Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff’s plan to eliminate up to 800 positions to meet the Board of Supervisors’ budget target for the next fiscal year would be “devastating” to sheriff’s operations and seriously undermine public safety in the county, the president of the deputies’ union said Friday.
Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff's plan to slash up to 800 positions to meet the Board of Supervisors' budget target for the next fiscal year. (photo courtesy of City of Perris)
Pat McNamara, head of the 3,500-member Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, told City News Service that the personnel cuts on the table would be unprecedented.
“This is history in the making, and it’s not the kind of history elected officials would want their names associated with,” McNamara said.
The possibility of significant layoffs was the subject of a memo distributed to sheriff’s employees today. In it, Sniff reiterated the financial burdens on the sheriff’s department stemming from planned spending cuts in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
After the memo was floated to the public, Sniff released a follow-up statement explaining that the proposed 800 layoffs reflect how cuts in general fund support would directly impact the sheriff’s department budget.
The figure is more than twice what Sniff estimated during a budget hearing on April 4.
The sheriff’s department consumes the largest share of general fund appropriations. Sniff’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, is between $40 million and $60 million beyond the threshold established by the Executive Office.
“We will await the decision of the board on what funding they ultimately approve next year for our department, and we will vigorously execute their decision as part of the county team,” Sniff said. “We will professionally make the best of whatever outcome occurs, but we all understand that the budget reflects the public’s priority on how their taxpayer dollars are allocated and spent.”
McNamara, a sworn peace officer, worried that layoffs on the scale described by Sniff might have irreversible consequences.
“If any significant layoffs take place, it’s going to be devastating,” McNamara told City News Service. “Any amount of cuts in the law enforcement force is going to degrade public safety. Four hundred layoffs would be devastating, in our estimation, to sheriff’s operations.”
All county agencies are absorbing cuts, some as high as 25 percent, to comply with the board’s deficit reduction plans, which call for an end to depleting reserves to balance the county’s budget every year.
According to Sniff, if the board does not backfill his budget to make up the shortfall, 500 pink slips will got out on July 1. The first round of layoffs will be completed by July 13, with 100 patrol and correctional deputies dropped from the county payroll.
Sniff said the layoffs will be concentrated in the jails and patrol operations in the unincorporated communities. Cities that contract with the sheriff’s department for law enforcement services would only see reductions if they elected to decrease their public safety personnel to save funds.
According to Sniff, several stations may have to be closed and some jail pods deactivated, taking the county’s jail beds down from 3,900 to 3,100, hence increasing the pressure on already-overcrowded detention facilities.
Under a federal court decree, if the sheriff cannot supply each detainee with a bed, inmates must be released to make space.
According to McNamara, the state’s realignment plans, which include shifting responsibility for adult parole supervision and juvenile offender detention from the state to counties, makes having a strong law enforcement presence vital.
“Laying off cops at the same time criminals are coming back … almost sounds like a bad movie script,” McNamara said.
McNamara said the union would not stage protests or otherwise try to influence Sniff’s policy decisions.
“We just hope there’s enough left to do the job when all is said and done,” McNamara said.
Updated: 9 p.m. May 13. Update provided by City News Service
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How about getting rid of some of the super high salerys and pensions????
inregard to cutting riverside sheriffs. bad move ,why dont they cut supervisor an politicians jobs ,
Let’s make sure people realize the Sheriff is not asking for any additional money. He is only asking for less of a reduction in his budget after making cut after cut for the last few years. Sheriff Deputies are also not asking for any additional money or benefits even though the benefits they pay for themselves continue to rise. Some Deputies pay over $1,000 a month out of their own pockets for family medical care. Another point of interest is the BOS’s saying their budget shortfall is less than half of what was expected, revenues are increasing, and their (our) reserves are in the neighborhood of $150,000,000. Well, I guess as long as their (BOS’s) salary of over $140,000 a year for that one meeting a week is protected, I’m good with it.
I’m sure they also have a plan on dealing with the expected 1,700 to 1,800 inmates the State will be sending our wonderful county. I’m sure the less violent inmates that will be released will behave themselves out of gratitude for being released early.
Maybe they should knock down some of the ridiculous high salaries and pensions first?
I was not even thinking about the support staff the BOS’s must have. Does anybody know what each of these people actually cost the county?
What ridiculously high salaries? Since when is 70k a year ridiculous in the state of CA? And County Tax Payer is right, we pay over $1000 a month for an HMO for 3 people (soon to be 4)! I hate the idea of layoffs but there was no way we could take the alternative: a proposed 19% pay cut. Who here could lose a fifth of their paycheck and still keep their home and make ends meet? We live very frugally and modestly and there is NOWHERE left to cut into our monthly budget. How about some of you start paying more of your ridiculous salaries to keep our standard of public safety and education or stop B*TCHING?! The funding for this stuff doesn’t grow on trees….
I do know what I am talking about I have owned my Business here for 20 years, just like you I lived by what I made and have had to take major pay cuts myself, I have yet to lay off even one employee, but yes we have all taken pay cuts and when they took the hit so did I, and we learn to spend less and live by what we make and that’s just the way it is
don’t let Stan Sniff break your sons or daughters dreams like he did mine
they work hard to get there and are proud to be there only to be pushed out, I say look at the books that’s how the city of Bell got cought
If the Riverside Sheriffs Department is planning on cutting 800 deputies, why are they hiring for the position of Deputy Sheriff Trainee. I recenty visited their website and they are hiring for this postion. I am confused. YouDon’tKnowWhatYourareTalkingAbout, are you a deputy? Because I agree with you that 70k isn’t ridiculous in CA, and instead of cutting salaries like those of hard working police officers, the county should reduce the salaries of higher up officials. Since when does it take 150k to go and sit in a couple of meetings every now and then. Let’s give the money to those who earn and deserve it.
Cutting 800 POSITIONS is a bit different from cutting 800 DEPUTIES. I imagine that there will be some Deputy positions cut…probably ones that are currently vacant will not be filled. What will take the big hit will be specialty jobs and support and training staff and a lot of goodies current employees enjoy. The current Sheriff inherited a lot of problem areas from past administrations. Just expect slower response times, more fatigued Deputies and less patience with “cat up the tree” calls.
Lay em off!!! Maybe less radar holding, window tint ticketing, cell phone talking and power abusing officers on the streets.
This is terrible. The poor donut shops are going to go bust.
LM Carson, The “vacant” spots were eliminated several cuts ago. Don’t forget, the BOS’s have been cutting the Sheriff’s budget for several years now. You are correct though that not all the 800 spots will be sworn personnel. As of now though, it’s been reported the “first” 100 are 50 sworn and 50 Correctional Deputies. I’ve received calls from friends saying they have been given pink slips saying their last day is July 13th.
Remember, this is not Sheriff Sniff asking for more money. He has cut his budget time and time again. He is only asking for a smaller cut than the BOS’s are demanding. They are doing it at a time where they (BOS’s) are sitting on $150,000,000+ in reserves and just “found” another approximately $60,000,000 in Prop 172 money. That is money that is generated FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. The BOS’s have also recently admitted the budget shortfall they were expecting is less than half of what they were expecting and revenues are increasing. Still, they want to hurt the Deputies and their families.
I guess as long as their (BOS’s) $140,000,000 a year salary for the one meeting a week, retirement, 401k (not offered to Deputies), Social Security (that Deputies don’t get), and support staff (How much doe$ that co$t?) is protected. I’m sure it’s better for those 800-people to be on unemployment, then it’s the States problem.
Yes, I did in fact mean $140,000 salary. Sorry for the typo.
Big mistake to layoff our public safety Riverside County!!! You think that the bad guys are going to be good now? Wrong! We need our officers more than we need the high paid people that only think they know how to run this county? Sit up there BOS and smoke your big fat cigars and get rich off the backs of us/we the people and we will put 800 more people on the streets and on unemployment….and what about their families??? The 800 people that are getting their walking papers have put their LIVES ON THE LINE to protect and serve we/us the people and are getting shafted…WRONG! People need to stand up to our BOS and they need to start cutting at the top….themselves…
Once again, the “leadership” of Riverside County and of California cut where it hurts the citizens the most. But like the federal government leaders, they sure won’t take cutbacks on their pay, their healthcare coverage and their other perks!!
What a shame. I live in the unincoporated area of the county. Resources are limited which I was aware of when I moved here. What I have noticed strikes me as odd. For example, the public complains that public safety takes too long to come to their aid. That same public complains public safety drives too fast. I would guess that public safety is working with few therefore they do their best with what they have. That same public complains public safety makes too much money or gets a cushy retirement. I would guess that same public complains “the cops are never around when you need them” at the first opportunity they are victims of some crimunal act…..
KEEP IN MIND RIVERSIDE COUNTY RESIDENTS:
The Board of Superviisor’s have lined their pockets with back loaded pay raises when you either lost your job or sustained a significant pay cut. The BOS’s continue to drive county vehicles, filled with county fuel, paid for by the tax payers they represent. Jeff Stone employs his sister, a volunteer, provides her a county car and county fuel, and pays her a handsome salary in the 80K range. She did not get a pay cut either. Did I mention she is volunteer. Sounds like nepatism to me!
Benoit reaps the benefits of a PERS retirement which he is now trying to change for future employees. PERS retirement recipients do not qualify for social security.
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Dark days lie ahead.
Last thought. If up to 800 county employees lose their jobs doesn’t that equate to up to 800 people losing their homes in and around Riverside County? That can’t be good. Who wants another abandoned home in your neighborhood? Apparently, the BOS’s do not care about your neighborhoods, your safety, your opinions, or your tax money. They ONLY care about their LIFE STYLES and PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNTS! Remember folks, they work about 45 days per year yet they receive $140,000 annual salary, not to mention the kick backs and perks they are “intitled” to.
I read someone wrote that less tickets. Well that might be true but there will be more crimes, because the sheriffs will not be able to house the inmates. That means your house is going to get broken into. I also read somewhere that they might close one of the detention centers. If that happens then the person that just killed someone will be released because the sheriffs department will not be able to keep them in jail. Lets hope that does not happen to you.
Response to Cut Cut Cut & nek – Geez I wonder why you would want less deputies; maybe so you can do whatever you want and not deal with the conscequences of your actions. Ask the mother who had her child killed by someone driving too fast, or maybe the husband who had his wife killed because some moron wanted to talk on their cellphone and not pay attention to the road. See everyone wants to B*tch about those tickets, but when some innocent person is killed because of speeding, cellphones, women putting on their makeup etc., the public cringes. I think it is also funny how people have sooooo much to say about donuts and coffee shops when speaking of cops. Don’t they work like 12-16 hour shifts? Doesn’t the public expect them to be there when you call? And we have the nerve to give them crap about having some coffee to keep them awake! Absolutely crazy!
[...] Riverside County Sheriff plans to layoff up to 800 deputies Big mistake to layoff our public safety Riverside County You think that the bad guys are going to be good now? Wrong! We need our officers more than we need the high paid people that only think they know how to run [...]