Board of Supervisors censures Monterey County Sheriff for alleged ‘inappropriate expenditures’
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 5/24/2021 11:55 a.m. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors has voted in favor of adopting a resolution to censure Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal at a meeting Tuesday.
The language below was passed unanimously.
"Consider adoption of a Resolution censuring Monterey County Sheriff Stephen Bernal for failure to faithfully perform his duties by allowing inappropriate expenditures of County funds during the 2019 California State Sheriffs’ Association convention in Monterey County," it read.
The Monterey County District Attorney investigated the allegations and declined to file criminal charges, according to the board, but the Board of Supervisors said it is concerned about findings shared in a report on the expenditures.
Supervisor Phillips said he believes resources put into the convention went "too far" and shared concerns about it, but he said the believes that the Sheriff would have handled the event differently looking now at how it was andled
"Censure was about the only way some of us felt we could lawfully express our concerns about it. It isn't to say I believe he's not doing a good job or lost confidence in him, it's just how the funds are expended," he said during the meeting.
Phillips said he is also concerned that the situation is becoming political.
"I'm concerned about, as we saw last time when the sheriff's budget comes up, that he gets beat up with this at the time the budget comes. But if the motion is made I will support it."
Sheriff Bernal issued a statement in response to the censure.
"I am disappointed that the Monterrey County Board of Supervisors passed this non-binding resolution and missed a golden opportunity to legislate and establish a standard protocol to host special events which are much sought after by this county. We are grateful for the work of the Monterrey County District Attorney. This office cooperated fully with the inquiry which found no ill intent from those who were tasked with organizing the event. We take to heart the findings of the report and will evaluate how we can apply those findings to future special security events in Monterrey County," he said.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Monterey County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider adopting a resolution to censure Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday.
In the board's report, Bernal is accused of allowing "inappropriate expenditures" of County funding during the 2019 California State Sheriffs' Association convention that was held in Monterey County.
The report also indicated that Bernal failed to oversee and supervise his office by allowing deputies to perform duties such as transportation services, security duties and use of county ammunition.
The Monterey County District Attorney investigated the allegations and declined to file criminal charges, according to the board, but the Board of Supervisors said it is concerned about findings shared in a report on the expenditures.
Bernal has served as the 31st Sheriff of Monterey County since 2014.
