Hollister
– While many San Benito County residents spent Thanksgiving Day
eating turkey, watching football and enjoying the company of
friends and loved ones, local law enforcement officers and deputies
were busy keeping city and county roads safe.
Hollister – While many San Benito County residents spent Thanksgiving Day eating turkey, watching football and enjoying the company of friends and loved ones, local law enforcement officers and deputies were busy keeping city and county roads safe.
Vacations are determined through seniority, Hollister Police Department Chief Jeff Miller said. But vacations for the police department have taken a hit.
“The problem we’re experiencing right now because of our staffing issues is we’ve canceled almost all of our vacations,” Miller said.
San Benito County Sheriff’s Lt. Roy Iler said administrative personnel get holidays off, but deputies still work their normal 12-hour shifts. Both the Hollister Police Department and Sheriff’s Department staff the same amount of officers and deputies during the holidays.
“We still have to provide the same amount of service and protection,” Iler said.
As police chief, Miller can take holidays off. But coming up through the ranks he worked his fair share of holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, he said.
“I’ve done it for so many years I’ve come to accept it,” Miller said. “It doesn’t make it any easier.”
Not only do families have to cope with an officer missing the family get together, but they also go through the holiday with the knowledge that their loved one may be in harm’s way, Miller said.
“The unsung heroes behind the police officers are the family members,” Miller said.
Being away from loved ones and family members on the holidays is part of the job description, Iler said.
“It’s probably tougher on the families of the officers than the officers themselves,” Iler said.
Police Capt. Richard Vasquez said it can be tough on families but officers have a responsibility to serve.
“When you sign up for the job you know it’s part of the program,” Vasquez said.
Some deputies and officers find ways to spend at least a little time with their families.
Sheriff’s Det. John Peña worked the night of Thanksgiving 2005. Peña slept during the day and stopped in to grab a plate of food at his parents house, he said. He then took the plate into the office and ate with the other working deputies.
“It comes with the territory,” Peña said.
Thanksgiving shifts rotate each year, Peña said. This year Peña worked Wednesday but had Thanksgiving off.
Lt. Edward Escamilla, the San Benito County Jail Commander, said correction officers don’t miss out on the food.
“The officers will do a potluck,” Escamilla said. “The inmates will have a turkey dinner.”
Food for the potluck is prepared off site and re-heated on the jail premise, Escamilla said.
Miller said some years the holidays are quiet, but that doesn’t mean it will last.
The stress of holidays can bring more domestic disturbances, Iler said. Otherwise the calls vary little from the norm, he said. Extra traffic on the highways of San Benito County makes for more accidents. The Sheriff’s Office often assists the California Highway Patrol on accidents, Iler said.
While crime does not stop, officers and deputies will continue to work through holidays. But Miller said residents can make an officer’s busy holiday better with a little acknowledgment.
“If people are out and about and they see an officer, a smile, a wave maybe, or a ‘happy Thanksgiving’ goes a long way,” Miller said. “It’s nice to feel appreciated.”
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
