As the unincorporated areas of Sacramento cope with the recent cuts to their Sheriff’s Department budget, Rancho Cordova police officers might soon be feeling the strain of those cuts in their own town.
While Sacramento County’s budget cuts will not immediately affect the finances of the Rancho Cordova Police Department, the reduction in the police force in unincorporated areas of the county may lead to the city’s officers helping out in those areas. As a result, some of Rancho Cordova’s police force will be moved to other areas of the Sheriff’s Department and will leave Rancho Cordova with fewer officers to patrol the neighborhoods.
According to Chief of Police Reuben Meeks, the cuts in police force will be based strictly on seniority and 21 of the city’s officers are being prepared to move.
“That’s one-third of the force,” Meeks said. “Because they have lower seniority, some are rolling back in to the jail.”
Meeks also said that Zachary Hatch, the city’s Police Activities League officer, may be let go.
“He’s such a jewel for the city and the city’s needs,” Meeks said. “It’s a shame it’s based solely on seniority and not merit.”
Deputy Claudio Sotelo isn’t sure of where his future with the department will take him, either.
“I honestly do not know what’s going to happen with me other than I’m employed, which I’m grateful for,” Sotelo said. “Worst-case scenario, they put me on patrol.”
Meeks offered sympathy for the officers that will be laid off as a result of the budget cuts.
“It’s a shame for those who work hard to become an officer,” he said, and added that police cadets go through 800 hours of training to become an officer.
The county’s budget cuts will leave the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department with a $58 million deficit. According to Captain Gordon Smith, the Sheriff’s Department will cut approximately 171 deputy positions and 50 civilian positions. Furthermore, Smith said all of the department’s helicopters will be grounded until further notice and service stations in Carmichael, Fair Oaks and North Highlands will be closed.
Matt Cummings, the city’s planning commissioner, had some words of advice for Rancho Cordova residents to help them cope with the shrinking police force.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is for neighbors to create networks with other people in your neighborhoods,” Cummings said. “I can’t say enough about having your own neighborhood association, and if you don’t have one, go out there and start forming one.”
Meeks, however, does not believe Rancho Cordova’s citizens should be alarmed just yet.
“It’s bad for the citizens at large and it means a delay in service in the unincorporated area… but there is no immediate effect to the RCPD,” he said. “I would be concerned yet remain vigilant.”
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We don’t want to lose any officers and we don’t want to lose Zach Hatch especially. The work he does with the PAL program is much needed in our community.
Rancho Cordova recently announced that its budget was in relatively good shape compared to other cities.
The city pays the Sheriff’s Department for police services.
When cityhood was on the ballot, police coverage was an important consideration. The stated advantage was that cityhood would mean we would receive the services we were paying for.
Will the city be paying the same amount for reduced services, or paying less for reduced services? It seems that we should still get the same level of service for the same amount of money.
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