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County says sheriff security officer discovered stabbing near Placerville Library; supervisors stress staff safety
Summary
El Dorado County officials said a sheriff security officer found a stabbed man near the Placerville Library on Jan. 23, 2025. Deputies and Placerville police investigated; the county described the role and limits of its sheriff security officers and reiterated staff-safety steps.
A county sheriff security officer discovered a man who had been stabbed near the Placerville Library the morning of Jan. 23, El Dorado County officials said at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 28, 2025. County representatives said Placerville police investigated and arrested a suspect later the same morning.
The discovery was made during a routine morning sweep before the library opened, officials said. County leaders told the board that the sheriff security officers (SSOs) hired to patrol county properties are not sworn peace officers, lack arrest powers and do not perform active enforcement, but do provide security, patrol county buildings and report incidents.
Why it matters: staff and visitors use county facilities every day. Board members said they want to make employee safety a priority and noted existing steps to add security patrols and coordination with law enforcement.
County account of incident and response Officials said one SSO conducted a routine sweep about 6:30 a.m. and again before the library’s 10 a.m. opening and found a person who had been stabbed. The SSO summoned dispatch and assisted Placerville police by providing surveillance video; county officials said Placerville detectives took control of the scene and led the investigation. The county’s sheriff’s deputies also assisted in searching for and locating the suspect, who was arrested less than an hour after the SSO found the victim, according to the statement made at the meeting.
County leaders addressed circulating rumors, saying the arrested man had not received county housing or services, including temporary navigation center services. Board members and staff reiterated that development of a permanent navigation center remains underway near the Placerville jail.
Community reaction and public comments Several public-comment speakers raised library safety, homelessness and service gaps. Melody Lane, who identified herself as founder of Compass to Truth, told the board she had reported a disturbance in the library parking area and raised concerns about public access to agendized items at earlier meetings. Kathy Guerrero of First 5 El Dorado acknowledged the stabbing and said the commission sent thoughts to the family and community, emphasizing that library-based community hubs serve a wide range of residents, including families and people experiencing homelessness.
What the county says it will keep doing At the meeting the board emphasized employee safety and the existing practice of hiring SSOs to patrol county campuses. Officials said the SSO role is security and surveillance, not law enforcement, and that county staff will continue coordination with Placerville police and the sheriff’s office for investigations and patrol support. The county also urged visitors and staff to report safety concerns to dispatch so law enforcement can respond.
Ending note The board did not vote on new security policy at the Jan. 28 meeting. Supervisors said they expect ongoing discussions about campus safety, library operations and the navigation center project in future meetings.
