Sheriff’s deputy union negotiations further delay policing contract for Vallejo

FAIRFIELD – The Solano County Board of Supervisors delayed a vote for the third time Tuesday on a contentious contract intended for the Solano County Sheriff’s Office to provide temporary law enforcement support for the city of Vallejo.

The supervisors agreed Tuesday to postpone a discussion of the county’s proposed $11.2 million contract between Vallejo and the Sheriff’s Office until Aug. 26. If approved, Vallejo would pay $11 million to deploy 17 full-time sheriff’s office employees to cover half of the city’s police beats from noon to midnight.

That contract has been in limbo for months due to opposition from the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Solano County, the union that represents sworn sheriff’s employees. Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara said that the meet and confer process with the union has not yet led to an agreement, though he said an agreement seems likely, as the union is reviewing a new draft sent Friday, following several revisions. 

However, union President Ryan Wallace told the board that the union still has many concerns, including because the sheriff’s office is understaffed with less than four deputies patrolling the county’s unincorporated areas on a given day. Wallace wrote a letter to the board this summer saying that the union is firmly opposed to the deal, saying that it surveyed its membership and found 90% opposition.

In the letter, Wallace called the plan “detrimental” to the county’s residents and “unsustainable.” He said that a key aspect of the proposal, to fill up to 20 full-time deputy positions with retired annuitants, is unrealistic as union members will “bear the burden” through forced overtime or shift reassignments. The union thinks that the city would be better off allocating $11 million directly to bolster the Vallejo Police Department, which has faced significant recruitment and retention challenges. 

During Tuesday’s meeting, Wallace asked the county to define and follow minimum staffing requirements, and said that the county’s response has not been clear. He also said that the county needs to clarify and narrow exactly how retired union members would be used under the proposed contract.

“If the county is unable to address these specific terms, specifically maintaining adequate staffing levels and establishing clear terms for retired members, the DSA recommends exploring alternative options,” Wallace said. “A more limited contract scope might better align with the sheriff’s capacity and ensure the safety of our members and the residents of Solano County.”

Sheriff’s replacement process draws criticism

The supervisors also formally accepted Ferrara’s retirement on Tuesday after he announced it in a letter last month. They voted to appoint Undersheriff Bradley DeWall to complete the remainder of Ferrara’s six-year term. Ferrara is set to retire effective Sept. 25 after 41 years in the sheriff’s office, and in his letter asked that DeWall cover the remaining three years. 

The board voted 3-2 to approve DeWall, with Supervisors Wanda Williams and Cassandra James opposed. Several people in public comment criticized the way the retirement letter and recommendation of DeWall was handled, and said that the appointment would be based off of one recommendation without further public input. 

Christine Dean said the county ought to do a mail-in election to allow the public to vote on Ferrara’s replacement. 

“I think it's a great disservice to the public to put someone in, not for a temporary situation for a month, but for three and a half years,” Dean said. “That’s a complete election cycle normally. To do that to the public, I think, is not wise - and I also think it’s insulting to do to your citizenry.”

County staff told the board that there is no possibility of a midcycle election, as the law requires the appointment of the undersheriff for the remainder of the term. However, Williams said that while DeWall seems capable of assuming the position, she is concerned about the transparency of the appointment process and wanted the county to open up the process to allow applications to the job.

“It’s about having an open process that’s fair, and that everyone gets an opportunity to apply,” Williams said.