ALADS Supports Establishment of 
Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Safety
Los Angeles, August 15, 2017 - The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) issued a statement supporting the motion introduced today by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn to establish a Blue-Ribbon Commission on Public Safety to explore innovative solutions to criminal justice challenges resulting from statewide reforms.

The motion builds on a previous motion unanimously approved by the Board on February 21, 2017 which was also by Supervisors Barger and Hahn. The February motion requested a report on the murder of Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer by a "Post Released Supervised Person," including an historical analysis of the gunman's involvement with the state parole system, his probation supervision, as well as recommendations for policies and procedures to help identify risk factors and ensure the highest level of public safety.

"We support the Board's establishment of a Blue-Ribbon Commission on "Improving Public Safety and Rehabilitation Outcomes." Officer Keith Boyer paid with his life for the failure of both supervision and meaningful responses to the many violations of parole by his killer.

We agree with the statement in the motion that the "highest level of public safety" should be the county's priority. With the looming early release of as many as 700 individuals thanks to Prop 57, the cascading effect of AB 109 causing local jail space to be used for those who would have been confined in state prison, and Prop 47 resulting in many crimes being virtually consequence free, public safety has been severely challenged in Los Angeles County.  The rising crime rate the past few years prove this point.

However, along with examining various ways to rehabilitate those the county is responsible for incarcerating, it is vital the county ensure departments tasked with ensuring public safety are fully staffed. The Sheriff's Department has a staffing crisis, with countless shifts of mandatory overtime required to ensure minimal coverage is provided to residents. A valuable study by the Rand Corporation has proven that increased law enforcement staffing is a cost-effective way to prevent crime.

We look forward to working with and being an active participant of the Blue-Ribbon Commission to ensure that it will be able to provide recommendations that ensure the "highest level of public safety" and suggest workable re-entry and rehabilitation programs."

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ALADS Facility: 2 Cupania Circle, Monterey Park, CA  91755
www.alads.org
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