MENDOCINO COUNTY — A bill by assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) to reimburse Mendocino County for part of the cost of an extensive manhunt in 2011 cleared its first hurdle Wednesday, winning approval from the Assembly Local Government Committee (ALGC).
“Last year, a heavily-armed killer on the loose in the back country forced Mendocino County to mount a massive manhunt involving 30 law enforcement agencies that lasted for weeks,” Chesbro said. “Mendocino County is a small, rural county that doesn”t have a large budget. This bill will reimburse Mendocino County for a portion of the costs incurred – the cost of feeding and housing officers from outside agencies who responded to the county”s mutual aid request.”
Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman testified in support of the bill, A.B. 1863 at the hearing.
“This situation was an extraordinary 36-day event that involved law enforcement resources from around the state, including L.A. and Sacramento,” Allman said.
A.B. 1863 has two parts. The first is an appropriation of about $40,000 to Mendocino County to reimburse the cost of hosting mutual aid responders.
“This is a relatively small figure, but it has a significant impact on a county like Mendocino,” Chesbro said.
The second part of A.B. 1863 establishes a framework to allow local law enforcement agencies to seek reimbursement for future extraordinary events such as the Mendocino manhunt.
“This bill outlines a high bar the public calamity must reach to request reimbursement,” Chesbro said. “These are truly unique events that can be most accurately described as anomalies. A public calamity must receive a ”disaster declaration” from the county Board of Supervisors and the governor. This process still leaves control with the governor.”
The ALGC approved A.B. 1863 7-0. It now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Commmittee for consideration.
A.B. 1863 is sponsored by the California State Sheriff”s Association and the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.
