Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Policing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calimesa officials hear public concern over one-deputy contract; sheriff outlines patrol and specialized-service coverage
Summary
A longtime resident urged the City Council to explain scope and cost of the sheriff contract after saying it provides one patrol deputy; the sheriff—s captain described current patrol coverage and specialized services included in the contract and said county deputies can supplement the city when needed.
Joyce McIntyre, a former Calimesa mayor and councilwoman, told the City Council the city—s sheriff contract appears to provide for one patrol deputy and laid out items she said are listed in the document, including a problem-oriented policing deputy and a community services officer.
"On page 63 of the city's 25/26 budget for police, the current contract includes patrol services, one problem oriented policing deputy, and a community services officer 24 hours 365 days," McIntyre said, and she urged staff to report back on how often specialized services are called out and at what cost.
Riverside County Sheriff—s Office Captain Arthur responded during the scheduled sheriff report that Calimesa has a patrol deputy assigned per shift, around the clock, and that the county can provide supplemental deputies when needed. He reviewed September activity counts and described units that can be deployed under the contract.
"There is a patrol deputy per shift in the city, 24 hours of coverage. But the county is able to supplement that when needed," Captain Arthur said. He reported September part I crime counts (nine assaults, one burglary and 19 thefts) and a total of 513 incidents for the month. He said year-to-date part I crimes are up about 18% from the same time last year and up about 12% over the last three years.
Arthur described the contract—s specialized services as available on an "as needed" basis, including detectives, SWAT, aviation, K-9, a community behavioral assessment team (CBAT), a problem-oriented policing (POP) deputy, forensics technicians and 911 dispatch. He cited a January 6 incident in which investigators and SWAT served a search warrant as an example of several contract-funded resources responding to a single call for service.
On enforcement priorities, Arthur said the CBAT deputy conducted three on-view holds, four patrol assists, one outreach and six follow-ups in September. He said the POP deputy performs follow-ups and saturation patrols and, if nearby, responds to other incidents as a sworn deputy.
A council member asked for clarification that the POP deputy is a sworn deputy who can respond to crimes; Arthur confirmed that is the case. Arthur said the sheriff—s office will coordinate public education and targeted enforcement tied to a daylighting/parking campaign at crosswalks under California Assembly Bill 413.
McIntyre also cited the city—s police budget figure for fiscal year 2025—26, saying the total police budget is $2,930,632 and pointing council members to pages 63—66 of the budget for service details.
Mayor Molina and staff said they will post the monthly sheriff report on the city website and can share speed-trailer data and other information with the sheriff's office to support targeted enforcement.
