Hello 2UrbanGirls,
I am a probation officer. As I listened to the BOS meeting on 5/14/2024 there was a lot which was NOT said.
It would be great if you actually spoke to the people who actually do the job instead of our leaders who are not in touch with what we do.
The County specs for Detention Services Officers (DSOs) states: (s)he shall gain and maintain control of the unit. Probation has taken away the tools of the DSO and expect the DSO to function.
The minors/adults in our care have NO CONSEQUENCES! They can do as they please whenever they want to.
The Board of Supervisors applauded Chief Probation Officer Guillermo Viera Rosa for placing 66 officers on leave. I agree that they should be reprimanded for their actions, however, we have approximately 2,900 dedicated officers who do the right thing on a daily basis.
The minors/adults DESTROY County property, attack Mental Health professionals, Teachers, and probation officers. One female probation officer was packed out by 6 female minors who beat her with their used tampons.
When Los Padrinos reopened County workers had painted the gym. Within a week it was completely filled with graffiti.
I heard the Chief say that Supervisors, Directors and Bureau Chiefs were at Los Padrinos. That statement is PARTIALLY true. These people were at the facility but NOT in the unit. Probation totally focused on being IN COMPLIANCE with BSCC.
The ONLY reason the department fought so hard to be in compliance was to continually get the MONEY. You can NOT remove 202 Field Officers and assume there will be no affect..
Probationers went to Probation offices which were CLOSED. Probationers are NOT being supervised.
If a woman is being stalked the police department refers them to their probation officer who can not be contacted because they have been assigned to juvenile hall. This is true for housing and probationers to get mental heath or medical referrals.
The Probation Department does not have trouble hiring good people. Probation has a problem retaining good people.
A cadet goes through 11 weeks of training before they report to their assignment. When they arrive at juvenile hall the minors/adults immediately attack them. They know they are new because of their fresh uniforms.
It is common for probation officers to be spit on, attacked and called out of their names. Chances are the new cadet is about 24 years old, living at home and has obtained a Bachelor’s degree. The cadet feels betrayed because his commanding officers are telling him that the minors/adults behavior is OK! I don’t understand why minors and adults are housed in the same unit.
We just had an incident where an adult male and minor male slept in the same room (against policy). The minor was afraid to tell what happened.
When our Chief does not communicate his plan we tend to believe the NEGATIVE. He could do a video, hold a town hall meeting, or hold a teams meeting. The only time we hear from him is about discipline for an officer.
By the minors having NO CONSEQUENCES we are setting them up for failure. They have no respect for the law. When they leave juvenile hall and return to the community they will confront Sheriff Department deputies who will KILL them for attempting to attack them as they have done with probation officers.
The Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) and County agencies BOAST about providing programming and services. NO programming and services can be delivered without order.
Los Padrinos is NOT SAFE!
I have not heard ONE CBO or County agency request to HOUSE the children – INTERESTING!
The probation officers have (3) concerns when they report to work.
- #1 Will I be safe?
- #2 Will I be reprimanded for doing my job? Meaning will I be INTERROGATED about every word, tone and action I took to maintain order in the unit.
- #3 Will I be held over to do another 8 hours WITHOUT proper meal or bathroom breaks?
As officers we have NO CHOICE but to call out. Each request is DENIED. The response is “THE NEEDS OF THE INSTITUTION”.
We are OVERWORKED AND OVERWHELMED. We go from day to day wondering what will happen next. We wonder which fellow officer will be ATTACKED next. NOT if but WHEN.
Let’s talk about the BUDGET. The population has decreased SIGNIFICANTLY – while the budget has INCREASED significantly!
AGAIN, when there are NO CONSEQUENCES there is CHAOS.
Here are some questions that need answers:
- Why are cadets IMMEDIATELY quitting?
- Why is there MASS RETIRING by veteran staff?
- Why is Probation NOT addressing the ROOT PROBLEM – NO CONSEQUENCES for minors?
- Why is Mental Health afraid to see the minors/adults?
- Why is there NO REHABILITATION? We are HOUSING the minors.
- Why are teachers being attacked in the classroom?
- Why do we have (24) minors in a camp with over 5 ACRES?
When Supervisor Hilda Solis visited Los Padrinos she was sent on an orchestrated GUIDED TOUR.
The Chief says he needs (2) years to execute his PLAN – the Chief will be collecting his PENSION in (2) years – what a JOKE!
Another BUDGET item will be the pending LAWSUITS for discrimination, retaliation and ADA violations.
The board said there is “A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN”. My question is, at what COST?
Deputy Probation Officer II, field deputy now at home
