Sheriff Unveils Restructuring Plan

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca on Wednesday unveiled a 30-year reorganization plan for his department that includes building five new station houses and adding a civilian administrator to his executive staff.

While most of his proposals have been under consideration since he was elected two years ago, the sheriff said he now has a better plan for implementing them. Many proposals, in fact, are already underway.

Several factors stand in the way of his plans, however, including an estimated $1-billion price tag. Also, he would need county voters to approve a charter amendment to increase the size of his top staff.

In a letter to the Board of Supervisors, Baca said Wednesday that he wants to hire two additional assistant sheriffs as well as four additional division chiefs. The civilian administrator would be an assistant sheriff overseeing the training and technology divisions and the office of administrative services.

“I need more than just a law enforcement mind-set,” Baca said at a news conference. “We have civilians who’ve seen the system from top to bottom. I have people who run a business, in effect. They’re more prepared . . . than a deputy,” whose career has been in patrol.

Baca, who has another two years in his term, proposed that supervisors approve a ballot measure for the March 2002 general election. It remains unclear whether the sheriff has the political support for such a move.

“The public would have to understand its purpose,” said Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. “The cost of one assistant sheriff probably produces three patrolmen. Traditionally that’s how these discussions are shaped.”

The other aspects of his plan--covering facilities, personnel and fiscal responsibility--sound intriguing to supervisors and their aides, but they say the sheriff will need to provide more specifics. He also will need to be flexible about funding, they said.

“As I’ve always said about this and other departments, if this is important, which positions can you give up to get it?” Yaroslavsky said. “They do have some maneuvering room without having to dip into the county’s general fund.”

But Baca said he is looking at a variety of funding sources for aspects of his plan. A proposed transitional housing shelter in Bell for homeless people just released from jail, for example, would be paid for with state aid and other funds.

“Money is going to be a factor,” Baca said, adding that the department will look to the state and federal governments for funds and grants.

“We’re really into a new dynamic of how we do business,” Baca said.

Among the sheriff’s plans:

* Building new stations in Compton, Lennox, Palmdale, San Dimas and Altadena.

* Hiring more civilians.

* Refurbishing the Hall of Justice for Baca’s administrative headquarters and the Sybil Brand jail.

* Expanding educational and other correctional programs in the jails.

“We are not risk takers,” Baca said. “This is not about taking risk. This is about practical, common sense ideas to meet the needs . . . of the community.”

Some critics were cynical, suggesting that the sheriff is positioning himself for his next campaign.

But Baca’s top commanders who are working on the proposals said the sheriff is trying to finally implement the department’s one-year strategic plans.

“It’s ridiculous to have a plan year after year,” said Chief Taylor Moorehead, who is overseeing the reorganization effort. “There is an urgency now. We have the right time, the right sheriff, the right opportunity to make changes the department needs over 30 years.”