Alecia Foster
LA CRESCENTA -- Although the proposed 2000-2001 Los Angeles County
budget does not provide for extra sheriff's patrol deputies in
unincorporated areas of L.A., local sheriff's officials say they are not
concerned at this point.
"That's just the first go-round," said Lt. Jerry Carrigan of the
Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.
Fifth District Supervisor Michael Antonovich voted no on the proposed
budget when it came before the board Tuesday.
Among the supervisor's complaints with the document were a lack of
funding for additional deputies and for the Sheriff's Department Career
Criminal Apprehension Unit, a program aimed at reducing repeat offenders.
Carrigan said funding may still come for additional patrols. He
expected the budget to go through a number of revisions before a final
draft is produced. A final budget must be approved by the supervisors by
July 1.
"We always would like to add an extra patrol car," Carrigan said,
referring to the patrolling of the unincorporated areas of La Crescenta
and Alta Dena, which the station handles.
Carrigan estimated that for one additional patrol car, at least nine
deputies, plus relief help, would be needed to fulfill a 24-hour patrol.
The station, however, does not participate in the Sheriff's
Department's criminal apprehension unit.
The proposed budget would allocate $130 million toward patrols in
unincorporated areas of the county, proportionally relatively unchanged
over last year's budget.
Antonovich spokesman Cam Currier said the supervisor has been
supportive of funding for both areas.
"To say we're disappointed is putting it mildly," Currier said.
He agreed that more changes likely will be made to the budget and that
could include the area of patrols. However, he said, there is no
guarantee.
