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MEMORANDUM
TO: Jim Steele, Chairman, Board of Supervisors
FROM: Brian L. Martin, Sheriff/Coroner
DATE: March 20, 2018
SUBJECT: Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing Hiring Incentives for Deputy Sheriff I/II Job Classifications
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The history of employment recruitment and retention difficulties within the County of Lake is long and consistent. Within the Sheriff's Department, this has been a common problem for years. There are a number of factors that contribute to these difficulties including less competitive wage and benefits packages, competition for qualified candidates by neighboring agencies, and a decline in the interest for law enforcement amongst people entering the workforce.
A California Constitution Amendment from 1993 (CA Constitution Article XIII, Section 35(a)(2) which primarily addresses taxation, also outlines California's citizens expectations of local government and local officials. The section reads: "The protection of the public safety is the first responsibility of local government and local officials have an obligation to give priority to the provision of adequate public safety services." Article XIII, Section 36 (a)(1)(A) indicates that "Public Safety Services" includes "Employing and training public safety officials, including law enforcement personnel, attorneys assigned to criminal proceedings, and court security staff." Clearly, we have an obligation to the communities we serve to make such services our top priority. Such services can't be provided without employees.
The Sheriff's Office responsibility for law enforcement services in the unincorporated area includes a population of approximately 44,700 people. The estimated population of the County in 2015 was 64,591, less the estimated population of the City of Lakeport of 4,772, and the City of Clearlake of 15,052, giving us an estimated population in the unincorporated areas of 44,767.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police pu...
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