kern county sheriff investigation

Orrin West, 4, and Orson West, 3, have been missing since Dec. 21. A spokesman for the Kern County sheriff’s office said it would “fully cooperate” with the investigation. On August 30, 2019, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office installed the Access Corrections Systems’ cash kiosks at the Central Receiving Facility and the Lerdo Max/Med facility. The Technical Investigations section was staffed deputies until 1977 when it began switching to civilian employees. The investigations centered on allegations of excessive force, officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and civil rights violations. Technical Investigations can trace its origins back to the Kern County Bureau of Identification established by Sheriff Thomas Baker in 1911. Crime scenes are now photographed with Nikon D200 digital cameras. As this trend continued, the Technical Investigations section shifted it’s focus in the 1960’s to specifically deal with the collection, preservation and processing of evidence and crime scenes. The stabbing is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (661)861-3110. Digital enhancement software has aided TI with its responsibilities of latent fingerprint identification. This evidence, after careful processing, will be used in the courtroom in the hopes of achieving a successful prosecution of a crime. Besides the role of a crime scene investigator, the Evidence Technician is a latent fingerprint examiner making comparisons between latent prints obtained at crime scenes with the rolled prints of known individuals. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies searched an area of southeast Bakersfield on Saturday in relation to the investigation into two missing California City brothers. The involved deputy was placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Not only does Technical Investigations provide services to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, but also provides resources and services to other departments and agencies within the county. Deputies arrived and located an adult male suffering non-life threatening injuries. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Justice have resolved a four-year investigation of potential civil rights abuses with a settlement that implements modest reforms and places the sheriff’s office under oversight from an … This evidence, after careful processing, will be used in the courtroom in the hopes of achieving a successful prosecution of a crime. Around 1920 the county bureau combined its resources with the City Bureau of Identification (Bakersfield Police Department had established its own bureau in 1916.) 🚨Shooting investigation in Bakersfield On April 11, 2020, at 12:26 a.m., Kern County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 3500 block of Pioneer Drive in Bakersfield for multiple shots fired and several victims of a shooting. In May 2017, after news of the charges against Penney and August broke, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood formally launched an internal affairs investigation. Copyright © 2021 KCSO. During his 45+ -year career with the Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Youngblood worked in all areas of the department. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood speaking at a news conference on Sep. 13, 2018. When deputies arrived, they located a deceased 55-year-old female with traumatic injuries. All rights reserved. When possible, “TI’s” are sent to training sponsored by respected agencies such as the FBI and California DOJ and various other schools and seminars in related fields of scientific criminal investigation. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGET) – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced today a major settlement aimed at reforming practices at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Personnel in the “I Bureau” in the 1950’s found themselves responding to more and more calls for service. This led to less turnover and more stability and eventually to a more professional unit. With staff remaining in the Technical Investigations section for decades if not careers, the experience and expertise has increased dramatically from earlier times. The family, represented by Chain | Cohn | Stiles, and County of Kern settled the lawsuit for $3.8 million. Sheriff Youngblood joined the Kern County Sheriff’s Department in 1972 as a Correctional Officer assigned to the Lerdo Facility. The DOJ expects the investigations to be completed within a reasonable timeframe that accounts for the comprehensive scope and nature of each investigation. (The Fresno Bee file photo) Youngblood and his staff waited eight months to respond to Wicklander’s report. While the majority of the units manpower was supplied by city employees, its operations were housed in the new Sheriff’s Facility at 800 Truxtun Ave. Prior to this time, the “I Bureau” concerned itself with prisoner identification, arrest records and crime reports. During Bill Snare’s tenure the “City and County Bureau of Identification” gained a reputation for being one of the most effective and progressive agencies in the country. Equipment, methods and technology have greatly impacted and changed the way a TI operates on a daily basis. The California Department of Justice launched a civil rights and police practices investigation into the Kern County Sheriff’s Department and Bakersfield Police Department as a result of organizing efforts led by Faith In Kern and families directly impacted by police killings. Specifically, Sheriff Youngblood requested the FBI conduct a forensic analysis of the contents of the cell phones. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. According to the KCSO deputies responded to a shots fired call just after 1 p.m. on Padre Street near Simpson Road. Then in 2016, the California Attorney General’s Office and the FBI launched investigations into Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the Bakersfield Police Department. From the vision and creativity of Bill Snare to the highly trained technicians of today, it has always been the welcome challenge of dedicated people to help solve otherwise unsolvable crimes. On March 3, 2021, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Unit and the Narcotics Operations Unit concluded a months-long investigation with the execution of a search warrant in the 400 block of Marcus Street, Bakersfield. Anyone with information about this event is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661)861-3110. Bakersfield CA 93308. Lt. Erik Levig conducted the internal investigation at the sheriff’s department following the announcement of a plea deal in the case against Logan August and Derrick Penney. Kern County currently has five prisons; Wasco, North Kern, Kern Valley, Tehachapi, and California City. The California Department of Justice has reportedly finished its four-year investigation into the Kern County Sheriff's Office and Tuesday morning county supervisors will discuss the findings in a closed session. 1350 Norris Road The agreement comes after an extensive investigation by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and constructive action by KCSO to begin the reform process that will benefit all Kern County residents. The investigation is meant to determine whether officers in either department displayed a “pattern of practice of excessive force or other civil rights violations. The county sheriff, Donny Youngblood, was unavailable for comment. Two years later, he entered the Basic Academy to begin training to become a Deputy Sheriff. On Monday May 13th, 2013 Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analyze the two cell phones seized pursuant to a search warrant related to the in custody death of David Silva. The sheriff's office and the Bakersfield Police Department were notified in December of 2016 that the Civil Rights Enforcement section of the DOJ had opened investigations of both departments following complaints filed by community activist groups. This has been done by keeping up with the ever-increasing criminal sophistication with new knowledge and technology and good “old fashioned” perseverance. In the 1930’s, the Identification Bureau was headed by William A. Snare. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 1,199 were here. The Attorney General has not reached any conclusions about specific complaints or allegations against the Kern County Sheriff’s Office or the Bakersfield Police Department. 02/03/2021 . It was during the 1940’s, that the “I Bureau” as it was commonly called, began to respond and process evidence at crime scenes in the field. Within nine months Snare ascended to the position of superintendent where he remained until 1938 when he took a position with Fresno County. That investigation is ongoing. SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced a major settlement aimed at reforming a wide range of practices at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). While Kern County’s rate of killings by police declined in 2016, in 2015 the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and Bakersfield Police Department killed a combined 14 people. Thirteen evidence technicians currently staff the section. Employment records show Levig was promoted to Lieutenant in 2018. The settlement comes after an investigation by the California Department of Justice into Kern County’s law enforcement practices, sparked by a 2015 article from The Guardian naming Kern County as the […] Postal Service, CHP, DMV, Kern County District Attorney, Probation, Human Services, Fire Department Arson Investigators and others. The … Film has finally given way to digital technology. Levig’s investigation led to a criminal investigation with the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. On January 29, 2021, Kern County Sheriff’s Office Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Persons Unit completed a search warrant in the 4300 block of Tierra Verde Street in Bakersfield as a result of a robbery and assault with a deadly weapon investigation. Kern County Sheriff’s Office enters into ‘major settlement’ with Department of Justice following civil rights investigation (The Bakersfield Californian – Dec. 23, 2020) Attorney General Becerra announces settlement to reform practices at KCSO (KBAK/KBFX – Dec. 22, 2020)