COVID-19

SEVERAL LASD EMPLOYEES CAME IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.  WHAT’S THE LATEST?

• WE HAVE PERSONNEL FROM WALNUT/DIAMOND BAR, SANTA CLARITA VALLEY AND MALIBU/LOST HILLS STATIONS, AND THE TRANSIT SERVICES BUREAU, WHO WERE EITHER EXPOSED OR POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS WHILE ON-DUTY.  ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ASYMPTOMATIC, IT WAS OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION THEY WERE SENT HOME TO SELF-QUARANTINE AND SELF-MONITOR, AS OUTLINED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. 

• AS OF TODAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 17^TH, 2020, THERE ARE 43 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SELF-QUARANTINED; 21 OF THEM ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ON-DUTY; SEVEN OF THE 21 TESTED RETURNED WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS AND WENT BACK TO WORK; 14 DID NOT FIT THE CRITERIA TO BE TESTED; THREE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH A CONFIRMED COVID-19 PATIENT.  OF THE THREE DEPUTIES, TWO RETURNED TO WORK AFTER TESTING NEGATIVE AND ONE TEST IS PENDING. 

• 22 OF THE 43 EMPLOYEES ARE SELF-QUARANTINED.  OF THESE 22 PEOPLE, 15 ARE SWORN AND SEVEN ARE NON-SWORN.

• WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS TO ASSESS IF COVID-19 TESTING OF DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL IS REQUIRED.  IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE MONITORING PERSONNEL FOR SYMPTOMS AND ENCOURAGING STAFF TO WEAR THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WE ISSUED AND TO STAY HOME IF THEY FEEL ILL.

• AS THE COVID-19 VIRUS PROGRESSES, THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE MORE AND MORE EXPOSURE, ON AND OFF DUTY.  MANY PERSONNEL ON OUR DEPARTMENT ARE MARRIED TO OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO ARE ALSO AT RISK OF EXPOSURE.  WHEN THEY COME HOME, THEY TAKE THEIR WORK WITH THEM, SO TO SPEAK. 

• CERTAINLY, WE CARE ABOUT THE PUBLIC WE SERVE AND WANT TO PROVIDE THE MOST PROFESSIONAL SERVICE WE CAN.  PART OF THIS IS ENSURING THAT WE NOT ONLY REMAIN HEALTHY, BUT THAT WE DON’T PRESENT A RISK OF CARRYING AN EXPOSURE, FROM ONE SERVICE CALL TO THE NEXT, OR BRING IT HOME. 

• WE ASK THAT IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A NON-EMERGENT POLICE REPORT, VISIT OUR LASD.ORG WEBSITE (http://shq.lasdnews.net/shq/SORTS/sorts_intro.aspx) AND FIRST DETERMINE IF YOUR INCIDENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR FILING ONLINE.  YOU CAN ALSO CALL YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO REPORTING NON-EMERGENT INCIDENTS, SUCH AS LOST OR STOLEN PROPERTIES, AND THEFTS OR VANDALISMS UNDER CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

• IF YOU HAVE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CHILD CUSTODY EXCHANGES OR ARE OBLIGATED TO VISIT FOR A COMPLIANCE CHECK-IN, CALL AHEAD OF TIME, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS, FEVER OR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, SO DEPUTIES CAN TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

• AND OF COURSE, IF THERE IS A SITUATION IN WHICH A LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE IS NEEDED TO IMMEDIATELY PROTECT LIFE, SAFETY OR PROPERTY, CALL 9-1-1.  IF THERE IS SOMEONE AT THE LOCATION OR AN INVOLVED PARTY WHO IS EITHER DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 VIRUS OR DISPLAYING SIGNS OF IT, PLEASE TELL THE DISPATCHER AT THE TIME OF YOUR CALL.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CUT THE JAIL POPULATION TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS?

• THE HEALTH OF OUR CUSTODY ENVIRONMENT IS CERTAINLY VULNERABLE TO WHAT COMES INTO IT, AND IS DEFINITELY ONE WE HAVE TO VIGILANTLY PROTECT.

• LA SHERIFF ALEX VILLANUEVA RAISED THE AGGREGATE BAIL AMOUNT FOR BOOKING INMATES FROM $25,000 TO $50,000, WHICH ALLOWS MORE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE CITATIONS, RATHER THAN GET BOOKED INTO CUSTODY.  THIS REDUCES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENTERING OUR JAIL FACILITIES, THEREFORE REDUCING THE CHANCES OF VIRUS BEING INTRODUCED INTO THAT ENVIRONMENT.

• OUT OF THE 16,459 INMATES IN YESTERDAY’S MORNING COUNT, THERE WERE ZERO CONFIRMED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS.  NINE INMATES ARE IN ISOLATION HOUSING, 21 INMATES ARE IN QUARANTINE AT MEN’S CENTRAL JAIL, AND FIVE INMATES ARE IN QUARANTINE AT TWIN TOWERS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

• WE INCREASED THE STRINGENCY OF OUR SCREENING PROCEDURES AND ARE DOING TEMPERATURE SCANNING OF EVERYONE WHO ENTERS OUR CUSTODY FACILITIES TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE WHO IS POTENTIALLY INFECTED DOES NOT EXPOSE THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

• PUBLIC VISITING WAS SUSPENDED, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT OUR JAIL FACILITIES, AND THEREFORE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES OF THE VIRUS TO BE INTRODUCED.

WHAT ABOUT PANIC-BUYING?  HOW IS THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT WORKING TO KEEP THINGS UNDER CONTROL AT LOCAL GROCERY STORES?

• ALL PATROL STATIONS AND FRONT LINE COMMAND WILL REMAIN OPEN AND OPERATIONAL. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO MAINTAIN OUR PRIMARY MISSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE MAINTAINING ORDER, AND ASSISTING THE PUBLIC, AS NEEDED.  THIS INCLUDES REMAINING OPEN FOR BUSINESS 24 HOURS A DAY.

• STAFF VACATIONS WERE CANCELLED THROUGH THE END OF APRIL, TO ENSURE MORE PERSONNEL ARE ON-HAND, AND THOSE WORKING NON-ESSENTIAL ASSIGNMENTS CAN BE TEMPORARILY MOVED TO CUSTODY OR PATROL ASSIGNMENTS TO OFFSET AND AUGMENT MANPOWER SHORTAGES. 

• WE INCREASED OUR PRESENCE IN THE FIELD BY DEPLOYING THOSE NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL FROM OUR DETECTIVE BUREAU TO VARIOUS PATROL STATIONS.  THIS IS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN GROCERY STORES, COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSES AND SHOPPING CENTERS; THE MERE PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD BE A DETERRENT OF CRIME, AND WE WANT STAFF THERE, JUST IN CASE THERE IS SOME SORT OF CONFLICT.

• THESE TYPES OF SUPPLEMENTAL DEPLOYMENTS ASSIST WITH INCIDENTS RELATED TO PANIC-BUYING, WHILE ENSURING A STEADY COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.   IT ALSO ENSURES THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.  THESE DEPLOYMENTS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL I DEEM THEM UNNECESSARY.

• IF EVERYONE REMAINS CIVIL, COMPOSED AND CALM, SHOPPING FOR EVERYDAY ITEMS CAN BE SUSTAINABLE.

HOW MANY INMATES WERE IN TODAY’S (TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020) COUNT?

• 16,427

HOW MANY INMATES WERE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19?

• *ZERO.  LA COUNTY JAILS HAVE NO CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID- 19.

HOW MANY INMATES ARE IN ISOLATION HOUSING AND AT WHICH FACILITIES?

• 10 HOUSED AT THE CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT CENTER (CTC) AT TWIN TOWERS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

Below are the LASD educational programs that are continuing.  Some of our programs have been cancelled at the direction of our educational providers

CTE stands for Career Technical Education. 

South – CTE, Life Skills, and College of the Canyons continuing– no high school classes

NCCF – CTE, Life Skills and College of the Canyons continuing – no high school classes

North – Life Skills continuing– no high school

MCJ – CTE only – no high school

CRDF – Gender Responsive classes continuing – no high school

TTCF – no classes