Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department has disbanded its Problem Oriented Policing unit. The unit is gone, along with 122 deputies who were laid off in the last year amid the county's downturn in tax revenue. Sheriff John McGinness said he had no choice; the county's budget crisis has forced deep cuts. That's true, but other local law enforcement agencies are being squeezed. The...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 11/15/2009
... had no choice but to prioritize patrol over POP. "It's universally popular," Sheriff John McGinness acknowledged. To eliminate it "was a decision that was not made lightly. And it was a painful decision. Painful, yet clear." The sheriff's POP program has been in a state of flux since August, when the department laid off 122 deputies and cut the POP budget, shifting...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 11/03/2009
... a position county supervisors created three years ago to oversee the Sheriff's Department. Sheriff John McGinness said that in a perfect world he'd love to free up space for local criminals by reducing state and federal contracts. "It would be great because it would create significant bed space. But it would also take significant revenue with it," McGinness said....
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/28/2009
... spent the past year weathering criticism from the unions for his handling of the budget. Sheriff John McGinness called for Schutten's firing last spring. "It's a good opportunity for someone else to step in and move ahead for the next several years," Schutten said Tuesday. "It's sad leaving all the people I worked with for 10 years." Schutten, who is 66, acknowledged...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/27/2009
... blistering criticism from the unions and other officials for his handling of the budget. Sheriff John McGinness called for Schutten's firing last spring. "It's a good opportunity for someone else to step in and move ahead for the next several years," Schutten told The Bee this morning. "It's sad leaving all the people I worked with for 10 years." But the future...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/23/2009
An unclaimed suitcase led to two Sacramento residents being charged with credit card fraud. United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown and Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness identified the defendants as Joseph Hatfield, 27, and Jahmeelah Sullins, 22. They have been charged with conspiracy and access device fraud. Hatfield additionally was charged with possession of device-making...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/22/2009
Sacramento County sheriff's Capt. Jim Cooper, flanked by several dozen local politicos and law enforcement officials, today formally announced he will run for sheriff. Cooper's intentions to run were not secret. The day Sheriff John McGinness announced that he would not run for re-election next year, Cooper, who also is an Elk Grove city councilman, said he intended to run. Today, he...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/23/2009
Capt. Jim Cooper Sacramento County Sheriff's Capt. Jim Cooper formally announced his candidacy for sheriff Thursday, flanked by several dozen local politicos and law enforcement officials. Cooper's intentions to run were no secret. The day Sheriff John McGinness announced that he would not run for re-election in June, Cooper, who also is an Elk Grove city councilman, said he intended...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/17/2009
... state. Kessell retired from the department immediately after the FBI contacted him. Sheriff John McGinness said Kessell had been working as the department's employee relations officer, a job where he helped co-workers who suffered deaths in their families or other difficulties. McGinness described him as a bicycle enthusiast and hard worker with a pleasant personality, and...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/16/2009
... appeared to be age 8 to 10 involved in sex acts with an adult man, the documents state. Sheriff John McGinness said this morning that he knew Kessell and had liked him. "It's disappointing, it's sad," said McGinness, whose department has been buffeted by a series of high-profile problems, including the filing of charges two weeks ago against another veteran lieutenant...
