LAKEPORT — In a brief, but civilized meeting, the issue of California Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Radio System (CLEMARS) was touched on by Lake County Counsel, Robinson Rancheria Tribal Counsel, Sheriff Rivero and the Robinson Rancheria Police force on Wednesday.
The meeting was initiated to discuss the possibility of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) and the Robinson Rancheria Police.
As previously reported in the Lake County Record-Bee, David Mendoza, Commissioned Chief of Police of Robinson Rancheria, is asking that the Robinson Rancheria Police Department be granted access to a radio frequency, preferably the LCSO main frequency.
Additionally the department would like to have a mutual-aid agreement to be signed for the department to participate in CLEMARS, as approved by the state.
The department wants to have the ability to book offenders into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and to work out a protocol for handling crimes that occur on the reservation.
Of the four items that the Robinson Rancheria Police Department would like to address, only CLEMARS was discussed. County Counsel Anita Grant had a pending appointment and Sheriff Frank Rivero said he had an appointment as well.
The meeting was arranged at the scheduling convenience of Rivero and Grant, but lasted 28 minutes.
Tribal Counsel for Robinson Rancheria, Les Marston, joined by Mendoza and Robinson Rancheria Commissioned Police Sgt. John Irwin, provided Grant and Rivero with background regarding CLEMARS and insight about what the Robinson Rancheria Police Department is seeking.
The MOU proposed by Robinson Rancheria Police Department to the LCSO is identical to the MOU that has been in place in Mendocino County with the Hopland Reservation Police Department for about two-and-a-half years.
Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman said he has not experienced any negative impact because of the agreement and, if anything, it has improved communication. Allman went on to say, “Anything that improves public and officer safety is something we are supportive of.”
Commissioned Police Chief John Larsen from the Hopland Reservation said the arrangement has been beneficial for both agencies.
“I have to give credit to Sheriff Tom Allman for his willingness to work with the tribe and our agency and to make this run as smooth and as well as it does. It works to the benefit of the sheriff”s office, the tribes and the citizens,” Larsen said.
Ultimately an agreement was reached to continue communications on the issue. Questions, concerns and issues will be addressed by Aug. 15, at which point Grant, Rivero, Marston, Mendoza and Irwin will revisit the proposal of the MOU.
Grant said she would like to conduct a legal analysis and that it would be done in the spirit of cooperation.
The meeting served to initiate discussion, share information, identify conflicting information, address concerns, set up a framework and see if there is a point of agreement. The CLEMARS portion of the MOU will be examined first.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 32.
