Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/orange-county-sheriffs-department/)
Revelations of OC Sheriff’s evidence handling problems have now reached California’s biggest serial killer case in years.
South Orange County cities are watching their law enforcement costs soar by more than 20 percent over the last four years largely due to salary and benefit increases authorized by county supervisors.
Orange County officials say they’re considering furloughing employees and potentially cutting services due to a major drop in sales tax revenue from the coronavirus pandemic.
The deputies were found to have made multiple false statements in police reports about whether evidence was booked. They will not serve jail time or pay a fine, prosecutors announced Monday.
OC sheriff’s deputies now make more than double what the county’s social workers do in median pay and benefits, according to payroll data, a gap that has widened further in recent years.
Sheriff Don Barnes called the deputy’s actions “unacceptable and deeply concerning.” The deputy was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Sheriff officials say the flag was raised for an annual commemoration of law enforcement. Critics say the flag was tone-deaf amid nationwide protests.
In a letter sent Friday, Sheriff Don Barnes pointed to the council’s inability to take action on fence blocking access that led to eight arrests at a protest last Thursday.
As retail sales plummet during the pandemic, local governments across America are facing massive budget holes. Orange County is no exception.
While Orange County District Attorney is fighting bail release on roughly 300 inmates, OC officials are trying to figure out who will pay the rest of the hotel bill for homeless people during the pandemic.