Alameda County sheriff's CORE unit outlines outreach and investigations into unlicensed group homes

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday described the work of its Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) team, highlighting community outreach events, proactive enforcement patrols and a multi‑agency effort to investigate unlicensed "independent living" homes that house older residents with mental‑health or substance‑use challenges.

Sergeant Marcus Cox of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said CORE's core team promotes crime‑prevention programs such as tobacco and alcohol awareness, neighborhood WATCH outreach and annual events ranging from toy drives to "Curry with a Cop" dinners. Cox said the unit conducts evening suppression patrols at least twice monthly and that many contacts this year led to seizures of firearms and narcotics.

"We proactively go out no less than twice a month to do evening suppressions," Cox said, adding the unit's goal is to improve quality of life and partner with other ACSO divisions and community groups.

The presentation turned to investigations of unlicensed independent‑living homes, which ACSO said often house older adults who have limited incomes and mental‑health or substance‑use issues. Cox introduced Deputy Heidi Burbank as the unit's liaison on those cases; Burbank recounted that an elder‑abuse death prompted a broader probe that uncovered multiple connected homes and hazardous living conditions.

"What I did was I basically stopped the investigation in its tracks and...go back out there and actually view the home again," Burbank said, describing soiled mattresses, infestations and nonworking utilities in one case that later led to the home being shut down. She said the multi‑disciplinary response brings in fire, code enforcement, building inspection, vector control and adult protective services.

"We hold these managers or responsible parties accountable, and we make sure that the house is rid of any vector, any mold, any type of inhabitable living condition," Burbank said.

Supervisor Miley praised the CORE presentation and said the sheriff's department is a crucial partner for law enforcement in unincorporated areas. "I support the sheriff's department in their desire to better use technology," Miley said, and urged continued coordination with community groups and agencies.

Committee members asked for staffing details and coverage. Cox said CORE's crime‑prevention unit and crime‑reduction unit are each staffed by one sergeant and up to seven deputies, adding an additional sergeant oversees school resource officers, bringing the sworn element to 16; he also said the units are carrying several vacancies. Committee members asked the sheriff's office to return with data on deployments and to clarify coordination with property owners and agencies such as Caltrans when encampments are involved.

Two callers during the item's public comment period supported ACSO's work and urged more licensed, state‑inspected board‑and‑care facilities for seriously mentally ill residents. Allison Monroe of Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill said the county needs state‑ and county‑sponsored licensed care options for people who cannot afford $900‑a‑month private placements.

The committee closed the item after asking ACSO to provide follow‑up data on staffing and to continue multi‑agency coordination; the committee then moved to a separate item on the military equipment report.

The presentation materials and contact information were provided by ACSO for follow up.