PRESS RELEASE FROM SUPERVISOR BONILLA’s OFFICE —
As a result of the District Attorney’s decision to publicly state that his office would cease prosecuting certain misdemeanors without adequate consultation with law enforcement officers, the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Susan A. Bonilla, will call a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Public Protection Committee.
The purpose of the meeting will be to analyze the impacts of the District Attorney’s decision and propose to the Board of Supervisors measures that will begin to resolve the concerns of our constituents. Supervisor Bonilla will invite the Contra Costa County Police Chiefs Association and the Contra Costa County Sheriff to attend the meeting to discuss the potential impacts of the District Attorney’s new policy upon the community.
The Board of Supervisors believes providing public protection is of high priority. It is regrettable that the District Attorney has unilaterally decided to publicly state that his office will no longer prosecute certain misdemeanors.
“I find the District Attorney’s decision deeply troubling. The Board of Supervisors understood, while there would be reduction in services, the District Attorney would make every effort to efficiently schedule cases and seek cost-saving opportunities that would preserve the infrastructure of prosecuting all misdemeanors. The Board of Supervisors relies on the District Attorney to manage his office in a manner that best serves the public. However, the District Attorney’s decision of summarily returning cases to police departments without review by a deputy district attorney and requesting police chiefs to no longer submit certain types of cases threatens the safety and well being of Contra Costa County residents,” said Supervisor Susan A. Bonilla.
While the Board of Supervisors establishes the budget for the District Attorney’s Office, as a separately elected official, the District Attorney has sole discretion as to how he will allocate resources to “seek justice and enhance public safety for all our residents by aggressively, fairly, ethically, and efficiently prosecuting those who violate the law” as stated in the District Attorney’s mission statement.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with the comments above. Susan Bonilla and the Board of Supervisors needs to fully fund the District Attorney’s office. Crime is a growing problem in Concord. In a severe recession with high unemployment, we can’t afford to allow crimes to go unprosecuted. That will be a green light to all the parolees, thugs, and other miscreants to come to Contra Costa.
Hopefully Susan Bonilla and the other board members will quickly reverse course on their decision and cut elsewhere. Start with cuts to our overstaffed fire department and health department. Leave police, jails, and the DA whole.
Public Protection Committee meeting scheduled for April 28, 3 p.m. at BOS chambers, Martinez
http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/supes-schedule-da-hearing/
The Board of Supervisors are spinning out of control. On March 31st the DA flat out told them that he would have to prioritize cases if his department was forced to cut back. They responded by approving the lay off of deputy DA’s. On Tuesday the Board approved (unanimously) $1.5 million from the County reserve fund for illegal immigrant health care. Then they question the DA for his decision?
While Supervisor Bonilla’s desire to review Kochly’s new policy is good, what she and the rest of the Supes need to do is find the $1.9 million in the budget so the cuts to the DA’s office don’t need to be made. Plus they need to find additional funds for the Sheriff’s office to keep that department from having to make significant cuts, as well.
They must be reminded that PUBLIC SAFETY IS PRIORITY #1 of the county government!