To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Position Allocation Modification for Sheriff's Office to Deallocate 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Deputy Sheriff and Allocate 1.0 FTE Deputy Coroner-Public Administrator
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the allocation of 1.0 FTE Deputy Coroner-Public Administrator (class 0445, salary range 453) in budget unit 1100-221 effective immediately; and
2. Approve the deallocation of 1.0 FTE Deputy Sheriff II (class 0416B, salary range 462) in budget unit 1100-221 effectively immediately.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100-221400)
DISCUSSION:
Over the past several years the workload of the staff assigned to the Coroner/Public Administrator's Office has significantly increased. Currently we have one Sheriff's Sergeant, one Deputy Sheriff and two Deputy Coroner's assigned, a total of four FTE's. This configuration requires the Sergeant to be on call and take a full case load, taking him/her away from their supervisory duties. This is not ideal, and we should strive to ensure our supervisory staff are placed in a position to succeed and provide the necessary oversight.
The explosion of fentanyl and related overdose deaths are a contributing factor as well as an aging population. In 2015 we completed 292 death investigations, with none of those being attributed to fentanyl. In comparison, in 2022 we took 407 death investigations with 65 being a fentanyl overdose. Since April of this year, we have taken 149 cases, 24 being a fentanyl overdose and we are projecting a total of 447 cases with 72 being related to fentanyl (53% increase from 2015 to 2023). In 2015 we completed 348 reportable death reviews and 1,449 entries into the Humboldt County Electronic Death Registry System. In 2022 we completed 541 reportable death reviews and 1,778 entries into the Humboldt County Electronic Death Registry...
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