Sacramento County Public Safety Digest

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to make prisons a friendlier place for inmate families. An updated strip-search policy has some worried that families will face intrusive encounters during their visits.

Two recent reports on sexual harassment complaints filed against Cal State employees conclude inconsistent data collection makes it difficult to determine a reliable number.

The Biden administration’s app rule makes it harder for migrants to assert a right to asylum, advocates say. Lawsuits are sparking debate about immigration control, safety.

Caldor Fire survivors are taking on the federal government, claiming the U.S. Forest Service failed to protect Grizzly Flats when the Caldor Fire ignited in August of 2021 and destroyed more than 400 of the 600 homes in the mountain community.

About 925 alcohol-involved car wrecks occurred in Sacramento County last year, and about 975 occurred in 2021. About 60 people died in crashes during each of the last two years, up from an average of around 50 the eight years before.

There’s a possible rise of four invasive animals in California—another consequence from downpours last winter and spring. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services warned about a potential population surge due to storm-related flooding.

Luis Yauri Oyola hopes one day to buy a tractor to start a business in Peru; he estimates that he is six years away from that goal, for which he will have spent more than a decade of his life living thousands of miles away from his family. He is on call 24/7 and doesn’t leave the job site except for necessities.

As nights warm and droughts intensify, past models predicting fire behavior have become unreliable. So California is working with analysts and tapping into new technology to figure out how to attack wildfires. Gleaned from military satellites, drones and infrared mapping, the information is spat out in real time and triaged by a fire behavior analyst.

The number of reported hate crimes increased 22 percent in California in 2021. Following a model from Los Angeles County, state leaders launched a statewide hotline and resources.

Fire agencies across the capital region were kept busy tending to fires and injuries as Sacramento-area residents celebrated Independence Day. The Sacramento Bee compiled data from several fire authorities to determine which areas were most affected.

After several years of devastating wildfires, California lawmakers want to give hefty raises to Cal Fire firefighters. The deal could tie the governor’s hands in contracts.

Place County’s first West Nile virus cases of 2023 were detected in Roseville in a sample of dead mosquitoes and a dead bird, the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District said.

With summer beginning, parents may be asking how old a child must be to stay home alone. Laws in the Golden State are relaxed compared to some states, but the Sacramento Bee reports that parental experts suggest assessing a child’s comfort level and maturity.

The State of California will provide new protections for prescribed fire and cultural burning practitioners. The $20 million allocated for the Prescribed Fire Liability Claims Fund Pilot will cover losses in the rare instance that a prescribed or cultural burn escapes control.

After California’s largest home insurance provider said it wouldn’t issue new policies, consumer and insurance industry groups have ideas for what they’d like to see California do. Here’s how the debate over four of those ideas shakes out.

Californians accused of crimes spend an average of five days waiting to see a lawyer. Shortening that time can help them keep their jobs, and spend less time in jail.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Montana ruled the U.S. Forest Service can continue to use aerial fire retardant to fight wildfires while waiting on a Clean Water Act permit.

In May, a video featured a young woman named Brooklyn imploring viewers to tell the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation about the importance of EarnIn, part of a relatively new app-based industry that provides cash advances to people based on their wages.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice started assisting the Environmental Protection Agency’s investigation this week.

The Galt Police Department is now home to its first female sergeant in over 40 years. Rachelle Hansen has been with the agency for nine years and has now been promoted to this position.

After unanimously clearing the Senate, a bill expanding first responders' access to workers’ comp for PTSD moves to the Assembly.

The Cosumnes Community Service District will have a new manager. Phil Lewis is slated to start managing the Cosumnes Fire Department and Elk Grove Parks and Recreation on May 16.

The California Highway Patrol recently celebrated the graduation of nine new canine teams. They will be assigned positions all throughout the state of California.

The U.S. Federal District Court of Montana heard oral arguments April 17 for the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics’ lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service for the service’s discharging of fire retardant into national waters.

Driftwood, which can be damaging to watercraft, has compiled in the north and south forks of the American River and is now flowing into Folsom Lake.

An array of public servants in Sacramento say that they’re not giving up on a vision of a vibrant Downtown being core to Sacramento’s identity. Lately, their efforts have coalesced around a specific longtime employee who’s in a new role since the mass shooting last April.

California State Parks are inviting aspiring rangers and lifeguards to take an exam to become a peace officer cadet. Applicants may apply through June 10 and must be 21 or older, a licensed driver, and have at least 60 college credits.

With the intent of reducing congestion and increasing safety, the city of Elk Grove is starting a $12.6 million project that will upgrade and enhance traffic signals. The improvements are expected to be complete by 2025.

The city of Citrus Heights will be looking into funding and staffing of a school resource officer at both Mesa Verde and San Juan high schools, following a request by Vice Mayor Bret Daniels.

On March 27. the Galt City Council reviewed a proposal for safety improvements to Carillion Boulevard,, which included road lane repainting and considerations of pedestrians.

The Galt Police Department has released its 2022 annual report, which shows that the total number of incidents needing response was about 10% higher than in 2021. The chief also celebrated the support that the department received from the city,

For most Californians, the sight of aircraft spewing neon pink liquid over flaming trees and brush has become a hallmark of aggressive wildfire suppression campaigns. But some forest advocates say the substance does more harm than good. A federal lawsuit could reshape how the U.S. Forest Service battles wildfires throughout the western United States.