Board approves mutual-aid memorandum allowing probation assistance across Central Valley counties; deputy association voices concerns

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7 approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that establishes mutual-aid procedures among Central Valley counties’ probation departments to provide and receive assistance during declared emergencies affecting juvenile probation institutions or probation field services.

Chief Probation Officer Kirk Hanes told the board the agreement permits mutual aid requests between counties and lays out operational expectations, including how long a youth can remain in another county’s custody. Hanes said the item had been originally scheduled May 21 but was deleted to allow further meet-and-confer discussions with Unit 11, the Deputy Probation Officer Association. He said the department would not accept Unit 11’s requested condition that a deputy-level position or assistant deputy chief must be assigned whenever staff are deployed; Hanes said department management must retain discretion over appropriate supervisory levels.

Torivo Mondragon, president of Unit 11, spoke during public comment and said the union supports mutual aid for true emergencies (for example, wildfire-related decimations of local capacity) but expressed concern the MOU’s language could allow deployments in situations caused by local staffing shortages rather than acts of God. Mondragon also raised questions about retirement and safety classifications for officers working under different county personnel systems and asked why Madera County was not included among potential mutual-aid partners on the draft agreement.

Hanes said Chiefs in the Central Valley who sign the agreement have agreed to perform due diligence — exhausting local options before requesting aid — and that the department would consider impacts to Fresno County staffing before deploying personnel to another county. The board discussed the item, heard public comment, and approved the MOU by roll-call. The vote was recorded as 5-0.

Why this matters: The MOU creates a formalized pathway for shared probation resources in emergencies, which can affect where detained youth are housed and which staff are deployed. Unit 11’s concerns underscore operational and labor-management issues the county must address when sending or accepting employees across jurisdictions.

Record details and next steps: Hanes said a meet-and-confer took place on June 28 with Unit 11 to address concerns. The MOU’s final text will govern triggers for aid, duration of placements and responsibilities for worker protections; county staff said they will evaluate staffing impacts before approving deployments.