“Cops” Proposed for Yolo County Law Enforcement

(Cue up “Cops” theme song)

It seems like sometimes the best stories are the ones that are almost accidental. I was at the Yolo County Board of Supervisor’s Meeting yesterday for the Medical Marijuana issue and a “Cops” episode broke out.

Actually is was an agenda item that proposed a reality television show to follow around the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office and chronicle their every moves–or at least all of their positive moves.

Scott Hervey from Weintraub was the person handling the arrangements.

The entire idea provoked considerable concern from members of the County Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Hervey in addition to Sheriff Ed Prieto and District Attorney Jeff Reisig asserted repeatedly that this will not portray Yolo County law enforcement in a negative light. Moreover the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office has complete control over content and can prevent any information from coming forth that is negative or reflects negatively on the department or the county. Repeatedly they mentioned this will cast the department only in a positive light.

Supervisor Matt Rexroad had some concerns. He did not want this to portray the county in any sort of negative light. “I do not want this to turn into Reno 911.” He said he would feel more comfortable with county counsel having veto rights to content written into the contract.

Mr. Hervey stopped short of that guarantee in the contract but did try to alleviate that concern.

Supervisor Thomson was concerned that the public defender was not represented in this negotiation process. At least 20 percent of prison population is severely mentally ill. Who will sign for them? Will their rights be properly represented. Also, concerned with confidentiality issues. What happens if this impacts some trial in court negatively? She said she was not interested in sensationalism, but rather she was interested in telling the real story. But that’s exactly the problem, the real story is often boring and sometimes casts things negatively.

In the most humorous moment of the proceedings, Supervisor Duane Chamberlain referred to District Attorney Reisig and Sheriff Ed Prieto as “Rocky and Bullwinkle.”

All joking aside, the Board of Supervisors seemed very uncomfortable at least at this point with the proposal and the lack of information that they had on this prior to it coming before them.

My concern is that here we have a system that has numerous very serious complaints and lawsuits against it and it is going to be portrayed in a very sanitized version to the public. The Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s office gets full editorial control? That’s not information, that’s propaganda. The ugly sides of the operations will never make the air but we will see the Sheriff’s Deputy walking the old lady across the street, so to speak.

This does not seem to serve the public’s interest whatsoever. The only way this is going to sell is if there is something entertaining and sensational about it. So if that’s not going to be about the Sheriff’s themselves, it has to be about someone? Some poor mentally disabled person who acts crazy? Is that what entertainment has come down to?

This seems a very inappropriate endeavor for our county and hopefully it is ultimately rejected by our elected official.

I like “Cops” as much as the next person, but sanitizing law enforcement does no one any good.

—Doug Paul Davis reporting

Author

  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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Categories:

Court Watch

68 comments

  1. Duane Chamberlain has it right: its a new version of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show!

    With all the problems catalogued on this blog regarding needless and unnecessary arrests and prosecutions by both local police agencies and the district attorney’s office it is unseemly to have the two top law enforcement leaders in the county spending their precious time on such nonsense. Why don’t they prioritize improving their respective departments by working to prevent their personnel from being involved in cases such as the Khalid Berny Case where both the sheriff and DA participated in a frivolous arrest and prosecution wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars? You add in the Buzayan Case and then Bernita Toney’s Case and untold others—this is where their efforts should be focused on–improving their department’s real work, not public relation gimmicks.

    The best way to improve one’s public relations is to do a good and lawful job. Right now in Yolo County we have serious judgment problems facing law enforcement which Prieto and Reisig do not seem to want to face other than to bring in Hollywood producers to enhance their own propaganda efforts.

  2. Duane Chamberlain has it right: its a new version of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show!

    With all the problems catalogued on this blog regarding needless and unnecessary arrests and prosecutions by both local police agencies and the district attorney’s office it is unseemly to have the two top law enforcement leaders in the county spending their precious time on such nonsense. Why don’t they prioritize improving their respective departments by working to prevent their personnel from being involved in cases such as the Khalid Berny Case where both the sheriff and DA participated in a frivolous arrest and prosecution wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars? You add in the Buzayan Case and then Bernita Toney’s Case and untold others—this is where their efforts should be focused on–improving their department’s real work, not public relation gimmicks.

    The best way to improve one’s public relations is to do a good and lawful job. Right now in Yolo County we have serious judgment problems facing law enforcement which Prieto and Reisig do not seem to want to face other than to bring in Hollywood producers to enhance their own propaganda efforts.

  3. Duane Chamberlain has it right: its a new version of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show!

    With all the problems catalogued on this blog regarding needless and unnecessary arrests and prosecutions by both local police agencies and the district attorney’s office it is unseemly to have the two top law enforcement leaders in the county spending their precious time on such nonsense. Why don’t they prioritize improving their respective departments by working to prevent their personnel from being involved in cases such as the Khalid Berny Case where both the sheriff and DA participated in a frivolous arrest and prosecution wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars? You add in the Buzayan Case and then Bernita Toney’s Case and untold others—this is where their efforts should be focused on–improving their department’s real work, not public relation gimmicks.

    The best way to improve one’s public relations is to do a good and lawful job. Right now in Yolo County we have serious judgment problems facing law enforcement which Prieto and Reisig do not seem to want to face other than to bring in Hollywood producers to enhance their own propaganda efforts.

  4. Duane Chamberlain has it right: its a new version of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show!

    With all the problems catalogued on this blog regarding needless and unnecessary arrests and prosecutions by both local police agencies and the district attorney’s office it is unseemly to have the two top law enforcement leaders in the county spending their precious time on such nonsense. Why don’t they prioritize improving their respective departments by working to prevent their personnel from being involved in cases such as the Khalid Berny Case where both the sheriff and DA participated in a frivolous arrest and prosecution wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars? You add in the Buzayan Case and then Bernita Toney’s Case and untold others—this is where their efforts should be focused on–improving their department’s real work, not public relation gimmicks.

    The best way to improve one’s public relations is to do a good and lawful job. Right now in Yolo County we have serious judgment problems facing law enforcement which Prieto and Reisig do not seem to want to face other than to bring in Hollywood producers to enhance their own propaganda efforts.

  5. Our newly elected Yolo DA Reisig appears to have the uncanny ability to “step in IT” repeatedly, without missing a beat. Propaganda instead of reform.. what an embarrassment to us all.

  6. Our newly elected Yolo DA Reisig appears to have the uncanny ability to “step in IT” repeatedly, without missing a beat. Propaganda instead of reform.. what an embarrassment to us all.

  7. Our newly elected Yolo DA Reisig appears to have the uncanny ability to “step in IT” repeatedly, without missing a beat. Propaganda instead of reform.. what an embarrassment to us all.

  8. Our newly elected Yolo DA Reisig appears to have the uncanny ability to “step in IT” repeatedly, without missing a beat. Propaganda instead of reform.. what an embarrassment to us all.

  9. Dude, we need the film makers man. They need to film us when they are taking are weed ilegally man. Let our stories be told dude. 420 we need to stick together man. If we get on tape it will show they are violating state law man, then we got them……I out

  10. Dude, we need the film makers man. They need to film us when they are taking are weed ilegally man. Let our stories be told dude. 420 we need to stick together man. If we get on tape it will show they are violating state law man, then we got them……I out

  11. Dude, we need the film makers man. They need to film us when they are taking are weed ilegally man. Let our stories be told dude. 420 we need to stick together man. If we get on tape it will show they are violating state law man, then we got them……I out

  12. Dude, we need the film makers man. They need to film us when they are taking are weed ilegally man. Let our stories be told dude. 420 we need to stick together man. If we get on tape it will show they are violating state law man, then we got them……I out

  13. Talk about unprofessionalism at the county level!

    Do you think they will show Sheriff Prieto spending money on items that he should have not spent them on (recall the grand jury report on the Sheriff from a couple of years ago revealing that he used departmental fund to buy his wife flowers)?

    Do you think they will show Reisig and deputy D.A.s who are prosecuting each and every case before them no matter how small?

    This is just a media gig designed to make them look like stars.

    They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up.

  14. Talk about unprofessionalism at the county level!

    Do you think they will show Sheriff Prieto spending money on items that he should have not spent them on (recall the grand jury report on the Sheriff from a couple of years ago revealing that he used departmental fund to buy his wife flowers)?

    Do you think they will show Reisig and deputy D.A.s who are prosecuting each and every case before them no matter how small?

    This is just a media gig designed to make them look like stars.

    They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up.

  15. Talk about unprofessionalism at the county level!

    Do you think they will show Sheriff Prieto spending money on items that he should have not spent them on (recall the grand jury report on the Sheriff from a couple of years ago revealing that he used departmental fund to buy his wife flowers)?

    Do you think they will show Reisig and deputy D.A.s who are prosecuting each and every case before them no matter how small?

    This is just a media gig designed to make them look like stars.

    They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up.

  16. Talk about unprofessionalism at the county level!

    Do you think they will show Sheriff Prieto spending money on items that he should have not spent them on (recall the grand jury report on the Sheriff from a couple of years ago revealing that he used departmental fund to buy his wife flowers)?

    Do you think they will show Reisig and deputy D.A.s who are prosecuting each and every case before them no matter how small?

    This is just a media gig designed to make them look like stars.

    They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up.

  17. “They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up”.

    What is good for one is good for all! You said it…

    You have made a good point! Freddie Oakley should join them!

  18. “They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up”.

    What is good for one is good for all! You said it…

    You have made a good point! Freddie Oakley should join them!

  19. “They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up”.

    What is good for one is good for all! You said it…

    You have made a good point! Freddie Oakley should join them!

  20. “They were elected to do their jobs and should do their jobs or they too can join Arnold in Hollywood once his term is up”.

    What is good for one is good for all! You said it…

    You have made a good point! Freddie Oakley should join them!

  21. there is a little thing known as the Public Records Act

    imagine that the producers film an episode of officer misconduct of some kind

    and, the DA and the Sheriff exercise their contractual right to suppress the broadcast of the incident in order to ensure that they are only portrayed in a “positive light”

    there’s a good chance that the contract, and all records associated with its performance, including an incident of this kind, e-mails, letters, even film outtakes, would be subject to disclosure upon request under the Act

    unless, of course, they were brazen enough to claim that the records were exempt as part of “an ongoing investigation”

    seems like they haven’t thought this through very well

    –Richard Estes

  22. there is a little thing known as the Public Records Act

    imagine that the producers film an episode of officer misconduct of some kind

    and, the DA and the Sheriff exercise their contractual right to suppress the broadcast of the incident in order to ensure that they are only portrayed in a “positive light”

    there’s a good chance that the contract, and all records associated with its performance, including an incident of this kind, e-mails, letters, even film outtakes, would be subject to disclosure upon request under the Act

    unless, of course, they were brazen enough to claim that the records were exempt as part of “an ongoing investigation”

    seems like they haven’t thought this through very well

    –Richard Estes

  23. there is a little thing known as the Public Records Act

    imagine that the producers film an episode of officer misconduct of some kind

    and, the DA and the Sheriff exercise their contractual right to suppress the broadcast of the incident in order to ensure that they are only portrayed in a “positive light”

    there’s a good chance that the contract, and all records associated with its performance, including an incident of this kind, e-mails, letters, even film outtakes, would be subject to disclosure upon request under the Act

    unless, of course, they were brazen enough to claim that the records were exempt as part of “an ongoing investigation”

    seems like they haven’t thought this through very well

    –Richard Estes

  24. there is a little thing known as the Public Records Act

    imagine that the producers film an episode of officer misconduct of some kind

    and, the DA and the Sheriff exercise their contractual right to suppress the broadcast of the incident in order to ensure that they are only portrayed in a “positive light”

    there’s a good chance that the contract, and all records associated with its performance, including an incident of this kind, e-mails, letters, even film outtakes, would be subject to disclosure upon request under the Act

    unless, of course, they were brazen enough to claim that the records were exempt as part of “an ongoing investigation”

    seems like they haven’t thought this through very well

    –Richard Estes

  25. I agree with you. This is so far away from what the county should be working toward.

    Prieto and Reisig looked like a couple of little kids who had just won the Christmas Pageant up there.

    I wonder if they know that most people in their television industry have at least 2 ounces of weed and a gram of coke on them at all times.

  26. I agree with you. This is so far away from what the county should be working toward.

    Prieto and Reisig looked like a couple of little kids who had just won the Christmas Pageant up there.

    I wonder if they know that most people in their television industry have at least 2 ounces of weed and a gram of coke on them at all times.

  27. I agree with you. This is so far away from what the county should be working toward.

    Prieto and Reisig looked like a couple of little kids who had just won the Christmas Pageant up there.

    I wonder if they know that most people in their television industry have at least 2 ounces of weed and a gram of coke on them at all times.

  28. I agree with you. This is so far away from what the county should be working toward.

    Prieto and Reisig looked like a couple of little kids who had just won the Christmas Pageant up there.

    I wonder if they know that most people in their television industry have at least 2 ounces of weed and a gram of coke on them at all times.

  29. Freddie Oakley is standing up for not discriminating against people just because they are gay. She’s not taking her show to the airwaves for a reality show. Two completely different issues.

    You may disagree with gay rights, and you may disagree with Freddie, but I respect her on her courage to stand up for what is right.

    There is no comparison of the two situations.

  30. Freddie Oakley is standing up for not discriminating against people just because they are gay. She’s not taking her show to the airwaves for a reality show. Two completely different issues.

    You may disagree with gay rights, and you may disagree with Freddie, but I respect her on her courage to stand up for what is right.

    There is no comparison of the two situations.

  31. Freddie Oakley is standing up for not discriminating against people just because they are gay. She’s not taking her show to the airwaves for a reality show. Two completely different issues.

    You may disagree with gay rights, and you may disagree with Freddie, but I respect her on her courage to stand up for what is right.

    There is no comparison of the two situations.

  32. Freddie Oakley is standing up for not discriminating against people just because they are gay. She’s not taking her show to the airwaves for a reality show. Two completely different issues.

    You may disagree with gay rights, and you may disagree with Freddie, but I respect her on her courage to stand up for what is right.

    There is no comparison of the two situations.

  33. Good point Josh. Are they going to arrest the camera person or producer who smells of weed while they are filming them arresting someone who was caught with an ounce of weed?

    What about filming Reisig at the gym pumping iron and people in the same gym selling some steroids? Bam! He catches them and saves the day. Has a “Terminator” feel to it, huh?

    The idea is rather silly. Just provide services to us good folks in Yolo County.

  34. Good point Josh. Are they going to arrest the camera person or producer who smells of weed while they are filming them arresting someone who was caught with an ounce of weed?

    What about filming Reisig at the gym pumping iron and people in the same gym selling some steroids? Bam! He catches them and saves the day. Has a “Terminator” feel to it, huh?

    The idea is rather silly. Just provide services to us good folks in Yolo County.