Public Safety 2023: Kern County’s Achievements and Plans for 2024
As your Second District supervisor, your safety is my top priority. I’m pleased to share some of what we at the county accomplished in 2023, and what to expect in 2024.
To address chronic vacancies in the Sheriff’s Department, the Board of Supervisors approved significant pay increases for sheriff’s deputies. This move has resulted in a record number of new recruits in our academies, and we have successfully recruited over a dozen deputies from other law enforcement organizations.
In 2024, the board has authorized the addition of 25 new detention deputy positions. These added positions will help the sheriff deploy more deputies from the jails and into front-line law enforcement positions. In addition, the board plans to expand the capacity of our jails to ensure convicted criminals remain locked up and away from our communities.
In a bid to bolster our firefighting capabilities, the board approved a new contract with Kern County firefighters. This contract aims to improve retention rates, enhance search and rescue operations, and prioritize safety in the industrial energy sector.
Furthermore, the county has introduced two new initiatives: the firefighter-paramedic “Safety Squads” and non-firefighter “Medical Units.” These units focus on delivering life-saving medical services quickly to residents while preserving our firefighting equipment and crews for appropriate emergency responses.
Investments have also been made in public safety infrastructure. This includes the construction of a new 100,000-plus-square-foot Sheriff’s Department complex. Additionally, the county has acquired two state-of-the-art helicopters for the Sheriff’s Department, which are already in service. These helicopters will significantly boost our crime prevention efforts, combat illegal cannabis grows, and facilitate efficient search and rescue operations. Moreover, a new helicopter for the Fire Department is on its way to strengthen our ability to protect mountain communities, fight wildfires, and aid in search and rescue operations.
The Board of Supervisors has allocated funds for 26 new fire engines, replacing outdated equipment in stations across the county. To ensure reliable communication for all first responders, a $157 million contract has been awarded to replace the countywide emergency telecommunications network. This network is crucial for maintaining connectivity among first responders from city, county, state, and federal agencies.
In District 2, specific public safety investments are underway. Plans are being finalized for a new sheriff substation in Rosamond, negotiations are ongoing for the acquisition of a new sheriff substation in Taft, and construction is in progress for a new fire station in Hart Flat. The county is also working to expand animal control services, with the design of a new facility in the Bakersfield metro area that will serve the entire county. Furthermore, efforts are being made to reinstate an animal control facility in Mojave to better serve our eastern communities.
These measures represent just a fraction of the board’s commitment to enhancing the safety of all Kern County residents and ensuring a brighter, safer future for everyone.
Analyst comment
Positive news. The market is expected to experience growth due to increased hiring and expansion of public safety infrastructure, which will improve law enforcement capabilities, emergency response, and overall safety in the county.
