Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office deputies will no longer participate in Operation Stonegarden, a program that allows them to work overtime helping Border Patrol with border surveillance. Sheriff David Hathaway made the decision due to concerns about his staff being under federal government control. Hathaway stated that placing deputies under the authority of a federal supervisor raised issues for him, especially with the current administration’s actions along the border.
Former deputy Travis Arnold, who ran against Hathaway in the last election, believes the decision was driven by personal politics, impacting public safety and deputies reliant on the extra income from overtime. While Hathaway highlighted concerns about the financial implications of the program, Arnold argued that the decision could potentially harm both public safety and the deputies’ financial situations.
Initially, it was reported that deputies started at under $40,000, but the Sheriff’s Office clarified that new recruits now start at almost $50,000. Hathaway emphasized the complexity of the financial issue, mentioning that deputies earning extra income through overtime also receive larger pensions without federal government support. Hathaway’s decision to pull deputies out of Operation Stonegarden has sparked debate within the community, with some questioning the impact on public safety and the reasoning behind the move. For tips or stories to investigate, contact investigators@kvoa.com or call the tip line at 520-955-4444.
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