7

ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2014: •

Returned to full staffing after prolonged shortages due to economic factors

•

Returned hundreds of backlogged, expired writs back to the courts

S E C I V R E S Y T I R U SHERIFF’S SEC The Sheriff’s Office employs sheriff’s security officers to assist sworn personnel in providing security for and guarding county property and the properties of contracted public agencies against fire, theft, vandalism and trespassing.

The sheriff’s security officer works at a fixed post or around a facility/campus perimeter to prevent individuals from committing acts that are injurious to others or to property. They direct visitors to personnel and services within a facility and, when necessary, search people on the premises for weapons, illegal devices or contraband. They can also utilize fixed and hand-held scanning devices to detect unauthorized weapons and devices.

Maintaining the safety of people at Sheriff’s Office facilities or properties also requires the sheriff’s security officer to monitor alarm systems and electronic surveillance equipment to respond to locally activated fires, burglaries or other alarms. They are responsible for relaying reports of bomb threats to appropriate law enforcement and reporting safety hazards or malfunctioning equipment. Finally, the sheriff’s security officer is responsible for reporting daily activity, including incidents and any non-employee injuries.

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E C I F F O ’S R E N O R O C The Coroner’s Office is an investigative unit responsible for carrying out the statutory duties pursuant to California Government Code 27491, which directs the coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner and cause of reportable deaths. Those duties include investigation into the circumstances surrounding all deaths falling within the coroner’s jurisdiction for the purpose of determining the identity of the deceased, the medical cause of death, the manner of death, and the date and time of death. Medicolegal death investigations are conducted countywide on all homicides, suicides, accidents, suspicious and unexplained deaths. Other duties include notifying the next of kin, safeguarding personal property, collection of evidence and completion of mandatory records and documents.

The Coroner’s Office chairs the Interagency Child Death Review Team (ICDRT). The focus of the ICDRT is to assist local agencies in identifying and reviewing suspicious child deaths and facilitating communication among persons who perform autopsies and the various persons and agencies involved in child abuse or neglect cases. Interagency child death teams have been used successfully to ensure that incidents of child abuse or neglect are recognized and other siblings and non-offending family members receive the appropriate services in cases where a child has expired.

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

THE CORONER’S OFFICE IS ALSO PROACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARD PREVENTING DRUNK DRIVING AND DRUG USE.

The Solano County Sheriff’s Coroner Office is comprised of one lieutenant, one sergeant, four deputy sheriff coroner investigators, one office assistant and one forensic technician. The Coroner’s Office also contracts with two forensic pathologists.

During the 2014 calendar year, 2,962 deaths were recorded in Solano County. Of those, 1,249 of them (about 45%) were reported to the Coroner’s Office. Of the reported deaths, 333 of them became investigative cases where the decedents were brought into the Coroner’s Office for medical examination and further investigation.

SOLANO COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE STATISTICS 2014 MEDICAL HISTORY

EXTERNAL EXAM

AUTOPSY

TOTAL

Homicide

0

0

30

30

Suicide

3

25

29

57

Accident

23

10

52

85

MVA

3

6

41

50

Natural

14

11

59

84

Undetermined

0

2

9

11

Pending

0

0

16

16

Reportable Only

N/A

N/A

N/A

916

TOTAL

43

54

236

1,249

N O I S I V I D E R A C L A ANIM The Sheriff’s Office Animal Care Division is dedicated to the service of our residents and the welfare of all animals residing in Solano County.

Due to the demographic of our county and seven cities, the Animal Care Division has the opportunity to house and care for a wide variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, mules, goats, sheep, pigs, reptiles and birds. The animal shelter also houses animals taken by animal control officers due to cruelty or neglect and those quarantined for rabies control. We enforce county ordinances and state laws, such as those pertaining to spaying/ neutering, rabies vaccinations, microchipping, and licensing for animals that are redeemed by their owners or adopted.

ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS IS TO REDUCE THE HOMELESS PET POPULATION IN SOLANO COUNTY. We have worked hard to establish and build strong community partnerships with animal welfare organizations throughout the state and to network with other animal shelters for transfer opportunities. In addition, we are especially proud of the progress made in 2014 toward the completion of a 12,500 square foot expansion that includes cattery

and dog kennel showcase areas to promote animal adoptions. The expansion also features a public, low cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinic.

Another success in 2014 was the award of an Urban Areas Security Initiative (ASI) grant, which we used to purchase a 24-foot custom trailer with the versatile capability of being used for adoption events, disaster evacuation, mobile vaccination clinics, and/or mobile spay/neuter clinics.

The shelter offers microchipping services during regular business hours for only $10. In February 2014, the Found Animals Registry offered a Microchip Grant Program to assist animal welfare organizations in raising public awareness of the importance of microchipping and registering their pets. Animal Care applied for and was awarded 700 microchips, which we offered free to the first 100 guests at seven adoption awareness and vaccination events held at the shelter.

The upcoming year will bring exciting changes for the Animal Care Division. The results will benefit our community in terms of offering improved animal services and will allow adoptable animals in our care to be housed in a new state-of-the-art facility with dedicated staff to care for them.

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E G E L L O C Y T I N U M SOLANO COM On July 1, 2013, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Solano Community College (SCC) District, two deputy sheriffs were assigned to the SCC Police Department to provide law enforcement services. The SCC District employs approximately 500 full-time/adjunct faculty members and support employees, and services approximately 13,000 transient students.

To prepare for the responsibilities that come with working on a college campus, the deputies attended a Basic Traffic Collision Investigation Course hosted by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). They also attended a 40-hour Active Shooter Train-the-Trainer course hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which addressed campus violence.

On April 27, 2014, a Sheriff’s Office lieutenant was assigned to the SCC Police Department to manage law enforcement services. On August 20, 2014, the SCC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to contract with the Sheriff’s Office for SCC District law enforcement services. The MOU included one lieutenant, two deputy sheriffs, two full-time sheriff’s security officers (SSOs), and 8,926 work hours by part-time sheriff’s security officers.

The SCC Police Department operates autonomous of the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communication Center for the majority of its service calls. Deputy

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sheriffs and SSOs are self-dispatched to calls for service and 9-1-1 calls via assigned mobile phones, which can be called direct by both students and faculty. Deputy sheriffs, SSOs and police aids patrol the campuses in marked patrol cars, trucks, ecofriendly electric carts and on foot. Future patrol will include the use of existing SCC PD bicycles.

New technology brought to the SCC District since the inception of the MOU include an Emergency Notification System (REGROUP), an Automated Report Writing Management System (A.R.M.S.) that includes crime mapping, and TurboData citation software and ruggedized Samsung mobile phones to replace the outdated handheld citation devices.

Software embedded in the phones includes license plate reader technology and barcode scanning for VINs and new parking passes. Additionally, a method of reducing crime in business districts, neighborhoods and schools known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is now being used for all SCC campus landscape improvements and maintenance, as well as for all future campus improvements, remodels and new building designs.

At the end of each year, the SCC PD authors the federally mandated criminal statistics report to the Clery Center for Security on Campus pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f).

S E C I V R E S T R O P SUP PROPERTY AND IDENTIFICATION The Identification Bureau supports the Solano County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding law enforcement entities by providing services including crime scene investigations, processing evidence for latent fingerprints and biological materials, automated and manual fingerprint identification, and evidence custodial duties.

The bureau consists of two units, CAL ID, which employs two latent fingerprint examiners, and Property ID, which employs two evidence technicians. Both units are overseen by the Identification Bureau supervisor.

In 2014, the CAL ID Unit performed 510 manual fingerprint evaluations, 114 automated latent print identifications, processed 99 cases containing 479 pieces of evidence for latent fingerprints, and answered to 92 subpoenas. In addition, the CAL ID Unit supported the Solano County Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) by updating and merging 184 jail records and verifying 109 Tenprints in our local AFIS. In 2014, the Property ID Unit responded to 28 crime scenes, which included four outside agency assists. In addition to providing training to newly hired deputies and Sheriff’s Office staff, the unit received 1,014 cases with 2,521 items of evidence, processed 375 discovery requests, answered to nine subpoenas, and processed three cases in the lab for physical evidence.

THE HIGHLIGHT FOR OUR BUREAU IN 2014 WAS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE FAIRFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT IN SOLVING A 1983 COLD HOMICIDE CASE. In January of 2014, the Fairfield Police Department requested several latent fingerprint lift cards from a 1983 homicide investigation to be searched in AFIS. The AFIS-quality prints had been searched at the time of the homicide by the California Department of Justice without success.

With the aid of AFIS, Latent Fingerprint Examiner Darrell Klasey identified three of the latent prints to the suspect, who was a teenager at the time of the homicide. The latent prints were from an object that had been handled by the suspect at the crime scene. The suspect still lived in the same neighborhood and was contacted by the Fairfield Police Department. While he initially denied involvement and consented to provide a DNA sample, he was later found dead by his own hand, and had left a note essentially apologizing for his crime. Days after his death, the suspect’s DNA results came back with a positive hit to the DNA found on the murder victim.

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U A E R U B E V I T A R T S I ADMIN The Administrative Bureau primarily supports the Sheriff’s Office by providing the administrative services summarized below. The Bureau is managed by an administrative services manager, with supervision support by a senior staff analyst, an accounting supervisor, and an office supervisor (confidential).

BUDGETARY SERVICES

PAYROLL SERVICES

EXTENDED LEAVE SERVICES

The Budgetary Unit prepares the sheriff’s annual requested budget, supplemental budget, midyear budget projections, and third quarter budget projections. Staff works closely with management, program managers, the County Administrator’s Office, the Auditor-Controller’s Office, County Counsel, and other internal and external agencies to prepare and process contracts and purchases.

Staff performs process reviews and prepares board reports and other reports to include recommendations. The Unit includes one senior staff analyst, two staff analysts and one accountant.

The Payroll Unit processes all departmental employee time sheets and prior pay period adjustments to ensure employees are paid accurately and timely. Staff works closely with Human Resources and the Auditor-Controller’s Payroll Division to process employee changes. Staff also provides assistance to employees, program managers and management. The Unit includes two accounting technicians.

The Extended Leave Unit manages the employees who are on extended leave as a result of worker’s compensation, disability, paid-family-leave, or family-leave-medical-act events. Staff works closely with Human Resources, the Auditor-Controller’s Payroll Division, the county’s insurance carrier, and the employee to process workers’ compensation and disability forms, discretionary leave forms and medical forms. The Unit includes one office assistant II.

FISCAL SERVICES The Fiscal Services Unit processes accounts payable invoices and credit card purchases, and tracks payments and encumbrances. The Unit also prepares customer billing invoices and monitors the sheriff’s receivables. Staff works closely with the Budgetary Unit, program managers and the Auditor-Controller’s Office to process vendor claims, eREQs and encumbrances. The Unit includes two accounting technicians.

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

EQUIPMENT INVENTORY SERVICES The Inventory Unit conducts an annual physical inventory and updates equipment records to properly account for fixed and controlled assets and other equipment. Staff works closely with the auditor-controller’s fixed assets technician to affix barcode tags to new equipment and process equipment movement reports. The Unit includes one accounting technician.

INMATE ACCOUNTING SERVICES The Inmate Accounting Unit maintains inmates’ accounts in a specialized inmate accounting system, and performs monthly sales and account reconciliations. Staff works closely with the Sheriff’s Custody Division and the commissary vendor to process inmate deposits and record commissary sales. The Unit includes one and one-half accounting technicians.

OTHER INMATE SERVICES This Unit reviews inmate bail bonds and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy and complete information before forwarding to the courts. Staff works closely with the Sheriff’s Custody Division, the courts and bail bonds companies to assist in the processing of the bail bonds. The Unit includes a one-half accounting technician.

CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMITS The Concealed Weapons Unit processes public requests to carry concealed weapons. Staff works closely with the sheriff and background investigators. The Unit includes one office assistant III.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES The Administrative Support Unit provides clerical support to the sheriff, the undersheriff, and the director of administrative services. The Unit includes three administrative secretaries.

2014 HIGHLIGHTS •

All 502 employees are now using Virtual Timesheets (IntelliTime)

•

Returned more than 58 employees to work and placed 11 employees on transitional task

•

Revised methods to more effectively track revenues and encumbrances

•

Added one full-time staff analyst position

•

Coordinated departmental move to the county’s new managed print services

•

Welcomed three new employees to our team

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M A E T E S N O P S E R F’S EMERGENCY

SHERIF

The Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a part-time or additional duty program with no permanently assigned staff. SERT consists of four specialized teams or sub-units: the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), the Mobile Field Force (MFF), the Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) and the Command Group which includes a Tactical Dispatch Team (TDT). The teams are organized as follows:

SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS SWAT is an industry wide term for Special Weapons and Tactics that refers to the use of military-style light weapons and specialized tactics in high-risk operations that exceed the capabilities of routine, uniformed law enforcement. Their duties include confronting heavily armed criminals, performing hostage rescue and counter-terrorism operations, conducting high-risk arrests, and entering armored or barricaded buildings. Such units are often equipped with specialized firearms including submachine guns, assault rifles, breaching shotguns, sniper rifles, riot control agents and stun grenades. These teams utilize specialized equipment including heavy body armor, ballistic shields, entry tools, armored vehicles, advanced night vision optics, and motion detectors to covertly assess situations and the positions of hostages or hostage takers inside enclosed structures.

The SWAT Team is regionalized with the cities of Dixon and Suisun, currently consisting of two officers from each city. The advantages of regionalizing the SWAT Team include collaboration, cohesion of resources, improvements to public service and lower costs to the communities served, to name a few. A regional SWAT Team enhances community and officer safety and homeland

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security preparedness by improving communication among public safety personnel, unifying command structures, planning for all-inclusive emergency response, and comprehensive training.

In 2009, SWAT obtained $400,000 of Homeland Security funding to acquire an armored vehicle. The BEAR, a Ballistic Engineered Armored Response vehicle, weighs over 29,000 pounds. The BEAR is the primary delivery vehicle for the team and is also available to all the other tactical teams in the county. Its primary capabilities are: •

Multi-hit ballistic glass

•

Blast fragmentation resistant flooring

•

Radiation and explosive gas detection

•

Run flat tires

•

Thermal imager and color camera system

•

Seating capacity of 15 officers

•

Rescue capacity of 30 civilians

The BEAR has been deployed to respond to approximately 40 active tactical operations since being acquired in 2009.

In 2012, SWAT attained a new Incident Response Command Vehicle. The vehicle replaced the outdated SWAT truck and was designed to provide command support during complex SWAT and MFF operations. The vehicle’s total cost was just over $224,000 and $145,000 of it was funded through a Department of Homeland Security grant.

The SWAT Incident Command Vehicle has been deployed 10 times since being placed into service in 2013.

SWAT has established a very positive working relationship with the Northern California Regional FBI SWAT Team in Sacramento. As a result of the relationship developed and fostered, we now send all new SWAT operators to the FBI Basic Training and we participate in their annual training exercises.

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TEAM

MUTUAL AID MOBILE FIELD FORCE

The Solano County Sheriff’s Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) is a specially trained regional unit of highly skilled crisis/hostage negotiators. The goal of HNT is to resolve the crisis or hostage situation through a combined application of tactics and negotiations that will result in a peaceful resolution with: all hostages rescued safely, all law enforcement personnel uninjured and all subjects safely in custody.

Solano County’s Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Mobile Field Force (MAMFF) was activated for regional responses to Oakland and Berkeley twice during civil unrest to help keep order and maintain open freeways.

The team is comprised of members from the Sheriff’s Office, Suisun Police Department, Dixon Police Department, Rio Vista Police Department and District Attorney’s Office. HNT works closely with SWAT during critical incidents. These

The SWAT Team has improved preparedness and testing of the team by competing in the Best of the West SWAT Competition, which is sponsored by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. This competition is an intense two-day event that tests SWAT Teams’ physical abilities, marksmanship, team coordination and fundamental tactics.

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incidents can include service of high-risk search warrants, hostage situations and barricaded suspect incidents. The HNT is also used to deal with persons who may be in personal crisis and be suicidal.

TACTICAL DISPATCH TEAM Tactical dispatchers work collaboratively with the SWAT Team, HNT and MFF Team to provide the Sheriff’s Office, Suisun City, Dixon and Rio Vista with the capability to safely resolve high-risk situations. Tactical incident dispatchers respond with the Mobile Command Post or meet at the scene and immediately establish multi modes of communication technology. The Tactical Incident Dispatchers are trained in all facets of dispatching and use state-of-the-art communications and incident command equipment.

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

SERT STATISTICS 2014

SWAT CALL-OUTS

9

TDT CALL-OUTS

7

MOBILE FIELD FORCE CALL-OUTS

4

HNT CALL-OUTS

5

CUSTODY DIVISION COUNTY JAILS In 1859, Solano County’s first jail was constructed in the city of Fairfield at a cost of $24,440. The structure was 35 feet long by 35 feet wide.

In June of 2014, Solano County dedicated its newest jail, the Stanton Correctional Facility in Fairfield.

This facility is 127,800 square feet in size and utilizes the latest security electronics, software, video and green energy technology.

Solano County was able to construct this facility after receiving a state award for Lease Revenue Financing through Assembly Bill 900 (AB900), which provided 75 percent of the project financing needed to construct the $89 million facility.

The Solano County Sheriff’s Office now operates three detention facilities for the County of Solano: the Justice Center Detention Facility (JCDF), the Claybank Detention Facility (CDF) and the Stanton Correctional Facility (SCF). All three facilities are located in the city of Fairfield and are staffed by the 265 employees assigned to the Custody Division. The Custody Division’s annual budget is approximately $41 million (salary/services) and accounts for 41 percent of the overall Sheriff’s Office budget.

The primary function of the county jail is to house pre-trial arrestees and sentenced inmates in a safe and secure environment, which also increases protection for the community. The county jail houses both male and female inmates in minimum

through maximum security housing locations. It provides for the health and welfare of the inmates and is responsible for transporting them to locations outside of jail facilities.

The county jail operates in conformance with all laws, guidelines and standards as established by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), state and federal law, and Sheriff’s Office policy and procedures. The jail provides for community safety, facility security and the welfare of staff and inmates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

In 2014, the county jail processed 16,318 bookings from local police departments and law enforcement.

This averaged out to a daily inmate population of 950, 27 percent of which was a result of Assembly Bill 109 (AB109), Public Safety Realignment. Solano County jails have a BSCC bed rated capacity of 1,081 beds, but will increase to 1,444 beds once the Stanton Correctional Facility is fully operational.

STANTON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (SCF) PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANTS (PDAS) The implementation and use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) allows officers to safely and efficiently monitor and operate any of the 12 separate housing units within the facility. The PDA also allows staff to communicate with an inmate from any intercom in any cell or housing unit.

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Furthermore, an interface with the Sheriff’s Office Jail Management System (JMS) can put an inmate’s custody record in the palm of facility line staff.

VIDEO VISITATION A state-of-the-art, web-based visitation system has been incorporated into the Stanton Correctional Facility. With this system, social and professional visitors are able to conduct remote video visitation.

On-site visitors can also use the video visiting terminals located in the Stanton Correctional Facility Visiting Lobby.

The new visitation system has many benefits. With remote visits scheduled a minimum of 24 hours in advance, a predetermined visitation schedule eliminates the chaotic rushes and long lines of first-come, first-served visitations. In addition, removing the “behind the glass” element from visiting greatly reduces the risk of contraband introduction into the facility.

There are extra benefits for our inmate population as well. Using a video visitation system will allow us to increase inmate visitation by 600% percent, from 2 to 14 visits per week. This change will give our inmate population the ability to be in contact with families seven days a week.

VIDEO COURTROOM To improve safety and reduce costs, Internet-based video technology for the court arraignment process has been built into the Stanton Correctional Facility.

This allows video court proceedings for select court appearances by providing a clear, accurate visual and audio representation of all parties involved.

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Under the new video arraignment system, the offender may appear before a judge without ever leaving the Stanton Correctional Facility or the Claybank Campus. This technology enhances the safety of the courtroom personnel, general public and transportation officers, while decreasing transportation costs and eliminating the potential for escape.

PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM The Stanton Correctional Facility has 708 solar panels located on the facility roof, providing enough electricity to power the facility for five hours each day.

JAIL PROGRAMS ANKA PROGRAMS The Tools for Transformation Alcohol and Other Drug program at the Claybank Detention Facility provides services for both male and female inmates.

The primary focus is on relapse prevention and

generalized substance abuse counseling, but anger management, trauma and recovery, and parenting skills are also addressed. All clients receive individual counseling.

JAIL COUNSELING PROGRAM The Jail Counseling Program is a collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office and the Wright Institute, a professional school of psychology in Berkeley, California. Interns provide counseling to selected inmates from September to June.

RECOVERY TOO (“R2”) Recovery Too is a self-run therapeutic community, housed in one module at the Claybank Detention Center. Participants are involved in a daily peer-led group that focuses on substance abuse recovery, personal development and changing negative behavior.

CHAPLAIN SERVICES

INMATE LIBRARY SERVICE

In cooperation with local religious leaders and chaplain volunteers, religious programs such as weekly Bible studies, religious faith group rites and prayers are offered to several housing units. The chaplain also coordinates distribution of religious reading materials, conducts weddings and provides personal counseling services.

Legal reference services are being provided by Legal Research Associates to make educational, self-help and recreational books available in-house through the Inmate Library Service.

GED PROGRAM

Women’s Reentry Achievement Program case managers provide pre-release services in the jail 30 to 60 days prior to a woman’s release. Services include individual risks/needs assessments, reentry planning, Helping Women Recover empowerment groups, Reading Legacies (a program helping incarcerated women stay connected with their children), and peer mentor support. Requirements to participate are that women in jail be residents of

The GED Program is run by the Solano County Office of Education for male and female inmates preparing for the GED exam or other types of tests, including those for vocational training or college applications.

The program focuses primarily on math, writing and English, but students can also work on science and social studies.

WOMEN’S REENTRY ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM (WRAP)

Solano County who are pregnant, parents or parent figures of children under the age of 18.

VETERANS JUSTICE OUTREACH PROGRAM In the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, a Veterans Affairs social worker comes to the jail to help veteran inmates access community resources. Among other things, the program assists in establishing eligibility, discharge and transition planning, and health and housing services.

THINKING FOR A CHANGE Thinking for a Change (T4C) is an integrated, cognitive behavioral change program for offenders that includes cognitive restructuring, social skills development and the development of problem

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solving skills. This bi-weekly class is delivered by Anka Behavioral Health at the Claybank Detention Facility to male inmates.

VETERAN’S PROGRAM

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER SERVICES Community Volunteer Services consists of group work facilitated by community volunteers such as AA, NA and religious services.

The Veteran’s Program at the Claybank Detention Facility is a collaboration between the Concord Vets Center, the VA Northern California Healthcare System, Solano County Veteran’s Services, Anka Behavioral Health and the Sheriff’s Office. The program is peer run and partners provide services such as substance abuse treatment, trauma treatment, anger management and cognitive behavioral therapy.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

PEAK PARENTING PROGRAM

On August 24, 2014, an earthquake occurred in and around the city of Napa, California, that measured 6.0 on the moment magnitude scale.

The earthquake, which was the largest in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, caused significant damage and started several fires in the southern Napa Valley area and in the city of Vallejo in Solano County.

This program includes a Parenting Skills Class at the Claybank Detention Facility for male inmates with children ages 0 to 5. Services start in jail and follow the participant into the community.

THE ANGRY HEART GROUP Volunteers run an Angry Heart Group for those in Protective Custody and throughout the jail. Treatment focuses on issues relating to anger, trauma, abuse, borderline behavior and substance abuse. The group also helps inmates and family members connect with community resources post-release.

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Employability Skills is a bi-weekly course offered to female inmates that focuses on the acquisition of soft skills and customer service skills in order to assist individuals in acquiring and retaining employment.

EMERGENCY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH NAPA COUNTY

The Napa County Jail was amongst the many buildings that sustained damage from the earthquake. With many Napa inmates displaced from their facility, the Napa County Department of Corrections began housing inmates at the Solano County Jail. This resulted in a three-year contract with Napa County for the Solano County Sheriff’s Office to house up to 75 detainees from their department of corrections.

SENATE BILL 1022 (SB1022) EDUCATIONAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER PROJECT The California State Legislature passed Public Safety Legislation (Assembly Bill 109 Public Safety Realignment) in October of 2011. This legislation shifted low-level offenders from state prisons to local county jails. As such, county jails are now responsible for the effort to reduce the recidivism rates of these detainees.

In response, the Sheriff’s Office submitted a plan to the state in October 2013 to build facilities that provide vocational/classroom training and rehabilitative services (including mental health) to adult offenders in our custody. These services would increase employment opportunities for detainees upon their release from custody.

In March 2014, Solano County received congratulatory notification from the California Board of State and Community Corrections of a conditional award of up to $23,037,000 in state financing to improve local criminal justice facilities and build the proposed vocational/educational structures.

The facilities will consist of a 10,000 square foot classroom building, a 30,000 square foot vocational/ educational building, a 60,000 square foot driver’s training apron and associated site improvements.

The project is slated for completion in mid-2018.

CUSTODY DIVISION ACCOMPLISHMENTS

•

Stanton Correctional Facility dedicated June 2014

•

Replaced flooring in Claybank Detention Facility Lobby

•

100 cell, dayroom and fire door locks replaced

•

Received SB 1022 Conditional Award for $23.037 million in state financing in March 2014

•

•

Four doors with electronic controls added

•

Video Visitation implemented November 2014

Replaced/moved Claybank Detention Facility entryway as part of the Stanton Correctional Facility Project

•

16,318 bookings (11.7% increase from 2013)

•

•

76 food ports were replaced at Justice Center Detention Facility, September 2014

•

1,075,471 meals served

Camera viewing stations added in Minimum Security, West Wing and the Sergeant’s Office

•

Justice Center Detention Facility average daily population: 610

•

Re-keyed the entire Claybank Detention Facility for secure, accountable key system

•

Claybank Detention Facility average daily population: 331

•

Implemented use of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices for control of inmate housing sections

•

In September 2014, the County of Solano entered into agreement with Napa County to lease up to 75 beds as a result of the August 24, 2014 earthquake.

•

Custody programs manager hired February 2014

•

Division average daily inmate population: 941

•

Automated key control and management system implemented at the Claybank Detention Facility

•

616,920 pounds of laundry cleaned

•

The following were accomplished as part of the Claybank Security Upgrade Project:

•

Boilers replaced at the Claybank Detention Facility in October 2014

•

•

Re-keyed warehouse and maintenance building to match key system at Claybank Detention Facility

Archived video to use as evidence

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S C I H T E D N A S D R STANDA PERSONNEL AND BACKGROUNDS UNIT The Personnel and Backgrounds Unit consists of five investigators and two office support staff.

The Backgrounds Unit is responsible for the investigations of all sworn and civilian applicants within the Sheriff’s Office. The investigators compile reports that include the applicant’s personal history, driver’s license record, Computer Voice Stress Analyzer results, medical examination and psychological examination results. The Background Investigation Unit ensures background checks are in compliance with the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training and departmental statutes, as well as any other regulations and procedures associated with the investigation process.

During Calendar year 2014, the Backgrounds Unit completed 340 background investigations. Of those completed backgrounds, 77 people were hired by our agency. The following positions were filled: Correctional Officer

27

Deputy Sheriff 18 Sheriff’s Security Officer

8

Public Safety Dispatcher

6

Legal Procedures Clerk

4

Office Assistant II

3

Accounting Technician

2

Animal Control Officer

2

Staff Analyst 2

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Custody Sergeant

2

Volunteer Coordinator

1

Dispatch Supervisor

1

Inmate Programs Manager

1

S E C I V R E S Y C N E G R OFFICE OF EME 2014 was an incredibly busy year for the Solano County Office of Emergency Services (OES).

While the year started out quietly, drought related wildfires kept the Dispatch Center busy, coordinating support to counties throughout the state. On July 4, all of our fire agencies were tested when three nearly simultaneous fires broke out in Collinsville, Liberty Island and the Dixon Fire Protection District. Half of the homes in Collinsville were destroyed when a wind-driven fire, further propelled by dry vegetation, swept through the town.

The Monticello fire started on our northern border and spread into Yolo County, eventually burning more than 6,000 acres.

The Napa earthquake caused $20 million in damage to the city of Vallejo, while county buildings sustained more than $5 million in damages. The Solano County Emergency Operations Center was activated to coordinate assistance to the cities of Vallejo and Napa. Two Solano County Fire Department strike teams were dispatched to provide mutual aid to the most devastated areas. OES, working with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the city of Vallejo, brought Federal assistance to the city to assist residents in rebuilding and filing assistance claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Also in 2014, our premier vehicle and OES’s Mobile Command Post, MC-1, travelled to Ohio for some much-needed upgrades to communications

and other equipment. The vehicle entered the 21st century with digital video recording and display capability, along with improved satellite communications equipment. After its return, OES started the Mobile Command Vehicle Group, where interested volunteers were trained to set up and operate all of the equipment we bring to the scene of an incident in support of law and fire agencies.

Solano OES partnered with Napa and Lake County’s search and rescue (SAR) organizations to bring SAREX 2014 to Napa County. The team of full-time and volunteer personnel presented a challenging program of training events that included three types of helicopters for extraction practice, all terrain vehicle classes, rope rescue and canine courses, to name a few. Over 400 SAR personnel from around the state attended this training event.

An OES-managed $1,365,415 grant program brought an animal trailer to the county for use in both emergency and day-to-day operations at the animal shelter. The county Hazardous Materials Team received an emergency response kit for railcar emergencies and conducted training on the Valero refinery site in Vallejo. OES took delivery of its first five-person ATV for Emergency Services operations.

The Dispatch Center welcomed two new dispatchers this year, and we plan to fill five more positions in

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the coming year. A new fire response matrix was adopted in which the county’s fire coordinator responds to the Dispatch Center for every third alarm to manage the response. The new program eliminated pages of complicated directives and sped up the response to mutual aid fires. The Dispatch Center handled more than 152,000 calls in 2014. Of those, 17,120 were 9-1-1 calls and 99,254 were calls for service, a new record high.

A new law enforcement and search and rescue explorer (cadet) post was added to the Sheriff’s Office. Rapidly progressing from just a handful to 18 cadets, the program has been a huge success.

Solano OES also hosted a weekend long live-in Cadet Academy for more than 60 law enforcement cadets from agencies all across the county.

The volunteer program has seen one member hired on as a sheriff’s security officer and two members transitioned to reserve deputies.

Improvements were made to the Dive Rescue Team, decreasing response times and increasing member safety. Using a repurposed trailer, the team moved to a smaller, more efficient vehicle and procured new and improved equipment to ensure the safety of dive operations. Cooperation with Travis Air Force Base resulted in an agreement to facilitate hyperbaric chamber availability should an injury occur, as well as increased recruiting from the base hospital staff.

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The OES Search and Rescue Team deployed numerous times for mutual aid outside of Solano County, from Mendocino to the El Dorado National Forest down to Marin County and Mt. Tamalpais, to search for missing children, elderly persons and missing hunters. Our SAR Team, along with mutual aid resources from other counties, successfully located missing persons from Rio Vista, Fairfield and Vacaville. The Dive Team assisted the US Coast Guard to retrieve valuable gear dropped in the Delta.

WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY AGENCIES RANGING FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AS A TEAM THAT RESPONDS TO AN EMERGENCY AND DOESN’T QUIT UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE.

L A I R O M E M R E C PEACE OFFI On May 21, 2014, the Solano County Retired Peace Officers’ Association and the Sheriff’s Office once again hosted the annual Solano County Peace Officer Memorial to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The event was attended by local law enforcement, who gathered in front of the Solano County Sheriff’s Office on Union Avenue.

2014 marked the 24th year that local agencies have come together for this heartfelt show of support.

Sheriff Ferrara often talks about the importance of this event and how much it means to him personally. He had only been working about six months when, on August 25, 1985, Solano County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jose Cisneros was shot and killed while investigating a parked van on Cherry Glen Road. Two other deputy sheriffs from Solano County have also been killed in the line of duty. Reserve Deputy John Sandlin was killed in an automobile accident during a vehicle pursuit on Cordelia Road on April 23, 2004. Deputy Hale Humphrey was killed when he was struck by a suspect vehicle at a roadblock. The vehicle was being chased by officers and was being driven by two suspects who had just robbed a man at a gas station and had also shot and killed Officer Charles Sorenson of the California Highway Patrol.

SOLANO COUNTY HONORED OFFICERS John Howard, June 20, 1892

Hale Humphrey, March 15, 1963

Arthur W. Koch, July 29, 1984

Jarvis P. Emigh, Aug. 29, 1914

William L. Easson Jr., April 7, 1966

Jose Cisneros, Aug. 25, 1985

Dan McKinnon, Nov. 22, 1918

Calvin C. Thacker, April 7, 1966

George F. Butler, Dec. 8, 1986

James B. Power, March 25, 1925

Steven L. Armenta, Dec. 5, 1973

Jeffrey L. Azuar, April 12, 2000

Anson G. Burdick, Sept. 1, 1927

Gary L. Hughes, May 23, 1976

John P. Sandlin, April 23, 2004

Charles H. Sorenson, March 15, 1963 Albert W. Patch, Aug. 17, 1980

James L. Capoot, Nov. 17, 2011

In honor of fallen officers, the Travis Air Force Base flies their flags at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. A county memorial in front of the Solano County Sheriff’s Office has bronze stars for each fallen officer, 18 in all.

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SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE