O.C. Marshal’s Office Reorganization OKd

The Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to streamline the Orange County marshal’s office, a reorganization that officials said would save $834,000 a year.

Marshal Michael S. Carona told supervisors the plan would improve the efficiency of his department, which has 456 employees who provide security for the county’s five courthouses and serve warrants and eviction notices.

The changes will eliminate nine jobs and reshuffle 12 other positions. The plan also trims salary costs by filling some posts with civilians or court services officers, who have less training and lower salaries than full-fledged peace officers.

Carona said the reorganization will save money and allow resources to be used more efficiently. “It just seemed to us that there was a better way to do business,” he said.

A county administrative office 1986 study of the marshal’s office found the agency to be mismanaged and understaffed, an assessment Carona said he found true when he took over the department in 1987.

Some changes were made and, in 1992, an outside adviser was brought in to suggest further improvements.

Under the plan approved Tuesday, four of the 13 security officer posts in Superior Court and Central Municipal Court in Santa Ana will be eliminated. The change will occur when a new electronic security system is installed in the courthouse, Marshal’s Capt. Don Spears said.

The system, which will include video equipment along with door and window alarms, will be installed in coming months. The system is intended to enhance after-hours security but will also allow the marshal’s office to scale back the number of officers needed for night and weekend building patrols, Spears said.

Additional money will be saved by shifting administrative duties away from high-ranking peace officers to civilians and officers of lower rank, said Gloria Gunton, an administrative manager. The plan also calls for putting court services officers on bailiff duty in courtrooms where civil matters are handled.