Thursday, Jan 26 2012 02:41 PM
The Kern County Grand Jury recently released reports concerning the Kern County Sheriff's Dept., Tehachapi Sub-station, and the Stallion Springs Police Dept.
These are published here in the public interest.
KERN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT TEHACHAPI SUBSTATION
PURPOSE OF INQUIRY:
The Law and Justice Committee (Committee) of the 2011-2012 Kern County Grand Jury visited the Kern County Sheriff’s Department Tehachapi Substation (Substation) on December 6, 2011, pursuant to California Penal Code §919(b) and §925, to observe the facility and interview the Sergeant in charge of the Substation.
PROCESS:
The Committee met with the Sergeant in charge of the Substation who conducted a question and answer session, after which the Committee was given a tour.
BACKGROUND
/FACTS:
The Substation is located at 22209 Old Town Road Tehachapi, CA 93561. The Substation covers approximately 572 square miles of unincorporated area around Tehachapi including Sand Canyon, Hart Flat, Keene, Bealville and Old West Kern. There are two Community Service Districts (CSD), Stallion Springs and Bear Valley Springs, who provide their own Police Departments.
A. The entire Tehachapi Valley has approximately 35,000 residents.
The Substation serves a population of approximately 18,000 to 20,000 residents.
B. The Substation can provide/receive mutual aid from surrounding agencies if the need should arise. These agencies are: Tehachapi Police Department, Stallion Springs Police Department, Bear Valley Police Department, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Police, and the California Highway Patrol.
C. The Substation is staffed by one Sergeant, seven Deputies, two Investigators, and two Office Service Technicians (OST). The Substation has a Citizen Service Unit (CSU) that has been active for over 15 years, and has 18 people involved.
FINDINGS:
There are no holding cells or secure interview rooms at the Substation. Arrestees are brought to the Substation for investigation follow-up and then booked at either the Mojave Substation or downtown Bakersfield.
There are no security measures in place to monitor entry into the building or restrict entry into unauthorized areas of the building. This is a security issue for staff.
The Substation is currently in a leased building and shares the site with the Kern County Roads Department located in Golden Hills.
The CSU provides valuable volunteer services to the Substation.
COMMENTS:
The Committee thanks the Substation personnel for their courtesy and professionalism during our visit.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
R1. An electronically locked door and audio/video recording equipment should be installed at the front counter for personnel security.
R2. An interview room should be installed at the Substation, complete with audio/video recording equipment, when funds and space become available.
R3. The OST desks should be positioned to allow direct view of the public access entry.
STALLION SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT
PURPOSE OF INQUIRY:
The Law and Justice Committee (Committee) of the 2011-2012 Kern County Grand Jury visited the Stallion Springs Police Department (Department), and Community Service District (CSD) on December 6, 2011, pursuant to California Penal Code §919(b) and §925, to tour the facility and interview the Chief of Police and CSD General Manager.
PROCESS:
The Committee members met with the CSD General Manager (Manager) and the Chief of Police (Chief). The Committee was given a tour of the CSD facilities after a question and answer session.
BACKGROUND
/FACTS:
The Department is in the CSD building at 27800 Stallion Springs Drive, Tehachapi, CA 93561. The Department serves a population of approximately 3,400 residents.
A. The Department has three sworn Police Officers. The Chief, one Sergeant, and an Officer. There are two part-time Police Officers.
These part-time Officers work 960 hours per year. The Chief has been with the Department for 18 years.
B. The CSD building (12,000 square feet) was built in 2009. The Department is spacious and appears adequate for future growth. The Department has an Emergency Operations Room, which was utilized as a Command Post during the recent fires in the area.
C. The CSD encompasses 50 square miles, with 48 miles of paved roads. The City was incorporated in 1970. The Manager has a staff of 13 people and eight departments. The Manager is very knowledgeable of matters concerning the CSD.
D. Besides the CSD facility, the CSD also has a multi-purpose room (“The Corral”) and a gymnasium. The multi-purpose room and gymnasium are used for CSD functions and rented out for private events.
FINDINGS:
The Kern County Sheriffs’ Department dispatches calls for the Department.
There are two interview rooms. Both are equipped with audio and visual equipment.
The Department has video surveillance cameras.
The Department has a Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) program, which is grant funded.
Arrested persons are processed at the Department, and then booked either in Bakersfield at the Kern County Sheriff’s Department (KCSD) Central Receiving Facility or the KCSD Mojave Substation.
The Department has a Police Activities League (PAL).
The Department has an active Neighborhood Watch Program which includes residential checks.
The Department averages approximately 800 calls annually. This number includes self-initiated activities by the Officers.
The Department works with the KCSD, Bear Valley Springs PD and Tehachapi PD if any mutual aid is needed.
COMMENTS:
The Committee was impressed with all the recently built facilities of the CSD. The tour was very informative and it appears the CSD has a positive working relationship with the County of Kern.
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