Residents React To Sheriff Layoff Notices

The first steps toward major job cuts are under way to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Layoff notices went out to nearly 100 sheriff’s deputies around the county.

According to Riverside Sheriff’s Association President, Pat McNamara, the department started sending out layoff notices Sunday night.

The notices inform deputies that their duties will end on July 13.

The cuts won’t affect cities such as Palm Desert, which contracts with the Sheriff’s Department for its policing. Instead, the cuts will be to jails and to patrol in unincorporated areas, said McNamara.

Scott Johnson lives in Bermuda Dunes. He’s worried the potential cuts could affect his neighborhood, in the unincorporated area of the county

“The sheriffs were understaffed to begin with. This is just a bonus for every criminal in the area, I think. I think it’s inviting crime,” said Johnson.

Joey Clipper lives near Desert Hot Springs. He’s worried it will take longer to get help.

“Once you take away that fear, I’m sure the crime rate is going to have to go up, and it’s sad because this is actually a really quiet neighborhood,” said Clipper, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 40 years.

County supervisors made the cuts to help spare other programs from even deeper cuts.

Both Johnson and Clipper said there has to be a better way.

“I know for a fact that if county government tried to improve its performance internally, that they wouldn’t need to make budget cuts like this. County government wastes a lot of money,” said Johnson.

“It’s unfortunate for the guys who … lose their jobs because … they need their jobs. We need the sheriffs, but our kids need an education,” said Clipper.

The supervisors must make a lot of decisions before they finalize the budget next month. Their next meeting is at 9 a.m. Tuesday.