Amador County – The Ione City Council closed the book Tuesday on trying to compare their policing costs to a possible contract from the Amador County Sheriff, taking no action and effectively tabling the matter.

City Manager Kim Kerr said in a letter April 25th, Sheriff Martin Ryan said he cannot give the city a price quote because of policy differences between his department and what Ione wants. He said he would pursue making a cost estimate if asked to do so, and if a list of conditions were agreed to.

Ryan said 12-hour shifts (desired by Ione) violated employee agreements. He also would not give up hiring control, or staffing hour determinations. He also said it would be at least a year before he could take over city policing because he was working with the Buena Vista Flying Cloud Casino toward its opening and law enforcement.

Ryan said he would not overlap shifts unless he saw it necessary, though Ione wanted automatic overlaps. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said “that was a red flag for me because I’m not sure how they would address that if we do go back to them. I think they are flat out telling us they won’t do it.”

Councilman Dan Epperson said the Sheriff’s Department offers a “different scope of work. We need local police and a local department.” Bonham agreed, saying “they do patrol more than street beat.”

Councilman Lloyd Oneto said: “I can’t see how we can get an honest commitment from Sheriff Ryan.” He said: “I don’t think the Sheriff’s Department wants to come down here.” Kerr said that sentiment was stated in the letter’s first paragraph, and similarly stated at the Ione Police forum last March, when Ryan said the best approach to police coverage is local police departments coordinating with the Sheriff’s Department.

Mayor David Plank said comparing law enforcement costs was born from “a ballot issue that never made it to the ballot,” with a few citizens trying to get the Ione Police Department disbanded. Plank said the passion and “overwhelming support” given IPD at the forum showed that losing the Police Department is “not really desired by this community at large.”

Plank said they cannot get what they want from the Sheriff as far as police coverage by contract, and he thought they should “stop any further progress in this matter.” The City Council agreed in consensus, effectively taking no action and tabling the issue.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.