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For the past six years, the Sheriff’s Department has hired a consultant and pollster to conduct opinion surveys of law enforcement agencies, judges and the general public. About $700,000 was paid to Scott Bryant & Associates for consulting and polling services. The Board of Supervisors is being asked to spend an additional $396,000 for a 3-year extension of the contract.
I believe that some of the information gathered has little apparent value, and simply restates the obvious. Questions include:
- How important is investigating and solving serious crimes?
- How important is it to respond promptly to 911 calls?
- How important is it to address illegal gang activity?
Not surprisingly, 96-100% of those responding thought it was “Extremely” to “Very Important” to solve crimes, respond to emergencies and control dangerous gangs.
Respondents were broken down by race, gender and city served. Responses among all groups were virtually identical. There were no significant changes over the past 6 years, nor is there any reason to believe future poll results would be any different.
One questioned garnered particular scrutiny—and confusion. The copy provided the Board stated “Thinking of the Orange County Sheriff, what is your impression?” However, the pollster has said the question was actually about the department.
In advance of the meeting, I called Sheriff Carona with my concerns and also spoke at length with Scott Bryant. Yet the proposed survey questions remain identical to what they’ve been for the past 6 years.
At our July 25 meeting, the Board of Supervisors was asked to reauthorize the polling contract for an additional 3 years, at a cost of $396,000. The Board was split 2-2 (with Campbell absent), with Supervisor Correa and myself in opposition.
In a subsequent Register interview, Sheriff Carona lashed out at my concerns. “The silly part of this is we spent more staff time trying to educate Mr. Norby, and clearly he’s incapable of being educated” Carona told reporter Norberto Santana. “The only waste of taxpayer dollars is the time that we have had to listen to Mr. Norby debate this.”
These statements reflect a lack of understanding of the role of supervisors. It is our duty to debate issues. Listening to the Sheriff or his staff does not obligate us to agree with them. Supervisors are not rubber stamps, but guardians of the public purse.
My office has been flooded with emails and phone calls supporting my position. It will be considered again by the Board at our August 1st meeting.
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