Full Notification

CITY OF PETALUMA, CA
POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/BROADCAST

DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

OCCURRED DATE AND TIME: SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014, FROM 2:PM TO 9:PM

INCIDENT: MULTI-AGENCY OPERATIONS FUNDED BY BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

LOCATION: SOUTHERN SONOMA COUNTY

SUMMARY: On the above date and time, Sonoma County Law Enforcement Officers conducted compliance checks on high risk felony probation and PRCS offenders throughout Rohnert Park, Cotati and Petaluma. The operation was comprised of officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department, Cotati Police Department, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, Sebastopol Police Department, Petaluma Police Department, the Sonoma County Probation Department, and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office.

A total of 54 subjects had been identified as needing a compliance check. We completed a total of 43 separate felony probation and PRCS compliance checks. As a result of the enforcement action, 3 cases were forwarded to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. A loaded firearm, drug paraphernalia and ammunition were found on the 3 separate cases. The loaded firearm was found in a probationer’s bedroom, but the subject was not home at the time. No arrests were made.

As California transitions into the second year of Public Safety Realignment, counties have been provided funds by the State through the Board of State of Community Corrections (BSCC) to address crime impacts in their communities as a result of the Realignment Act of 2011 (AB109). These funds are designed to assist front line law enforcement in providing public safety.

The California Police Chief’s Association proposed that the funds be used:
• Regionally
• In collaboration with other police departments to address crime impacts in their communities
• In partnership or collaboration with county probation
• Employing best and promising practices
• Focusing on serious, violent crimes and habitually non-compliant offenders
Law enforcement operations will be supported by crime and data analysis for greatest impact and to provide evaluative information to support demonstration of outcomes.
The Police Chiefs from Sonoma County along with the Sonoma County Sheriff and the Sonoma County Probation Chief have agreed to the following:
• This funding will be used regionally for the benefit of the entire county versus each municipality receiving a portion of the funds.
• The focus of the funds will be used to address gaps in the Criminal Justice System and to help ensure a safe community.
• The persons who will be the focus of the law enforcement operations should fall into one of the following categories:

1. Persons on Felony Probation determined to be a high risk to re-offend,
2. Habitual felony offenders determined to be a high risk to reoffend with outstanding warrants,
3. Persons on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) with outstanding warrants, and
4. Persons identified as high risk after they have been directly released from custody to the community or high risk persons following their completion of Mandatory Supervision.

The Sonoma County Probation Department will be conducting risk assessments to establish the list of individuals subject to operations involving the use of these funds. Additionally, the Santa Rosa Police Department has been identified as the fiscal agent of these funds for Sonoma County.

PREPARED BY: LIEUTENANT TIM LYONS
Special Operations Lieutenant
Petaluma Police Department
969 Petaluma Blvd North
Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone (707) 776-3718
FAX (707) 778-4476
[email protected]