Santa Barbara Sheriffs Investigate Wrongs Done to Our Neighbors on the Streets

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Sheriff investigates deputy misconduct allegations

By BEN SMITHWICK News-Press Staff Writer


January 24, 2012 5:11 AM




The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department is investigating a Christmas morning incident in Isla Vista in which sheriff's deputies allegedly disposed of sleeping bags and backpacks belonging to a group of homeless residents.
According to local homeless advocate Ken Williams, two deputies allegedly took backpacks and sleeping bags from five homeless residents and threw them in dumpsters around the college town.
Mr. Williams, who learned of the allegations from talking to others living on the street, said that the deputies allegedly cut the items up before disposing of them.
The Sheriff's Department learned of the allegations on Dec. 29 and launched an immediate investigation to determine the facts in the matter, according to Sheriff Bill Brown. A formal complaint has not been filed.
"We take very seriously any allegation of misconduct by Sheriff's personnel," Sheriff Brown said in a statement. "If the investigation concludes that there was any misconduct by Sheriff's personnel, we will take appropriate action."
According to Mr. Williams, one of the alleged victims, who was sick, has since passed away. He contends that the allegations, if true, paint deputies in a bad light.
"This creates such a huge wedge between the homeless and the police," Mr. Williams told the News-Press. "Confiscation of homeless people's property is a big issue."
Homeless people often keep most of their belongings, including medication and other personal items, in backpacks and other bags, Mr. Williams said.
He believes that the alleged incident, along with a recent string of recent homeless killings in Orange County, has contributed to an atmosphere of fear in the local homeless community.
Mr. Williams praised the Sheriff's Department for initiating an investigation without a formal complaint, calling it the morally correct action to take in response to the allegations.
"The police have got to be there to protect the homeless and anything that puts a fence between that relationship is deadly," he said.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged incident is asked to contact the Sheriff's Department at 681-4100 or the department's anonymous tip line at 681-4171.


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