Press Release

Sheriff Lee Baca gave his budget address to all Department executives, employee association representatives and members of the press on Thursday, April 18, 2002. The address was given in response to the nearly $100 million in public safety cuts the Sheriff's Department has been asked to absorb in the 2002-2003 budget. The Sheriff pointed out that these cuts will have a far reaching and devastating effect on the Department and all the communities we serve.

The following are excerpts from that press conference:

I am angry and saddened in having to call this press conference, but the County budget process has deteriorated to such an extent over the years that somebody has to forcefully address this "bait and switch" tactic. It has to be stopped. I am going to try to do just that. I am prepared to lay my case out in the Court of Public Opinion. I trust the public. Let them decide what's right and what's wrong. I urge the Board of Supervisors to join me in opening up this process to the spotlight of public scrutiny. It's the right thing for us to do.

I am announcing today that I am sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors addressing my concerns, and in which I am also asking them to consider an independent audit and reform of the budget process. The Board of Supervisors is required by law to provide the Sheriff's Department with sufficient funds to enable the Department to perform its mandated and constitutional duties. The Proposed County Budget does not meet this mandate. There has been a tremendous amount of talk about the Sheriff's Department's $1.6 billion budget, which represents 10% of the County's $16.2 billion budget. In reality, ten years ago the Sheriff's Department received $775 million from County General funds. Now, the CAO is proposing that the Department receive $658 million, a reduction of $117 million.

As proposed by the Chief Administrative Officer, the fiscal plan for 2002-2003 is a "mission impossible" budget for public safety. Strong words, I know, but there is no other way to characterize this budget process. The proposed budget was put in place behind closed doors, and it occurs year after year after year. No more. It must stop today.

This battle over money has to address what is best for the People of Los Angeles County. It's the People's Money, after all. They have the right to know exactly how it's spent. This is not about politics. It's about public safety service. It has been proposed that we cut nearly $100 million. This is what that means:

•Running out of gas in our radio cars by November.

•Grounding our helicopters in February.

•Disconnecting our phones in March because we won't have any money to pay our telephone bill.

•ZERO DOLLARS for our computer needs. You heard me right: ZERO DOLLARS for anything related to our computer equipment and software. I have never heard of such a thing.

So, we either stop fueling our cars, flying our helicopters, answering our phones, or we cut essential programs and personnel.

This budget means that I will have to cut or eliminate the progressive programs we have brought to the people of Los Angeles County, such as: our juvenile intervention VIDA program, Asian Crimes Task Force, Hate Crimes Task Force, Identity Theft and our community-based policing programs. When I took office, and at the direction of the Board of Supervisors, I filled our vacancies and hired over 2000 deputy sheriffs. That's over 650 deputies a year. I will have to reduce the numbers of deputies on the streets which ultimately impacts the safety of the people of Los Angeles County. The bottom line: an almost $100 million cut equates to 1000 less deputy sheriffs on the street!

As I've said, I propose a complete reform of the Los Angeles County budget process. If I can have an Office of Independent Review, the County can too. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is one of the premier law enforcement agencies in America. We deserve better. The people of Los Angeles County deserve better.

SHB-30A-02

April 19, 2002