PRIORITIES

Emergency Operations and Responses

Preparedness to respond to acts of terrorism or sabotage, natural disasters, and major accidents are primary responsibilities of Public Safety agencies. Lonnie has just participated in the formation of a Public Safety Unified Operations Task Force for Monterey County. This Task Force will bring Law Enforcement, Fire Service, Emergency Medical Services, the Office of Emergency Services, and Emergency Communications together for coordinated operations when responding to emergency situations. The best service will be provided through such a collaborative and coordinated Public Safety response.

Aggressive Recruitment and Retention Policies

For any organization to be effective and efficient, it must be fully staffed with well qualified and well trained personnel, but currently there is a nationwide shortage of applicants. Lonnie is committed to seeing that pay and benefits keep the Monterey County Sheriff's Department a competitive and desirable place to establish a career, and that management practices that stress duty, honor, integrity, and public service make it a place to be proud to stay. We must maintain staffing in order to assure levels of service which address the safety and needs of the citizens of Monterey County.

Community Outreach Programs

Monterey County is a very diverse area, with specific needs for the many communities we serve. The Business Community, the Agricultural Community, Cultural and Ethnic Communities, and the growing number of retired and elderly citizens in our communities all have particular needs and issues that need to be addressed. Public meetings and forums, as well as personal contact and conversations will make sure that we listen to citizens and community groups to understand what is important to their quality of life.

Drug and Gang Diversion Programs

While apprehension, conviction, and incarceration of criminals is basic to law enforcement and criminal justice, our best hope of making a real change in our society is to get our children headed in the right direction. Programs focusing on mentors and role models are needed in order to break the chain of drug, gang, and violent lifestyles that have kept continuing generations in cycles of jail and prison. Lonnie supports mentor and role model programs, and wants to enlist local people who can help make a positive difference to the youth in our communities. The DARE Program, Explorer Scouts, School Resource Officers, Cadets, the Juvenile Impact Program, Rancho Natividad, the Youth Sports Program, and school safety programs will have high priority.

Alisal High School graduate, professional boxer Jose Celaya frequents and works out at the Sheriff's Department's Neutral Corner Gym. Jose is a positive role model to the young people participating in the Youth Sports Program. Jose presented two scholarships for academic achievement at the June 2001 Alisal High graduation, where he had graduated just one year earlier, and where Lonnie graduated in 1967.

North Salinas High School graduate, Olympic Gold and Silver medalist Alvin Harrison came out to a 5K and 10K run fund raiser for Lonnie Heffington for Sheriff, because he knows Lonnie is committed to programs that have a positive impact in the lives of the youth in our community.

Volunteer Organizations and Programs

One of our greatest resources are citizens who care, and who want to volunteer their time, energy, and talents to help our community in a variety of ways. Lonnie supports all of the Sheriff's Department's volunteer organizations and programs, and he will work to give them maximum support for their operations. He recognizes the tremendous contribution that volunteer groups have made, and the importance of community partnerships that will increase volunteerism.