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Sheriff urges county to fund vehicles, body armor and specialized gear after staffing rebuild
Summary
Kern County Sheriff's Office described a multi‑year rebuilding of staffing and requested one‑time and ongoing funding for patrol vehicles, body armor, SWAT and medical equipment to support rural response; supervisors acknowledged staffing gains and supported submitting requests in the budget.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office told supervisors it has substantially rebuilt its workforce since an earlier downturn and asked the board to approve significant one‑time and ongoing funding to outfit new and returning deputies.
The sheriff described hiring gains over recent years and restoration of units such as gang and narcotics squads while noting that many recently hired deputies are still in field training. The department asked for funding to purchase patrol vehicles, replace specialized vehicles damaged in recent incidents, update SWAT and less‑lethal equipment, pre‑stage specialized equipment across the county and buy advanced life‑support gear for search‑and‑rescue and air‑support paramedics.
Undersheriff staff detailed incidents in which vehicles were struck by gunfire and said up‑to‑date equipment and properly outfitted vehicles are critical for safety and rural responses. The board asked questions about staffing and infrastructure; supervisors commended progress in substations and community policing and moved to include the sheriff’s requests in the CEO’s recommended budget for further consideration.
What happens next: the sheriff’s funding needs were incorporated into the budget recommendations for consideration during the June budget adoption process. The board recorded a motion to receive budget recommendations and staff will return with final budget language and funding allocations.
