Agenda

Return

C. 83

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Date:	August 1, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Memorandum of Understanding - California Highway Patrol

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 08/01/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Abigail Balana, 925-655-0008

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 1, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to enter into a memorandum of understanding with California Highway Patrol (CHP), including mutual indemnification, to provide the County with a CHP Officer to assist in investigating crimes that have occurred within Contra Costa County in exchange for forensic services provided by Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028, unless terminated by either party in its sole discretion upon 30 days advance written notice or cancelled immediately by written mutual consent.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This is a nonfinancial agreement, therefore, there is no fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND:

Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff has a Forensic Services Division that recognizes, collects, preserves, performs scientific analysis and interprets physical evidence. Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff also has a Violence Suppression Unit (VSU) in the Field Operations Bureau, Investigations Division that conducts investigations of organized person and property crimes and investigates crime problems in specific areas identified by crime trends and analysis. The VSU is responsible for investigating drug cases, obtaining criminal complaints on drug arrest cases and responding to community complaints of suspected drug activity and formulating an appropriate response. The VSU also investigates gambling, prostitution, human trafficking, and Alcoholic Beverage Control violations. The Unit conducts background investigations for licenses and permits issued by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff. The Unit also responds to community complaints concerning suspected vice-related crimes and initiating an appropriate response.

CHP needs forensic services in Contra Costa County and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff wants to provide forensic services to CHP on an “as-needed” basis for crimes committed in Contra Costa County. In exchange for the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff's forensics services to CHP, CHP will assign a full-time CHP Officer (detective) to the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

A negative vote on this agreement will prevent the addition of an officer provided by CHP to assist in investigating crimes committed within unincorporated Contra Costa, specifically, violent crimes committed on public roadways. Additionally, criminal investigations and forensic analysis of crime scenes in unincorporated Contra Costa County may be delayed due to CHP having to rely on forensic services provided by other agencies besides the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.