SUBJECT
Title
SHERIFF - RATIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS FROM THE SAN DIEGO HONORARY DEPUTY SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION AND EL CAJON ANIMAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND SERVICES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
County of San Diego Administrative Code Article III, Section 66 Acceptance of Gifts and Board of Supervisors Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, provide a process for accepting gifts by the administrative heads of each department in the County, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. This is a request to ratify the acceptance of donations received between September 2023 and June 2024 from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association for food, books and rental equipment valued at $16,459 for the Sheriff’s Wellness Unit to host Wellness Days held throughout the fiscal year and the Emergency Services Division to host a Family Wellness Event held in April 2024, and to approve the acceptance of donations of $10,000 for food and books provided at upcoming Wellness Days. In addition, this is a request to accept a donation for the Sheriff’s Canine Unit of $32,900 from the El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services for the purchase of two canines and to provide additional training for the canines and their handlers.
RECOMMENDATIONS
SHERIFF
1. In accordance with County of San Diego Administrative Code Article III, Section 66 Acceptance of Gifts and Board of Supervisors Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, ratify the acceptance of donations from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association for food, books and rental equipment valued at $16,459, accept a $10,000 donation from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and accept a donation of $32,900 from the El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services to purchase two canines and provide additional training for the canines and their handlers.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign the letters of appreciation on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and the County of San Diego to the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Public safety success results from well trained, well equipped, and healthy personnel creating positive partnerships with our community. The donations from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association and El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services both support Sheriff’s Department personnel and canines through training and wellness programs. The donation towards Wellness Days and events supports the department’s Wellness Unit, employee wellness programs, and overall mental and emotional health of employees. The addition of two canines enhances the department’s public safety service delivery in the seizure of dangerous drugs, finding explosives, detaining criminals, locating missing persons at-risk, and uncovering forensic evidence at crime scenes.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to receive the donation in support of employee wellness contributes to the County of San Diego’s Sustainability Goal of providing just and equitable access. Building better mental and emotional health, physical well-being, and personal resilience in Sheriff’s employees decreases the negative impacts of trauma and stress that is caused by carrying out difficult duties or responding to a dispatcher call. Having healthy employees assists with building trust and partnerships with our diverse communities. By enhancing the delivery of law enforcement services through the use of canines, the department is furthering the County’s Sustainability Goal of protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the San Diego region. Adding two canines to the Sheriff’s Department’s first responder team not only benefits the County of San Diego, but also other regional jurisdictions as part of mutual aid agreements.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s request to ratify the acceptance of various donations valued at $16,459 from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Funds from the donations are not included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operational Plan for the Sheriff’s Department. If approved, this request will also authorize the Sheriff’s Department to accept donations, and result in current year costs and revenue of $10,000 from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association and $32,900 from the El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services to support employee Wellness Days as well as the purchase of two canines and additional training for the canines and their handlers. Future ongoing costs associated with the purchase of the two canines including, but not limited to, food and veterinary care, will be included in future years’ Operational Plans for the Sheriff’s Department. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association Donation
The San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association (HDSA) is a group of local business and community leaders with a long history of providing support to the Sheriff’s Department, funding equipment purchases, as well as facilitating donations from private groups and citizens, to benefit the department.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Wellness Unit was established in May 2023 and is comprised of sworn and professional staff. The team promotes personal and professional longevity by developing healthy choices to reduce personal risk factors. The Wellness Unit provides training and resources for financial, physical, spiritual, occupational, educational, and emotional wellness for all members of the Sheriff’s Department in the effort to obtain overall lifetime wellness. The Wellness Unit hosts Sheriff’s Wellness Days attended by new graduates of the law enforcement and courts/detentions academies, and provides them with tools for overall wellness and resources throughout their career. Lunch is provided for the graduates and their families, who are invited to attend.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Emergency Services Division (ESD) is comprised of the Sheriff’s Canine Unit, Emergency Planning Detail, Search and Rescue, Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies (ASTREA), Special Enforcement Detail, Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Bomb Arson Unit. ESD organizes an annual Family Wellness Event for their staff and their families. The event aims to develop work relationships, foster family bonding, and encourage mental and physical well-being. In April 2024, HDSA donated food and rented family games for ESD staff and their families during the Family Wellness Event.
El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services
The El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services (ACES) Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the El Cajon Animal Shelter by raising money to enhance medical care, encourage animal adoption and promote public education on the proper care of animals. In April 2024, the ACES Foundation contacted the Sheriff to donate $32,900 for the purchase of two canines and to provide additional training for the canines and their handlers.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department Canine Unit was established in 1967 to support field units with highly skilled canine teams. Canines and their handlers respond to critical incidents and assist in law enforcement operations, including the apprehension of violent offenders and wanted suspects, as well as evidence and narcotics detection. Purchasing a new canine for the Sheriff’s Canine Unit is a time-consuming process that involves extensive testing to find suitable candidates. The canines undergo training in protection, article searches, tracking suspects or evidence, and detecting drugs.
This is a request to ratify the acceptance of donations received between September 2023 and June 2024 from the HDSA for food, books and rental equipment valued at $16,459 for the Sheriff’s Wellness Unit Wellness Days ($13,459) and for the Emergency Services Division Family Wellness Event ($3,000). This is also a request to approve the acceptance of a $10,000 donation to the Sheriff’s Wellness Unit from the HDSA, which will be used to purchase food and books for upcoming Sheriff’s Wellness Days. In addition, this is also a request to approve the acceptance of a $32,900 donation for the Sheriff’s Canine Unit from the ACES Foundation, which will be used towards the purchase of two canines and to provide additional training for the canines and their handlers.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the County of San Diego’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan Initiatives of Justice (Safety), Empower (Workforce) and Community (Safety) by accepting and utilizing donations to invest in our workforce to ensure continuity of operations remains at its best, implementing proven best practices to achieve organizational excellence, and providing law enforcement services to the residents of San Diego County.
Respectfully submitted,
KELLY A. MARTINEZ
Sheriff
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Letter of Appreciation to the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association
Attachment B - Letter of Appreciation to the El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services