PUBLIC LETTER: Sheriff's Office State Patrol Operations

This public letter was written by the San Benito County Deputy Sheriffs Association. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invites all community members to share their ideas and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink user in the upper right corner of our homepage and agreeing to follow our Terms of useyou can write counter-opinions or share your ideas on current issues. This is what it says in Spanish here.

In light of recent events, the The San Benito County Deputy Sheriffs Association (DSA), which is responsible for the men and women who patrol San Benito County, wishes to address, with a heavy heart and a deep sense of urgency, the current state patrol operations of our sheriff's office.

Our Sheriff's Office is the backbone of our community, working tirelessly day and night to ensure that community streets are safe, homes are secure, and children in the community can grow up in a peaceful environment. For comparison, patrol officers at the San Benito County Sheriff's Office are paid $15,820.48 less than their immediate neighbors at the Hollister Police Department, not to mention they do not receive a hiring bonus. of $30,000.00. Even though the county Board of Supervisors (BOS) says they have granted a 16% increase in per diem, we are nowhere near where we should be. The DSA fought tirelessly during the 2024 negotiations for better wages, but met with a quick demise due to the BOS's long history of pattern bargaining with all county unions. However, the BOS saw fit to grant itself a 68% increase in 2021.

The issue of understaffing further compounds this problem. Our current patrol staffing levels are alarmingly insufficient, resulting in increased response times, decreased public safety, most areas of the county unmonitored, and greater risk to our patrol deputies and the community. The sheriff's office patrol is typically made up of just two patrol deputies for a county of about 1,400 square miles. Because of this, patrol deputies are overworked, often forced to work for extended periods of time without adequate rest, which not only affects their physical and mental health, but also compromises their ability to perform their duties effectively.

It is imperative that we address these issues with the urgency they require. We must offer our patrol deputies fair compensation, commensurate with the immense responsibilities they assume. Competitive salaries are not a luxury but a necessity to retain experienced patrol NCOs and attract new talent to our force. Additionally, increasing our staffing levels is crucial to ensuring the safety of our community and ensuring our patrol deputies are not overloaded to the point of breaking down. We cannot afford another critical emergency that the Sheriff's Office Patrol Division cannot adequately respond to and lives could be lost.

With deepest concern and hope for change,

The San Benito County Deputy Sheriff's Association.