Wimbish visits substation last week
Wimbish visits substation last week
By: Joy Gray Mazzola
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Kern County Sheriff Mack Wimbish frequently travels around Kern County to visit, face to face, with county residents and last Monday, Tehachapi was his focus.
“The greatest problem in the Tehachapi area is still drugs, although we’ve made progress,” Wimbish said. “The San Joaquin Valley was the headquarters for methamphetamine production. Now the super labs are gone and they’re forced to manufacture it in other places.”
Sweeps performed by various drug enforcement officials from Kern County, in cooperation with local law enforcement, have proved effective, according to Wimbish. Although the number of arrests varies, one recent sweep alone netted 23 offenders in a matter of hours.
“These unannounced sweeps have been very helpful in getting some of these people off the streets,” Wimbish said.
More good news, in the form of the recovering budget, means more personnel added to the department.
According to Wimbish, the state budget problems that plagued county agencies for the previous three years had caused a time-consuming gap in the availability of academy personnel, but that is easing now.
“It’s getting exciting. In a 12-month period, 100 promotions were made in preparation for bringing in more recruits from the academy,” he said.
During a recent meeting in Sacramento, Wimbish and 57 other sheriffs statewide were assured by the governor that he would not sign a budget that hurts the sheriff’s department.
“The governor always comes through with public safety,” he said.
Wimbish also praised the efforts of the Kern County Citizen Service units and the volunteers for their dedication.
“They are the ones keeping the deputies on the streets,” he said.
Call or email Wimbish directly at 391-7771 or wimbishm@co.kern.ca.us.
“I always return my calls,” Wimbish said.
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