Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sheriff Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff outlines wide‑ranging 2025 needs: CAD replacement, custody staffing, vehicles and helicopter maintenance
Summary
Sheriff Robert Luna and Assistant Sheriff Gerardo Pineda told supervisors the department faces chronic understaffing and aging technology and fleets. The presentation requested new positions, major IT projects (CAD, RMS, Aegis), more buses, vehicle replacement, TASER/bodycam upkeep and funds to meet custody compliance.
Sheriff Robert Luna and senior department staff told the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 21 that the Sheriff’s Department is operating with roughly three quarters of its authorized personnel and faces critical shortfalls in custody staffing, dispatch technology, vehicles, and facility‑related training.
Assistant Sheriff Gerardo Pineda described a three‑track procurement and testing process for computer aided dispatch (CAD) replacement after multiple system crashes since New Year’s Eve; the department seeks an expanded capital project for a centralized CAD facility plus staff reclassification and funding beyond the county ITIB allocation. He said absent additional support a new CAD could be rolled out by the end of the calendar year.
Pineda and Luna listed the department’s highest immediate needs: 396 positions including 225 deputy recruit trainees, augmentation requests totaling several hundred million dollars for fleet and equipment replacement, 641 additional vehicles, $11.3 million to accelerate bus fleet replacement (58 of 80 buses were out of service in January), and funding to replace antiquated records (RMS) and custody (Aegis) systems built decades ago.
The sheriff flagged litigation exposure tied to training and equipment deficiencies; he and deputies told supervisors that investments in TASER 10 devices, body cameras and training reduce use‑of‑force risk and potential judgments. They recommended investments in perishable‑skills training, a closed firing range to replace the Biscoluse site, and stronger civilianization of positions to free sworn staff for patrol duties.
Supervisors asked for clarification on projected judgments and damages, worker’s compensation impacts and the bus replacement timeline; the sheriff’s office said those figures were estimates based on pipeline cases and that additional training and equipment would reduce litigation risk over time. The department also reported a 23% unavailability rate among sworn staff (vacant posts plus leave/impairment) and said employee wellness, workplace injuries and competition from neighboring agencies are worsening retention challenges.
Sheriff Luna described the county’s aircraft fleet as past its safe service life and said only nine of 18 helicopters are fully operational without maintenance backlogs. The department requested additional mechanics and aeronautical maintenance funding.
The presentation bundled near‑term operational asks (buses, Taser/bodycam sustainment, training) and longer‑term capital/technology projects (CAD, RMS, Aegis, centralized facilities) and proposed a mixture of NCC and external funding sources; supervisors pressed the department for measurable timelines and for follow‑up detail on projected liability costs and mitigation steps.
