COCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DA - YOU MADE A TROUBLING DECISION - A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF COUNTY RESIDENTS - SPECIAL SESSION CALLED

The following media release best sums up the unhappiness from BOS chair Susan Bonilla's office. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO REVIEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S CHANGE IN MISDEMEANOR POLICY 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. A special meeting of the Public Protection Committee with the Board of Supervisors at the BOS Chambers will be held on Tuesday, April 28th at 3:00 pm. Watch for an update. Way to go Susan Bonilla! Don't let it be open season for crime in the county. MisterWriter