San Diego

Delaying a showdown with San Diego County Sheriff John Duffy, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday deferred action on a proposal to study sweeping changes in the county’s law enforcement system.

By a unanimous vote, the board sent Supervisor George Bailey’s proposal that county officials study law enforcement changes that include removing jails from Duffy’s control and contracting with cities to provide police protection in unincorporated areas to Chief Administrative Officer Norman Hickey for a preliminary review.

As part of that review, county administrators will analyze “what is legally possible and proper for us to do,” Hickey spokesman Robert Lerner said.

The board did not give Hickey a deadline, but supervisorial aides said they expect him to report back on Bailey’s proposal by early this fall.

Under Bailey’s recommendation, a two-member board panel, in conjunction with other county and state officials and community groups, would study ways to improve law enforcement throughout the county. The purpose of the study, Bailey said, is to meet the county’s changing law enforcement needs in a more economical manner.

Duffy, however, has expressed strong opposition to some of Bailey’s suggestions, and has described the supervisor’s proposed study as part of what he sees as the board’s longstanding effort to exert more control over his department.