Sheriff Hill to Join State Commission
Sheriff Hill to Join State Commission
Hollister – San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill has been appointed to the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice.
The commission examines issues such as wrongful convictions and makes recommendations to the governor and state Legislature on ways to improve and ensure fair justice in California, according to the commission’s Web site.
Hill was asked by the California State Sheriff’s Association to take up the position and will replace Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, he said.
“I’m there representing state sheriffs,” Hill said. “All 58 sheriffs.”
Hill will attend his first commission meeting on Wednesday in Sacramento.
While appointed to the commission, Hill said he would like to show residents of San Benito County that he is committed to fair justice. Hill would also like to reduce the number of wrongful convictions in California, he said.
“It doesn’t happen all the time,” Hill said of wrongful convictions. “But it does happen.”
Hill said he will have a large learning curve, but plans to get up to speed on the 18-month-old commission’s work.
Hill has worked for the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office since 1976. He was appointed undersheriff in 1988 and graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1989. Hill was elected sheriff in 1998 and re-elected to a third term in 2006.
Supes to Swear in New Chair Today
Hollister – The Board of Supervisors plans to hold its first meeting of the new year at 9am today. At the meeting, the supervisors are expected to select Don Marcus as board chair for 2007 and Jaime De La Cruz as vice chair.
After being sworn in, the chair will appoint individual supervisors to the numerous government committees, including the Council of Governments, the Local Agency Formation Commission and the City Gang Task Force.
The supervisors will discuss increasing fees for environmental health services – most of the proposed increases are for more than 50 percent. The hikes, according to county staff, will only cover the county’s costs.
Also on today’s agenda is a contract with Wald, Ruhnke and Dost Architects. Under the contract, the company would be paid $138,405 to oversee construction for the courthouse security project. The project’s goals include creating a single entry into the courthouse for employees and the public and to create an inmate entry directly into the first-floor courtroom.
County officials will be sworn in at 9am in the County Administration Building; the supervisors’ meeting will begin at 9:30am.
