Mont. Co. supervisors approve sheriff’s office extra staffing

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted to approve additional staffing for the new jail expansion on Tuesday, but with a catch.

The sheriff’s office has to take out the money from their current budget. The law enforcement agency had been pushing to hire six new deputies and 14 support staff member to help secure both the new and old parts of the jail.

They calculated it was going to cost over $2 million. Monterey County is already facing tough budget deficits, so supervisors asked a lot of tough questions on Tuesday during a meeting toward the agency about whether they really need this extra staffing.

One thing the sheriff made clear is that he is not going to understaff the jail and will not transfer deputies off the streets into jail duty.

Monterey County Sheriff’s Sergeant David Murray has been working at the agency for years, and he says staffing levels are among the worst he has seen.

“Our minimum staffing for day shift is eight officers countywide compared to probably eight to ten years ago, I was running 12 to 13 officers just in Salinas alone,” he said.

That means more work for each deputy, more safety issues and less proactive enforcement. Murray also worked at the detention center for about 5 years and says staffing in the jail is essential.

“You have liabilities, you have obligations to provide services and security to the inmates as well as the public,” he said.

Still, some community activists argue adding jail staff will take away from other county services.

“Once we get bail reform passed, then there will be a lot less people in these jails,” said one man during public comment period.

“Why is staffing remaining so high at the jail, at that particular old jail?” asked Luis Alejo, a Monterey County supervisor.

Alejo was the only one to vote against the staff increase. He argues the county simply cannot afford more expenses because there will be more strains on the budget in the future.

Sheriff Steve Bernal says while he is happy being able to hire more staff for now, it will depend on what is decided at budget hearings in June if they can keep the new hires.

Bernal also stresses he will not take any deputies off the streets.