I worked in law enforcement for 33 years, 31 of those with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. During that time, advances in technology, techniques and tactics have helped us reduce crime in LA and around the state by dramatic numbers. But public safety policy is too often determined strictly by political or budgetary pressures, rather than what is best to help protect citizens.
The most recent example of this is so-called ‘Realignment’, created by the Legislature and Governor Brown through AB109 to shift much of the burden for prisoners off the state and back to the counties. In purely literal terms, AB109 has done what it promised – it has moved inmates, and their associated costs, out of state prisons and into county jails.
The Los Angeles County jail system is the most complex and dangerous jail system in the country and realignment has only exacerbated the issues we see today. First, county jails are only meant to house inmates for 365 days, one year, for a variety of reasons from petty crimes, those awaiting trial, or those waiting for transfer to a state institution.
But now, rather than housing prisoners for a year, we have extremely violent, repeat-offenders occupying beds for potentially decades. The facilities were not meant to handle this type of long-term incarceration. In addition, these hardened criminals bring what they have learned in state prisons to our local facilities and create a ripple affect of bad, often illegal behavior.
For citizens, the result of realignment has been more convicted felons being moved, and ultimately released into local communities. The newspapers are filled with examples of crimes committed by those who should have remained in state facilities. There has also been a corresponding spike in property crimes as an increased number of offenders are turned out into local communities.
It is up to the Sheriffs, as the highest elected county law enforcement officials, to make their voices more clearly heard when it comes to public safety policy. If politicians in Sacramento are going to ask more of local and county law enforcement, there should be corresponding funding to go with it. It is typical of California state government to put mandates on local institutions without a way to pay for them.
For more than a decade I was responsible for the LA County Sheriff’s Department multi-billion dollar budget. When I found it, the budget was $25 million in the red. Every year after that, we operated within the confines of our budget – even during the worst of the financial crisis – ensuring that we were protecting the taxpayers as we were protecting communities representing more than 10 million people. I take fiscal responsibility extremely seriously, both when I served in the LASD and currently as Mayor of Gardena.
Doing the best job with what you have, determining priorities and best paths forward are key ingredients of leadership. Clear, sensible direction and vision, both to those within the Department and to the public are essential to building trust.
For too long in Los Angeles County, and in other counties across California, sheriff’s departments have been extremely arbitrary when it comes to the issuance of Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW) permits. Los Angeles County was an extreme example where only those favored by the sitting sheriff were granted CCWs.
Before the Peruta decision earlier this year, state law stated that a citizen must show ‘good cause’ to apply for a CCW permit. The 9th Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the good cause requirement unconstitutional. I agree with the 9th Circuit’s decision.
As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment I believe in a person’s right to defend themselves, their families and their homes from possible threats, if it is done in a responsible manner. As Sheriff, I will follow all applicable state and federal laws and court rulings as they pertain to the issuance of CCW permits.
When elected Sheriff, I will ensure that every CCW request is evaluated on an objective and individual basis without favoritism. If the applicant meets the legal requirements and conditions required under the law, I will ensure that the application is duly processed.
In addition, should the request be denied, the department will issue a written statement to the applicant explaining why the application was denied. This is a fair and sensible way to approach public safety – both from a law enforcement perspective and from the rights of individuals to protect their families.
We need more vocal and sensible leadership from the law enforcement community. Sacramento making decisions for counties and localities with little or no regard as to how it will affect citizens and communities is irresponsible. As Sheriff of Los Angeles County, I will make sure law enforcement’s voice is always heard in the halls of power.
Paul Tanaka is the retired Undersheriff of Los Angeles County and is currently mayor of Gardena. He is running for Sheriff of LA County in the June 3rd Primary Election. His website is www.paultanaka.com.