Monday, May 21, 2012
CALIFORNIA'S OLDEST NEWSPAPER - EST. 1851
Volume 161 · Issue 61 | 99¢
 

Sheriff cites year of change

By
Staff writer From page A1 | January 30, 2012 | 18 Comments

This is the Mountain Democrat's first installment on the 2011 El Dorado County Sheriff's Department's year end report. The rest of this story will be featured in future Democrat editions. 

In his 2011 year-end report, El Dorado County Sheriff John D'Agostini reflects on the triumphs of his first year in office while looking ahead to future tribulations.

When he was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2011, D'Agostini pledged an across-the-board "culture charge" for his department which was, at the time, besieged by issues including claims of sexual discrimination against female employees and allegations of deputies using fake diplomas for undeserved pay raises.

Since taking over, the sheriff has worked to rehabilitate the department's image while instilling a more "customer service" style of law enforcement.

The report, released Wednesday, highlights some of the bigger changes the department has undergone with D'Agostini at its helm.

"I believe it is my obligation to keep you, as the taxpayers of El Dorado County, informed as to the direction and accomplishments of this office," D'Agostini wrote.

Employees and statistics


Currently, the department is budgeted for 357.5 staff members, according to the sheriff. The department features 159.5 sworn peace officers, 88 correctional staff and 110 professional staff; all operating on a budget of $54 million.

"Your tax dollars support many programs, including the operation of two correctional facilities, patrol of over 1,700 square miles, the Office of Emergency Services, coroner services, civil services, court, bailiff, and transportation services, dispatch and radio communications, criminal records, boat patrol, public administration, investigations, and property and evidence," said D'Agostini.

In the report, D'Agostini also praised the efforts of the community volunteers who round out the department's divisions.

"We are very proud of the many volunteers that donate their time to make our county a better place," he said. "Our volunteer programs consist of more than 600 citizens who support programs including search and rescue, STARs, CERT, Explorers, the air squadron, and our reserve deputies."

Concealed weapons


A major issue during the most recent sheriff's election, D'Agostini promised to make concealed weapons permits easier to obtain by eliminating the requirement for reference letters and accepting "personal protection" as justification of good cause for the permit.

Last year, the department issues 844 permits— a 275 percent increase from 2010, according to the report.

"One of the first policies I directed be modified was the concealed weapon policy," the sheriff said. "I am a strong believer in the Constitution and the Second Amendment guaranteeing our right to keep and bear arms."

Community outreach


Improving community interaction and transparency with the county was a major focal point for 2011, the sheriff said.


By revamping the ride-along program, 106 citizens were able to experience first-hand a day in the life of a patrol deputy in 2011 — good for a 54 percent increase from the previous year.

The department has also funded its Citizen's Academy; a 10-week program designed to inform county residents of the department's functions and responsibilities.

Reaching out to county children was also a priority for the department, which brought back its "Safety Pup" program — a series of youth-oriented safety awareness presentations made at local elementary schools.

But Safety Pup wasn't the only one whose schedule was busy last year.

"In order to be better informed on the issues facing our county, as well as keep our citizens informed of the hard work accomplished by our staff, I attended and/or took part in over 600 individual meetings with citizens, service clubs, schools and other community events in 2011," D'Agostini said.

E-mail Jim Ratajczak at jratajczak@mtdemocrat.net.

LEAVE A COMMENT

Discussion | 18 comments

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  • hangtownJanuary 29, 2012 - 11:09 am

    How about the Sheriff "reach out" to the Wine Country and start busting all the "Farmers" out there. Grapes aren't the only thing growing in the foothills. Why did it take so long to bust the slimy car dealer (an oxymoron) recently. His activities have been public knowledge for years.

  • 1036-FrankJanuary 30, 2012 - 10:51 am

    The voters and citizens were promised some major changes that have yet to be seen and don't seem to be forthcoming. These changes were the clean-up and clean-out of the " Good Ol' Boys" who have been involved in nefarious actions, fake promotions, and general corruption and coverup of employee's who are part of the GOB'S. What has been seen are some quiet sudden retirements and some strange promotions. People have to ask if allowing these people who should have summary firings and indictment by the Grand Jury at the minimum, be allowed to quietly retire at huge inflated pensions, solves anything. The accountability of an elected new Sheriff is at stake to take decisive actions and not sweep under the rug and under the radar, employees who have gamed the system long enough and need action, not quiet retirements at huge taxpayer expense.

  • RebelJanuary 30, 2012 - 10:10 pm

    Not only is the accountability at question but the message that this sends; the new Sheriff doesn't hold the past actions or current activity as being wrong nor does he think anyone should be confronted with in anyway. By letting them retire or the Federal Justice System do his work, or just promote them sure smells like a past Sheriff is behind his decision making ability or lack there of. How hard it must be to hold anyone accountable when you just hire your brother in-law and share the wealth within the family, the allowing of retirements and taking no action in the first twelve months says a lot. Really, just tell us that you have been busy attending 600 hours of meetings trying to believe that you are doing something when nothing or no one have been held accountable or has changed in anyway.to say that you have done something and in reality not one thing has been done tells us all that we now have a new GOB and it's the Sheriff elect. CCW's are handled by staff, citizen's academy has always been in place, the "pup' never left,

  • Gray PetersonFebruary 15, 2012 - 5:57 pm

    CCW’s are handled by staff Yes, but the previous two sheriff's were violating state law and also doing crony carry license issuing. By removing the reference letter requirement (illegal) and saying "self defense" is good cause, there is no more crony issuance of licenses. Only the sheriff himself could have ordered those changes, and he did so.

  • RebelJanuary 30, 2012 - 10:20 pm

    To merely state what we all know as the stats of the department before he took over is not an accomplishment, it's lip service and trying to avoid his plans and "culture change" which is non-existance, so this is the message; nothing will change and you will be able to retire and promote because your bad behavior will be rewarded and the GOB's will keep the hold they have and nothing will happen. All show and no go is what we have and did we really think it would be any different, no I don't believe he has the ability do do the job as promised.

  • Chuck HollandJanuary 31, 2012 - 5:31 am

    @ Rebel, Taking a look back at the candidates running for this office, who do you think would have made the best Sheriff?

  • RebelJanuary 31, 2012 - 8:29 pm

    Obiviously one who had the knowledge and forethought to take on the GOB's and the leadership to really change the status quo and work well with the BOS not against them, one who had a vision for the future and not nepitism. I am not alone in feeling that he has had a year to do as he said he would and not give lip service,nothing been nor will be as he has accepted the past behavior as future preformance and without holding anyone accountable he has sent a strong message that 'It's ok you can just retire with more money than ever". It's also obivious that an "Old Sheriff" is still leading the charge as these were his tactics as well and we all know how much that has cost the County. Defend him because you must as he has helped you to prosper in business and he as well as Vern can do no wrong in your eyes, so here's to three more years of ....

  • Chuck HollandFebruary 01, 2012 - 5:55 am

    I asked a simple question and got a "lip service" answer. Let me ask the question in simpler terms. Out of the 7 candidates running for the office of Sheriff in the last election cycle, in your opinion who would have made the best Sheriff?

  • White Flower GirlFebruary 01, 2012 - 6:48 am

    Oh for goodness sakes, anyone reading 10-36 Frank and Rebel know its former sheriff candidate Hennick being manic again because he lost the election for like the 8th time. Another 3 years he'll gather his 4 or 5 supporters together and run again.

  • concerned citizenFebruary 01, 2012 - 10:36 am

    This is confusing for I am sure that White Flower Girl is Hennick. Mr Chuck Holland, why ask hypothetical questions. You strongly backed the new Sheriff. He made many campaign promises as well as you. Are you now saying that he is not up to the task of getting rid of the "Good 'Ol Boy's" network? Maybe it would be best to allow the current Sheriff to respond for himself.

  • Chuck HollandFebruary 01, 2012 - 10:44 am

    I just asked a simple question, Rebel chooses to espouse all kinds of irrelevant talk. I offered no excuses or defense.

  • concerned citizenFebruary 01, 2012 - 10:53 am

    You asked an irrelevant hypothetical. Intentionally designed to deflect from the real question of responsibility of the sitting Sheriff. This article was written for the Sheriff as a summation of his first year's accomplishments with out opposition rebuttal.

  • Jack MartinFebruary 01, 2012 - 12:18 pm

    Chuck's question was anything but irrelevant or hypothetical. In your artful reply, you cited all sorts of very good attributes of a conceptual sheriff, thus showing you have given the matter considerable thought. Having given it so much thought, your answer should have been easy; It was either one of the seven candidates, or, none of the above suited your tastes. Simple enough...

  • concerned citizenFebruary 01, 2012 - 12:41 pm

    True, If I was asked the question. I wasn't. Irrelevant, because the election is over. Hypothetical, because it doesn't matter who supported the Sheriff because the election is over. If one questions someone who is elected on the matter of fulfilling campaign promises, does it matter who the questioner voter for? At what criteria does one question a politician's motives?

  • Chuck HollandFebruary 01, 2012 - 1:01 pm

    The basis of my question to Rebel was based on my belief he/she may think one of the other candidates would have done/do a better job. I only wanted to know who that person would have been. If concerned citizen would like to answer I'm happy to extend the question to him/her too.

  • RebelFebruary 01, 2012 - 9:23 pm

    Not WFG or 10-36 Frank but I did vote for Hennick as he was and still is the only one who had and still does have a plan and yes I will vote for him again if he should run, he would have done as he said and we wouldn't have this conversation. Chuck knows what his choice has done or not and still he can't admit that the things he wanted to see done were not, but all of this still doesn't change anything and is not going to unless the Sheriff himself reads what the people have to say. Who writes here seems to be more important than what are the facts and the issues at hand, but that's the fun I guess, but the facts remain, he said he would do things that he hasn't even attempted to do. It is funny though anything but answer the questions that beg to be and that is; why hasn't the GOB's been taken to task and only allowed to retire at what cost to us....

  • TontoFebruary 11, 2012 - 11:17 pm

    Seems to me as if Rebel has had an inside track and knows from where s/he speaks and should be listened to as it may be true, but in any event the actions prove to be nothing as usual.

  • TontoFebruary 17, 2012 - 10:37 pm

    With the recent arrest of Chris A, looks as if the 460's run a little deeper as to who accepts money from one who commits a felony and is arrested and the group who feel they're above the law or at least have bought a piece of it for themselves. Follow the money and see who else is involved at the very least the mine boys gave money as well and the list doesn't stop there, oh how power corrupts and those who seem to be in power feel that they can not be held accountable to anyone, I'm sure there is more to come as some will tell all

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