Statement from County of Monterey Board of Supervisors About Investigation within County Sheriff's Office

 

The County of Monterey Board of Supervisors has been made aware of a report that

prescription drugs, intended for the healthcare needs of inmates in the Monterey

County Jail, may have been illegally passed from a private company employee

working in the jail to an employee of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department

working at the jail.

The Board has been informed that the matter is under investigation, and that the

Sheriff’s Office took immediate action upon learning of the situation. If the allegations

prove true, the Board of Supervisors is calling upon the Sheriff to take swift and

decisive action within his legal authority and to work quickly to ensure the appropriate

actions, including disciplinary consequences, are pursued.

The Sheriff (a Constitutional Officer) has the

ultimate responsibility and ability to enforce all laws and policies within his

department as established by the Constitution of the State of California. Ultimately, the

Board of Supervisors has no authority to discipline Sheriff’s Department personnel.

The County’s Board of Supervisors has zero tolerance for such unprofessional

behavior and potentially illegal activity by any employee of the County, including

those within the Sheriff’s Department.

The Board also commends the hundreds of employees within the department who

continue to do their important work despite the stress and pressure of recent news

events. They are grateful for their continued public service.