Sheriff defends 16 sworn positions, says two-deputy shifts are minimum for officer safety

Board members questioned whether Alpine needs 16 sworn deputies given low resident population and comparisons to other counties. The sheriff (S10) defended the staffing level as an officer-safety minimum and described shift coverage: four deputies assigned to the Bear Valley substation and two deputies per shift on the East Slope, with sergeant supervision.

The sheriff said, in part, that the figure "includes the sheriff and myself" and that the staffing was planned to ensure deputies have appropriate supervision and backup. Board members noted seasonal tourism and ski-area usage drive call volume beyond resident population levels; staff said some positions are funded in part by CSA (Bear Valley) and that CHP and other agencies also contribute work that is prosecuted by the DA's office.