The Solano County Board of Supervisors was set to vote Tuesday on a contract between the sheriff’s department and the City of Vallejo for policing services. But in a 4-1 vote, Solano supervisors decided to take a pause, leaving Vallejo in a state of uncertainty.
Vallejo desperately needs more cops. Its tentative agreement with the county calls for SCSD to provide staffing for around half of the city throughout 2026. A total of 17 full-time deputies would provide coverage from noon to midnight, seven days a week.
The Solano County Sheriff’s Association, the union that represents local sheriff's deputies, opposes the agreement. Ahead of Tuesday’s discussion, the union sent a letter to the board making its reservations known.
The letter stated that the plan would “reduce services for unincorporated Solano County” and “compromise our ability to deliver the high-quality service our citizens expect and erode community trust.”
In addition, there are vehicle challenges and an issue with CalPERS involving eight retired annuity sheriff’s deputies. Supervisors said those matters must be worked out before an agreement is signed.
Supervisor Cassandra James said she believes all of the concerns raised by the union can be worked out. She was the lone “no” vote on Tuesday.
The clock is ticking. Vallejo’s police department is experiencing a severe staffing shortage, which led to an emergency declaration in July of 2023.
Dr. Tonia Lediju, who serves on the Vallejo City Council, urged the board to move quickly.
"There should not be lines that divide protecting and serving. There is no reason in a county with such brilliance, able to think outside the box, that we cannot figure this out together to serve Vallejo," she said.
The board is scheduled to vote on the contract at its next regular meeting on July 22. However, it could decide to call an emergency meeting earlier.