Sheriff, CHP and CalFire brief Colfax council on October activity; residents raise concerns about freeway shutdowns and deputy turnover

Representatives from the Placer County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol and CalFire briefed the Colfax City Council on Oct. activity and raised operational concerns tied to winter weather and staffing.

Sgt. Toby Williams introduced himself as the station commander for the Forest Hills Substation. Deputy King reported the city saw 159 calls in October, down from 177 the previous month, and described an investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect after a probation search following motorcycle thefts and a series of burglaries at a local business. Deputy King said recovered property included items from local tow yards and tools reportedly stolen from a business.

Deputy King also said he will transfer to a jail assignment in Auburn beginning in January and that his move may last about two years "As of right now, it's for 2 years," he said, adding he planned to continue occasional event overtime in Colfax.

Officer Jason Lyman, public information officer for the California Highway Patrol Gold Run area, said CHP issued 333 citations and had 605 enforcement contacts in the reporting period, with 14 collisions (seven injury collisions and seven property-damage-only) and five arrests. Lyman described a large storm that required closing the freeway for more than five hours because of hundreds of vehicles in ditches and jackknifed rigs; he said tow operations and lack of alternate routes forced the closure.

Bob Counts, assistant chief with CalFire Placer County Fire Department, reported station 30 in Colfax ran 98 incidents in October, 63 of which were within city limits; CalFire volunteers responded 13 times, comprising about 21% of those calls. Counts said CalFire is at peak staffing through Dec. 15 and noted seasonal reductions to aircraft availability as contracts end for the year.

Members of the public used the general public-comment period to urge the council to request Caltrans provide portable toilets when the freeway is closed in Colfax and to ask the city to lobby the sheriff to retain a local deputy because of turnover. One commenter also raised concerns about enforcement of a chicken-keeping ordinance.

No formal council action was taken on these public requests at the Nov. 13 meeting; staff offered to coordinate follow-up on specific letters and communications.