County approves new senior district attorney investigator classification for Mendocino Coast

Mendocino County commissioners unanimously approved a new classification for a senior district attorney investigator and revisions to the district attorney investigator and supervising district attorney investigator specifications after a presentation from human resources and the district attorney’s office.

Human Resources Manager Brandy Delzel told commissioners the new senior classification "will not have formal supervisory responsibilities; the incumbent will serve in a lead capacity, offering direction, coordination, and guidance to professional, technical, and support staff." The commission voted in favor on a roll call; all commissioners present voted yes.

The county and the district attorney’s office said the posting responds to operational needs on the Mendocino Coast, which officials described as geographically isolated and subject to frequent turnover among local law enforcement. Andy Alvarado, chief of investigations for the district attorney’s office, said the coast-based investigator in question has "25 plus years of experience" and has been performing duties that, in Alvarado's words, are "above his DA investigator classification." He described the investigator as a de facto on-site leader who routinely provides guidance to other agencies and handles complex cases without daily direction from Ukiah-based supervisors.

Delzel said the revised specifications modernize the series, remove outdated child-support duties and clarify minimum qualifications. She stated the minimum education requirement as an associate degree with study in a criminal-justice-related field; during discussion commissioners and staff also referenced experience expectations for advancement within the series.

Alvarado said the child-support investigative responsibilities referenced in older specifications have largely moved to Child Support Services and are now handled on a contracted or in-house basis by that program. He told commissioners the proposed senior classification is intended to formalize work already performed on the coast and to create a logical progression between existing investigator classifications. He added that creating the classification does not automatically create an additional hire and that whether the department promotes or hires into the slot is a department decision.

Commissioners asked whether the county would backfill any vacancy created if the coast investigator were moved into the new classification; Alvarado said "it's not the intent right now to do that. No. It would just be to get him into an appropriate position." During the discussion, one commissioner expressed concern about the county's broader financial situation; the chair redirected the discussion to classification details.

The motion to approve the senior district attorney investigator classification and the related modifications carried unanimously on roll call.