For the first time in twenty years the position of County Sheriff is open for the voters to decide without an incumbent in place. Two of the candidates, Robert Pursley and Roger Wildey are retired Santa Cruz County Sheriff Lieutenants each with over 30 years of experience with the department while Jim Hart is a current Chief Deputy Sheriff.
Times Publishing Group, Inc., as the publisher of the Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times and the Scotts Valley Times, is devoted to the task of informing the voters concerning candidates’ positions on current issues rather than endorsing a particular person for the office.
We asked the three Sheriff candidates, Hart, Pursley and Wildey three questions to help the voters decide. Here are the question and their answers:
1) Technology has helped law enforcement to do more with fewer resources. What do you see as the next technological improvement that will help the Sheriff’s Department?
Jim Hart — The Sheriff’s Office is the most technologically advanced agency in the county. We have recently upgraded our Records Management System, Jail Management System, Electronic Policy, Morgue, CSI, firearms, cell phones and vehicles.
There are several technology upgrades we will see in the near future. The first is a GPS chip that is placed in each office issued firearm. This chip can tell us where our firearms are at any given time and will help with inventory control and theft. This device could be very beneficial in a critical incident.
We recently moved into a new headquarters with a new CSI lab. There is room to grow in the lab and we will eventually be able to conduct DNA and serology testing for criminal cases.
Robert Pursley — I see the possibility of the utilization of crime cameras placed strategically at the outer reaches of the County. This would enable Law Enforcement locate suspect vehicles/suspects if they leave the county. This is critical in violent crime and child abductions as time is a major factor in solving these crimes.
Roger Wildey — BASIC technology for Deputies on patrol is currently very poor. Every car STILL needs a GPS, a viable mapping system, and tracking devices on each unit to be able to get to calls quickly and coordinate tactical responses. Also critical, is a computer report writing system that is practical, easy to use, and wirelessly operational, so that Deputies do not have to spend a lot of extra time out of the field (as they do now) at Service Centers writing reports.
Another useful (though not really new) technology would be an in-car computer program that would allow Patrol Deputies in the field to cross reference and tabulate crime elements and suspect information with similar information from previous calls. This would help solve crimes by enabling them to swiftly identify patterns and compare details of multiple offenses by the same suspect.
2) With the limited number of patrol units currently available, what is the best way to increase coverage and response times?
Robert Pursley — One of the quick fixes to this is to pull Deputies from non-essential functions within the Sheriff’s Office and put them back on Patrol. There are other positions within the Sheriff’s Office that could be reclassified thus putting Deputies back on the street. This alone could improve coverage and response times. Also returning to a more traditional form of dispatching calls via radio as opposed to computer. By doing this it allows the Watch Commander to hear dispatched details and direct units to details that require immediate attention. As it is now the Watch Commander would have to be continually watching the computer in order to do this.
Roger Wildey — More Deputies are desperately needed on Patrol! I do not believe that the Board of Supervisors is aware of how serious this problem has become under the current administration. Deputy positions need to be un-frozen, new positions added, and furloughs ended! Until that’s done I will take Deputies out of other assignments and put them back on patrol. I worked for years to get a “cover” shift that doubles the number of Deputies on patrol during the times when most crimes occur. This has been lost and needs to be revived.
As Sheriff, I intend to personally work closely with neighborhood residents and groups (such as Take Back Santa Cruz) so that we have a partnership. Then they will readily help quickly identify and report problems, and be part of the solutions. I also want to bring back Community Deputies who are assigned to specific areas and readily available.
Jim Hart — With a new office comes the opportunity to re-evaluate each of our positions and make changes. Much like moving from an old factory to a new factory work processes will change. There will be opportunities to combine job functions and move more deputies to patrol. I wrote and submitted our budget for FY 2014-15 that begins on July 1st and there will be a total of 7 deputy sheriffs added to patrol this fiscal year. This will help increase our response times and better serve the community. I was able to save some overtime money that was in our Community Policing budget and pay deputies overtime to patrol the Davenport area starting on Memorial Day weekend. This will provide better coverage on the North Coast beaches and prevent problems before they start.
3) What would make you make a better Sheriff-Coroner than the other two candidates?
Roger Wildey — I have far more technical training, and much more planning experience than either of the other candidates – especially Jim Hart. Not only have I worked in every area of the Sheriff’s Office, I was for many years the person who personally trained Deputies in proper emergency procedures and tactics, created all operational and emergency plans, and was the Lieutenant in command of virtually all incidents.
I also have a BA in Politics from UCSC, and a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Jose State. As such, I am much better prepared to conduct studies, look at other studies that have been done, and scientifically analyze and correctly evaluate the data regarding what people need and how to address those needs. Due to my extensive experience and education (and my personal traits) I am also much more inventive and creative in devising and implementing practical solutions.
Jim Hart — I am currently the Chief Deputy of the Administration Bureau. I am the only candidate who’s been a manager or an executive manager in every bureau in the Office. I’ve worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 25 years and worked my way up the ranks. I am the only candidate to write and manage our 75 million dollar budget and oversee our 340 employees. In 2011, while Corrections Chief, prison realignment occurred. I wrote and implemented our response and our course of action has been very successful, earning state and national awards. I am the only candidate to be endorsed by the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the Corrections Officers Association, Sheriff Wowak, Retired Sheriffs Robbins and Tracey. The deputies, the correctional officers and all three Sheriffs have worked with all of the candidates in this race and they have all believe that I am the best person for the job.
Robert Pursley — I believe that I would bring a different view to the Sheriff’s Office due to the fact that I was retired for one year and was in the community as non-Law Enforcement. I was able to get unfiltered opinions and views of the Sheriff’s Office, some positive, others not so positive. I would strive to fix those that were not so positive. I have worked in virtually area of the Sheriff’s Office at every rank through Lieutenant. I have worked in every area of the County and have interacted with the residents of these areas.
I have critical incident management experience which has allowed me to work with all agencies within Santa Cruz County. I believe that I can improve the relationship between all residents of Santa Cruz County and the Sheriff’s Office as well as improve service. I would strive to bring diversity to the Sheriff’s Office in order to better serve a diverse community. As Sheriff I would reach out to those residents who do not interact with the Sheriff’s Office due to, language barriers, lack of availability of technology or mistrust of Law Enforcement.
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These are the links to the candidate’s websites: Roger Wildey www.rogerwildeyforsheriff.com — Bob Pursley www.pursleyforsheriff2014.com — Jim Hart http://hartforsheriff.com and here is the link to the candidate’s ballot statements: www.votescount.com/jun14/shf.pdf