Goals and Accomplishments

By Mike Kanalakis

When elected eight years ago, I instituted a ten year plan to eradicate gangs and gang violence, eliminate illicit drugs from our neighborhoods and schools, prevent school violence, and better prepare our communities to deal with disasters and terrorist acts. We have had many great accomplishments over the past 7 1/2 years.

• Fiscal Year End Budget met in 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. Stringent cost-saving measures were implemented to ensure that the Sheriff's Office consistently met budget in spite of numerous reductions in funding.

• Reorganizations are made in response to budgetary cutbacks in order to best meet the needs of the Office and provide the best service to the citizens of Monterey County. Recent reorganization has included the return of the Training Division and the addition of a Homeland Security Division, which has developed a valuable partnership with the local, State and Federal Homeland Security entities.

• A $3.1 million grant for the a countywide Gang Task Force (GTF) was secured from Senator Barbara Boxer. The GTF came online on March 25, 2005 and consists of personnel from the Sheriff's Office, Salinas Police Department, District Attorney's Office, the Probation Department, the Soledad Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. GTF includes an intervention component that targets at risk youth.

• The Monterey County Sheriff's Office website was updated. The new user friendly website provides the ability to download forms, complete crime reports and access the log of calls for service. Public access to information was improved by providing information on the Sheriff's Office services and links to valuable websites.

• The public's ability to make a police report was streamlined. Report forms are accessible on line on the Sheriff's Office website and can be completed and delivered or mailed in. Received reports are then reviewed for an appropriate response. Crime Prevention Specialists also take incident reports over the phone. These streamline approaches are also necessary because of reductions in patrol personnel.

• New inmate re-entry programs were undertaken in the areas of janitorial equipment, laundry equipment and forklift operation. These programs are in cooperation with the Center for Employment Training. Re-entry programs are continually being developed to better prepare incarcerated inmates for return to the community and reduce recidivism.

• The Monterey County Agricultural Crime Task Force established. The Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office secured a Governor's Office of Emergency Services grant award. Monterey County is now a member of the Central Coast Rural Crime Task Force and a partner in the Agricultural Crime Technology Information and Operation Network (ACTION).

• The Bomb Squad was created. The Squad consistes of trained deputies and equipment with the ability to retrieve and dispose of explosive and combustible substances and devices. A new Bomb Squad truck and containment vessel was received through Homeland Security funds in June 2008. The Bomb Squad has the ability to responds quick to potentially dangerous situations.

• A helicopter program was established. The Sheriff's Office Tactical Airborne Response (STAR) 1, a Robinson R44 and back-up STAR 2, a Bell Jet Ranger were a proven resource for law enforcement. The program was suspended after less than a year of operation due solely to the economic turndown and budget reductions.

• WeTip was implemented. WeTip is an anonymous crime reporting resource for citizens and a tool to aid law enforcement. This tool is for those who will not contact law enforcement agency directly due to the fear of reprisal or involvement.

• Project Life Saver Program was rolled out. Project Lifesaver International® (PLI) includes a bracelet and tracking equipment that helps locate wandering individuals before they fall victim to the elements, accidents or predators.

• Law enforcement service improvements were enacted in remote county area. A Big Sur Law Enforcement Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was created. The MOU was a collaborative effort with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, The State Parks and the California Highway Patrol.

• A Big Sur resident deputy for the summer months was also initiated. These ensure community safety by improving response time in the Big Sur area.

• Community Field Offices (CFO) to enhance public access and community interaction have been opened. CFOs have been located in Castroville, San Ardo, Pajaro, Chualar, Carmel Crossroads Shopping Center and Carmel Valley. Crime Prevention Specialist staff the CFOs as available.

• Local school safety is a priority. The Sheriff's Office participates annually in the National Walk to School activities, supports Parents on Patrol Programs, is involved in the Every 15 Minutes anti drunken driving campaign and per statute donates to intervention and preventative youth programs such as Sober Grad Nite and Juvenile Impact.

• Offender Watch® (Watch Systems) has been retained. Offender Watch which is available through the Sheriff's website and is the industry-standard sex offender registration, management and community notification solution.

• The Crime Victim Information and Notification System Vine Program was reinstituted. This automated notification system allows individuals to check the location, court dates and status of offenders. The program is often referred to as the VINE system. VINE is an acronym for "Victim Information and Notification Everyday."

• The Sheriff's Office partners with the Santa Clara County Mutual Aid Region III Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Team Program. SAFE is a multi-jurisdictional task force created with grant funding from the California State Office of Emergency Services. SAFE is a proactive unit that investigates and arrests registered sex offenders who have violated their probation or parole status.

• The California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (CalMMET) grant has been awarded annually. This grant allows officers to combat the manufacture, distribution, and use of methamphetamine in the community.

• The Sheriff's Office formed a collaborative relationship with Rancho Cielo. A deputy is designated as an on site mentor to work with the youth to redirect behavior and to present a positive community role model.

• Homicide cases that had remain unsolved are being addressed. A retired F.B.I. Senior Resident Agent was retained to assist with the investigation of these cold cases using current forensic technology.

• A requested Management Study on property and evidence protocols was completed by the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. The Study identified "best practices" procedures and presented recommendations that were addressed as action items.

• The Sheriff's Office, Probation Department, Superior Court of California-Monterey County and the Heath Department-Behavioral Health Division were the recipients of two separate Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR) grants from the California's Corrections Standards Authority (CSA). These grants allowed the County to address the needs of the mentally ill that commit crimes.

• Evidence on Q® was purchased. This program uses a bar coding system and has reporting systems to improve the efficacy and the efficiency of tracking evidence.

• Appointed the first female Undersheriff for Monterey County. The Undersheriff is one of four female Undersheriffs in the state.

• Collaborative relationships fostered with the Monterey County Deputy Sheriff's Association (DSA) and Services Employee International Union (SEIU) #521. The Executive Management Team meets monthly with the DSA and on as an as needed basis with SEIU. The Sheriff has consistently supported just compensation for Sheriff's Office personnel.

• The Sheriff's Office is sensitive to its ecological footprint. The jail has replaced over 1800 light bulbs and ballasts with energy efficient equipment, which will also provide an estimated annual savings of $62,000.

• Work environments have been improved. Work stations have been upgraded to include ergonomic office furniture, desktop computers, new carpeting and painting. Department wide e-mail for all employees was instituted to facilitate interagency communications.

• Monterey County Sheriff's Office Staffing Analysis completed. The study provided information about staffing patterns by documenting current staffing patterns and identifying how these should be modified to be consistent with "best practices". The study is a valuable tool in defining staffing and overtime requirements, determining budget priorities and formulating ongoing strategic planning for meeting departmental needs with limited resources.

• Executive Management Team weekly meeting notes are documented. These notes are Consistent review and update of the Monterey County Sheriffs Manual. These updates are necessary to reflect current organizational realities and new statutes. The Monterey County Sheriff's Manual is transitioning to the Lexipol© which is a standard setting tool for law enforcement agencies policy and procedure manuals and provides a "Solid, Realistic, Ongoing, Verifiable, Training (SROVT)" law enforcement learning system. The availability of the manual on a network platform and on compact discs ensures all personnel have access.

• New technology and equipment are purchased based on sound protocols. Committees such as the Technology Steering and the Vehicle Steering Committee were established to audit and recommend purchases. To date over $500,000 worth of equipment has been purchased to include the latest technology radios, computers, investigative software, SWAT and CERT gear, digital cameras, Tasers®, turtle gear and vehicular equipment. The TASER® weapons with cams were purchased in part with donations from the Sheriff's Advisory Council. All deputies are equipped with a TASER®. All new patrol cars will have ballistic door panels installed.

• Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team equipment was upgraded. Weapons, weapon sights, tactical vests, helmets, communication headsets, weapon cases, scopes and trauma packs were included in the items purchased.

• A Ballistic Engineered Armored Response (B.E.A.R.®) tactical vehicle was purchased in May 2008. The vehicle which is utilized by SWAT and provides protection in armed confrontations and mobility in rescues in lethal environments.

• All commanders and executive management team personnel are sent to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Executive Development Course. This supplemental management course focuses on developing leadership and communication skills.

• Collaborative relationships are established with the Civil Rights Coalition. This results in improved communications between the Sheriff's Office and the Coalition, which is comprised of community members representing civil rights and minority organizations. An anti-racial profiling policy and a cultural diversity policy and training reinforce the goals of this alliance.

• The Sheriff's Office participates in the NAACP Monterey County Law Enforcement Chiefs Meeting. This cooperative and information sharing partnership has become the prototype for NAACP chapters and law enforcement agencies throughout the nation.

• The Sheriff's Office, in cooperation with other Monterey County Law Enforcement Agencies, South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium, Hartnell College and Monterey Peninsula College established a collaborative local police academy. in February 2008.

• Recruit Training Officers (RTO) are assigned to the local police academies. The RTOs assist the Academy Staff in areas of academic, skills and physical conditioning.

• Iris Scanning implemented in the County Jail. The iris scanning system enrolls and identifies inmates using advanced technology and builds a biometric database of current and former inmates. The technology is used to positively identify inmates prior to their release from jail and identify incoming inmates which increased jail and community security.

• Jail and Public safety were enhanced by converting inmate wear from solid colored, one-piece jumpsuits to striped, two-piece uniforms. The clothing is color coded to identify the inmate's security risk, gang affiliation and cannot be easily confused with street wear.