Alert: Possible Threat to UCSC Treesitters - Santa Cruz, Butte and Merced Cops in Vicinity

It is common to see police cars in Santa Cruz from agencies such as Butte and Merced County. Rumor has it that they come to Santa Cruz to use the SCPD's underground shooting range. Maybe there are other reasons. Either way, I do not come to the conclusion that the presence of these police cars indicates a possible threat to tree-sitters at UCSC. Based on past actions at UCSC, the police agencies which respond to protests at UCSC include police from UCSC, UCB, UCLA (and maybe Davis) as well the SCPD, SCC Sheriffs and the CHP. I have not seen nor heard of Butte or Merced County police being called in to UCSC. Stay vigilant.

there's an underground shooting range? what the fuck? really?

Maybe it is not underground, but the SCPD have an indoor shooting range. As seen at the UCSC demonstration on November 7th, the Scotts Valley Police Depart also respond to actions at UCSC.

January 2, 2000

City and police-station contractor craft deal
By DARREL W. COLE
Sentinel staff writer

SANTA CRUZ — What’s a good stucco job?

That will be the pressing question when the Santa Cruz City Council makes a final visual inspection of the new Police Department headquarters.

In a new agreement between city officials and general contractor H.A. Ekelin of Salinas, the builder has agreed to fix the crumbling stucco problems and the leaking windows and other joints in the $12.5 million structure, according to City Manager Richard Wilson.

It’s the latest chapter in the long-running saga of the new police building at Center Street and Laurel Avenue. It was originally scheduled to open in January 1999 but minor delays pushed that date further and further out.

In September, the major flaws — window leaks and bad stucco work — were discovered by city inspectors and consultants. In a few areas of the building, mostly in the courtyard area, the new stucco crumbled when touched.

At that point, intensive negotiations began between the city and Ekelin. The contractor had maintained the stucco was not its problem but agreed to fix the windows. The company also said that some of the problems with the building were caused by design flaws, also not its responsibility.

Finally, it was agreed by both parties that the police could move into the building and that the repairs could be done later. The building opened Nov. 20.

...

Police officers, while “happy as a clam” to be out of their old, cramped quarters by City Hall, are frustrated with the many “little problems” they are encountering in their new space, Deputy Police Chief Jeffery Locke said Thursday.

“Everyone’s getting acquainted with the new building, but there’s a lot of little problems that need to be taken care of,” said Locke. “There is frustration from our point of view because it seems there is not a lot of effort to get things done.”

He said many of the problems stem from poor workmanship and delays in getting things fixed.

Some examples cited by Locke include: The heating and ventilation system isn’t working right because some rooms are either too hot or too cold; the shooting range can’t be used because the air-circulation system isn’t running properly; and the lobby has been somewhat off limits because a floor resurfacing has been put on hold.

At times, Locke said, it seems everyone is saying “the problems rest somewhere else and everyone’s pointing the blame at everyone else.”

Mayor Keith Sugar said he thinks the agreement is a step in the right direction and he “hopes the city can get what it bargained for.”

...

The Police Department’s 138 employees in the 12,000-square-foot building have almost three times the space they had in the old work spaces in three buildings at and near City Hall. The new building includes locker rooms, interview rooms, a physical fitness room, indoor shooting range and a secured parking lot.

Copyright © 1999-2005, Santa Cruz Sentinel Publishers Co.

Most agencies have what is on file and you can obtain possibly through a public records act request. It's called a memorandum of understanding between agencies of different counties. It's a contract and explains where liability falls in case they share on a arrest scenario or so the popo can be paid Overtime. I doubt that they'd have one with Butte county which is north of sacramento for backup LEO needs. More than likely the driving range share, err shooting range share or some conference type. Butte hasn't dealt with sitters that I'm aware of.

Might do folks some good to learn about gov agencies and how they operate. It isn't in a vacuum. These are things you can find out about with the pen and a stamp requesting it through a public records request.