Sheriff urges further negotiations; Vallejo leaders press Board for temporary deputies as city battles violent crime

Solano County Sheriff Thomas Ferrara told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday he did not recommend immediate approval of a proposed temporary contract that would provide deputy sheriffs to assist the Vallejo Police Department, citing incomplete labor meet-and-confer steps, vehicle procurement lead-times and questions about retired-annuitant staffing.

The county and the city of Vallejo have negotiated an agreement under which the sheriff’s office would provide trained deputies for one year to boost patrol capacity while the city recruits and reforms its own police force. Vallejo city leaders — including Mayor Andre Sors, City Manager Andrew Murray and several council members — told the board the help is urgent. City officials said the arrangement would shorten response times, allow the city to pursue long-term…