Patrol bill not faring well

A few influential groups have moved to oppose a bill aimed at keeping harbor patrols under the control of the Orange County Sheriff. The bill has lingered on the Assembly floor for more than a week and has been slow to gather support among state lawmakers.

Both the California State Assn. of Counties and the League of California Cities have opposed Assembly Bill 2873, which would block any agency in Orange County from taking over harbor patrol duties from the sheriff’s department unless it were able to provide the same manpower and training the sheriff’s department can.

“Orange County and the city of Newport Beach are best suited to, and the most accountable in, making local public safety decision and should not be preempted by the Legislature in doing so,” states a letter from the League of California Cities to the bill’s author, Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim).

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, whose district includes Newport Beach, said he was still weighing the pros and the cons of AB 2873 and had not yet decided how he would vote.

“I could see if there was a change in responsibilities there could legitimately be a safety concern,” DeVore said. “I’m still examining the bill, hearing arguments and still listening — the fundamental question is what is the problem this bill is purporting to solve.”

The Orange County Sheriff is responsible for patrolling the water up to 3 miles from the shore, DeVore said.

“I would want to know, ‘Would a city be concerned enough to provide security 3 miles out,’” DeVore said.

County officials have continued to monitor AB 2873, but have been encouraged by opposition to the bill, said Bruce Matthias, the county’s director of the Office of Legislative Affairs.

“We feel [AB 2873] unnecessarily represents a serious restriction on local control exclusively on the County of Orange,” Matthias said. “I think it is opposed by the League of California Cities and the California State Assn. of Counties on the basis that is an imposition on local authority.”

Solorio and Assemblyman Jim Silva (R-Huntington Beach) introduced the bill. Silva moved to become a co-author of Solorio’s bill after the Huntington Beach City Council unanimously voted to support keeping Huntington Harbor under the county’s jurisdiction. The legislation is a resurrected version of failed Assembly Bill 1597, which would have required sheriffs across the state to provide harbor patrol services. The revised version of the bill would apply only to Orange County.

City and county officials say there are no specific plans for negotiating a Newport takeover of harbor patrols right now.

Tensions arose between the sheriff’s department and the city last year after the county expressed interest in making a harbor patrol swap.

Calls to Solorio’s office were not returned Monday.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Who would do a better job of patrolling the waters, the county or city? Send us an e-mail at [email protected] or leave a comment.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].