20 More Deputies to Be Added to Sheriff’s Staff in South County : Law enforcement: Board of Supervisors votes $1.6 million to add the new deputies and eight civilian officers after a yearlong debate.

After nearly a year of debate, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved spending about $1.6 million to add 20 new sheriff’s deputies and eight civilian officers to beef up law enforcement in the unincorporated area of South County.

As a result of the board’s 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Thomas F. Riley absent, Sheriff Brad Gates, who has argued for the additional deputies, will begin adding new personnel July 1.

Riley and Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez also have been pushing for the additional sheriff’s personnel since last year, but a decision on the issue had been delayed because of a county budget crunch.

“I think it is a matter of recognition,” Vasquez said. “The board realizes that we have to continuously keep looking at law enforcement patrols in the South County. Public safety is priority No. 1.”

Vasquez pointed out that this marks the first time that the Sheriff’s Department will use special civilian officers. The supervisor said these officers will, among other things, do much of the routine report taking, thus freeing sworn officers to handle priority calls in the field.

More patrol officers is only one of many issues facing the fast-growing South County. Riley and Vasquez, whose districts cover South County, have pointed out other needs, such as a courthouse, a new sheriff’s substation and social services facilities.

In addition to the deputies and civilian officers, the $1.66-million price tag includes 10 vehicles, eight radios and four flashlights. Although the supervisors had three options to choose from, they decided on the least expensive plan. The most expensive option, costing $3.7 million, called for 48 new deputies and 10 civilian officers.

“The most conservative option can be approved with funding deferred to fiscal year 1990-91,” according to a memo from Vasquez and Riley to their board colleagues. “This action will allow the sheriff to immediately recruit and train new deputies, which will greatly enhance the safety of that community. If no action is taken at this time, South County will not realize any relief until mid- to late 1991.”

Even with a population growth rate of about 18% a year, no additional sheriff’s deputies have been added to patrol South County over the last four years, according to a study by the county administrative office.

By the middle of next year, according to the CAO study, patrol deputies will receive 67,472 calls for service--more than double the number of calls made five years ago.

The department now has 122 deputies in South County operating from the South Patrol Bureau, a temporary facility next to the county courthouse in Laguna Niguel.