Home Antioch Sheriff David Livingston Talks Sheriff Services with Antioch Rotary

Sheriff David Livingston Talks Sheriff Services with Antioch Rotary

by ECT

On Thursday, Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston attended Antioch Rotary to highlight the Sheriff’s Office and what they do.

He pointed out some people did not know they still had County Sheriffs, but explained every county by law must have an elected sheriff and District attorney who are accountable to the public, not a city council or city manager.

He stated that Contra Costa County has 1.1 million people and was the third largest in the San Francisco Bay Area, 9th largest in California while being the 37th Largest County in the nation.  Meanwhile the sheriff’s office is the largest law enforcement agency in the county serving the unincorporated area of 163,000 and patrol 500-square miles of land and 82-square miles of water way.

Sheriff Staffing is at 684 sworn deputy sheriffs along with 400 professional staff with a $238 million budget—of that funding, the taxpayer is only being charged about $87 million.

He discussed the jail saying that immigration noting the crossover arguments which has caused protests in West County. He explained that although there have been protests, the Sheriff’s office does not do any ICE immigration in the field, only a long-term contract with the US Marshals Service to hold detainees.

“That goes back to 1992 and generates about $6 million per year for the county,” stated Livingston. “The problem is that the people that are in the 200 bed facility are not only here illegally, but they have committed crimes while they are here, so that is why I agree to continue to contract and it generates revenue which lowers the overall operating cost for all of the taxpayers.”

He explained that he gets 10-20 protesters regularly who try and crossover the jail expansion to immigration.

“I don’t do immigration enforcement, I have a contract to hold detainees,” said Livingston. “We are proposing a new facility for mental health services, re-entry services and family unification being paid for by the State called SB-844. That is the jail project that has a small group of people in Richmond upset.”

He says the Martinez Detention Facility is overcrowded and they do not have the space for proper programs.

Currently, here is a rundown of who is in jail (as of Thursday):

  • Arson – 27
  • Vehicle theft – 200
  • Grand theft – 62
  • Aggravated/Violent Assault – 240
  • Burglary – 239
  • Robbery – 222
  • Rape suspects -41
  • Murder suspects – 205

Livingston explained the wide variety of sheriff-coroner services and what it takes to be hired in law enforcement including the detailed background checks—they hire 1 or 2 applicants per every 100 applicants who apply.

When questioned about the District Attorney and Sheriff’s Office having a disconnect in terms of charging cases.

“There is always going to be that friction because our officers work hard to make an arrest and present a case for charging, we are the ones dealing with the victims left behind to mend. To bring it to the District Attorney and they say well our criteria is will this case result in a conviction by 12-people saying yes this person should be convicted,” explained Livingston. “If they don’t have that, they dismiss the case or deal with it for a low amount. There is some friction but our District Attorney reminded us that if we have cases we want to talk about, we need to make contact with him to reconsider. But you are right, a lot of cases do not get charged.”

Livingston was asked what made him want to become a police officer which he explained his father and brother were both police officers.

“It was an exciting opportunity, it was a good job and I got to do good things,” said Livingston. “I was proud of my father and went back to the Bay Area and looked at the premium cities and looked who was paying the most—which was Fremont. Everyone said go to Fremont. Went up to the rank of Captain and tested for Chief of Pleasant Hill and was selected, then after three-years became the Chief of Concord.”

He then highlighted how the only reason he ran for sheriff at the time he did was because his predecessor Sheriff Warren Rupf decided to retire.

Livingston was asked about sanctuary cities.

“I am against sanctuary city designations by a city, county or state. We have to have all the tools available to us to keep people safe,” said Livingston. “When we have undocumented suspects for crimes that we cannot talk to our federal partners about, it makes no sense at all in my opinion. Having said that, my own policy is won’t do immigration enforcement. My deputies do not ask immigration status and we don’t go out and arrest the bus boy in a restaurant. We don’t do any of that, we handle it when it becomes a criminal manner of a new criminal crime while that person is undocumented. To close that relationship with ICE, the FBI or DEA, hurts all of our safety. That is what Prop 54 is attempting to do, preclude any police chief, police officer, or sheriff from talking to a federal partner on an undocumented person. It’s backwards in my mind.”

When asked what the worst part of his job is, he replied “dealing with Sacramento” because he is up there at least once a week dealing with bills that impact public safety.

“It’s been a battle with this State Senate and State Assembly,” said Livingston.

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1 comment

The_Dude May 30, 2017 - 7:16 am

“accountable to the public, not a city council or city manager”

LOL

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