The state is expected Monday to confirm its intention to send 24
Department of Justice officers to the 2004 Hollister Independence
Rally
– a commitment that would virtually guarantee the tradition’s
survival.
The state is expected Monday to confirm its intention to send 24 Department of Justice officers to the 2004 Hollister Independence Rally – a commitment that would virtually guarantee the tradition’s survival.
A state official notified Assemblyman Simon Salinas’ chief of staff Friday afternoon of the state’s intention, according to a Salinas aide, Richard Herrera.
Salinas’ office was told to expect an official confirmation from the DOJ on Monday, Herrera said. Along with the 24 officers, the DOJ – a branch of the Attorney General’s Office – would also provide a helicopter and a mobile communication unit.
Hollister has been seeking 40 officers from outside agencies to bolster its local security forces for the July 2–4 event. As of last week, the Police Department had received tentative commitments – but no signed contracts – from 15 officers’ departments.
“Hopefully, this will cement the rally going forward,” Salinas said over the weekend.
City Council members believe it will – and for them, thankfully so.
The Council approved a new three-year contract with the Hollister Independence Rally Committee (HIRC) at its meeting March 29.
Mayor Tony Bruscia called that approval a “huge risk.” Because without the needed security, the Council may have had to exercise a contractual clause to cancel the event.
“Wonderful. Wonderful,” Bruscia said Sunday.
He acknowledged “there’s still work to do.” But the state’s commitment, he said, puts the city in a much more comfortable position than a week ago.
“The light in the tunnel is finally getting brighter,” he said.
Bruscia has another reason to feel gratified. His initial efforts about three weeks ago led to the involvement of Salinas, D–Salinas, and state Sen. Jeff Denham, R–Salinas.
Bruscia asked for help, and they delivered, sending letters to the governor and the attorney general.
Denham could not be reached over the weekend for comment.
HIRC Executive Director Bob Beals on Sunday said he had “heard rumblings” about a possible state commitment.
“They’re going to be doing that?” he clarified.
He went on: “I think Chief (Jeff) Miller was busting his butt to get this thing done. This is good news.”
Another Council member was also thrilled when told of the state’s commitment.
“Thank goodness,” said Councilman Tony LoBue. “That’s great. I’m ecstatic about the situation. Twenty-four officers is a very, very good start.”
A likely confirmation would mostly extinguish a frantic hustle over the past few weeks to find the needed officers.
Police Chief Jeff Miller, after receiving resistance and outright rejections from many departments throughout the state, assigned two staffers on a full-time basis to the recruitment task.
The state had also initially expressed hesitation toward coming back. In 2003, they sent about the same number of officers (24) to Hollister, according to Herrera.
Initially, the main concern from department heads statewide had been workers’ compensation liability. Outside jurisdictions wanted Hollister, for the first time, to pick up the tab.
Moreover, many departments declined outright, citing their own depleted staffs and budget cuts.
HIRC has also previously fretted over a need to generate in 2004 more than twice as much revenues – almost $500,000 – as any foregoing rally. That problem, according to HIRC estimates, has been resolved; HIRC projects to make up the difference through such enhancements as a $5 parking fee for motorcycles downtown.
The rally’s fiscal headaches arose more than six months ago when the city and other departments notified HIRC that it must compensate for their officers’ wages. The city then canceled the previous contract. And the Sheriff’s Department later joined them in requesting pay back.
At this point, it is unclear whether the DOJ would require financial compensation for its officers, Salinas said.
But “at least,” Salinas said, “they’re making (state officers) available.”
Bruscia believes the latest round of grueling meetings that led to this point – along with worries and coinciding pressures – will advance the event’s prospects for the future.
“This rally is going to benefit the community far from now,” Bruscia said.
