Sheriff details crime impacts and $850,000 mitigation, pledges more deputies

Sheriff Gary Redmond told a packed room that experience with nearby casinos shows the largest operational impact on law enforcement comes from jail-bed days and narcotics arrests. "Last year alone, between the 2 casinos, the 3 police departments, my office, the NCOHB, we had just over 800 bed days," he said, adding that those impacts have cost his budget about $250,000. He said mitigation for the new casino was negotiated to direct $850,000 annually toward public-safety staffing and mitigation.

Redmond said the mitigation will fund deputies and targeted enforcement, including training in lidar and radar. He described coordination with California Highway Patrol and county agencies and said the aim is to shrink deputies' beats rather than re-open a local substation. Residents asked whether mitigation also funds the district attorney and probation; Redmond said DA and probation were included in mitigation negotiations and have received or will receive funds. He committed to providing documentation about mitigation funds and to coordinating further briefings with prosecutors if residents request them.