One of the fallouts from the ongoing government budget crisis may mean most misdemeanor crimes committed in San Joaquin County will go unprosecuted.
San Joaquin County District Attorney James Willett may respond to budget cutbacks with the laying off of eight prosecutors. Because there is money coming from the state for environmental crime prosecution, four will be hired back and used exclusively for that purpose.
The end result will be the virtual elimination of all misdemeanor prosecutions in the Stockton office with the exception of domestic violence and driving under the influence. Misdemeanors, though, will have a better chance of still being prosecuted in satellite courts such as in Manteca, Tracy and Lodi.
The district attorney’s money woes that are the direct result of the weakened economy coupled with the crash in housing prices are reflective of budget problems forcing cities throughout the county to resort to cutting law enforcement.
The Manteca Police Officers Association leadership rejected a watered down proposal by the city to simply give up two future negotiated pay raises in 2010 and 2011 so six of the 12 officers that were laid off could get their jobs back. The previous offer to keep all 12 positions required police to forgo $1,000 annual uniform allowances plus pay more into their retirement at an average of around $100 a month per officer. All other municipal employee bargaining units opted to give up pay raises plus pay more into retirement. The choice of layoffs or reduced pay was left to each employee group to decide.
Even though the loss of 12 officers has been a big bit, it is either no different – or in some cases much better – than what other police departments are facing.
Ripon is still trying to cover a $1.5 million budget deficit that may translate into the loss of five police officers as well as five parks and recreation workers.
Tracy is eliminating 20 positions within its police department.
Stockton Police are eliminating 80 vacant sworn positions as they cut 241 of their overall 799 positions. That will mean reducing the street crimes and narcotics units in that city as well as severe cutbacks in community policing in addition to bicycle and park patrols.
San Joaquin County District Attorney James Willett may respond to budget cutbacks with the laying off of eight prosecutors. Because there is money coming from the state for environmental crime prosecution, four will be hired back and used exclusively for that purpose.
The end result will be the virtual elimination of all misdemeanor prosecutions in the Stockton office with the exception of domestic violence and driving under the influence. Misdemeanors, though, will have a better chance of still being prosecuted in satellite courts such as in Manteca, Tracy and Lodi.
The district attorney’s money woes that are the direct result of the weakened economy coupled with the crash in housing prices are reflective of budget problems forcing cities throughout the county to resort to cutting law enforcement.
The Manteca Police Officers Association leadership rejected a watered down proposal by the city to simply give up two future negotiated pay raises in 2010 and 2011 so six of the 12 officers that were laid off could get their jobs back. The previous offer to keep all 12 positions required police to forgo $1,000 annual uniform allowances plus pay more into their retirement at an average of around $100 a month per officer. All other municipal employee bargaining units opted to give up pay raises plus pay more into retirement. The choice of layoffs or reduced pay was left to each employee group to decide.
Even though the loss of 12 officers has been a big bit, it is either no different – or in some cases much better – than what other police departments are facing.
Ripon is still trying to cover a $1.5 million budget deficit that may translate into the loss of five police officers as well as five parks and recreation workers.
Tracy is eliminating 20 positions within its police department.
Stockton Police are eliminating 80 vacant sworn positions as they cut 241 of their overall 799 positions. That will mean reducing the street crimes and narcotics units in that city as well as severe cutbacks in community policing in addition to bicycle and park patrols.
