A backlog of more than 1,200 open cases in the Hollister Police
Department’s investigations bureau has been slashed by half, thanks
to the work of the detective who was put in charge of the bureau
nearly a year ago.
Hollister – A backlog of more than 1,200 open cases in the Hollister Police Department’s investigations bureau has been slashed by half, thanks to the work of the detective who was put in charge of the bureau nearly a year ago.
Detective Sgt. James Weathers said he has lightened the load by systematically reviewing cases and implementing different organizational techniques. For example, Weathers eliminated some cases when he discovered they were already closed but hadn’t been updated in the bureau’s records. In other cases, the statute of limitations had expired.
Many property crime cases, which comprise about 70 percent of the caseload, were closed because investigators had exhausted all leads or made an arrest, he said.
With Weathers’ help, by the end of 2004, the total caseload for the bureau was down to about 500 cases. But due to the police department’s severe staffing shortages, it’s climbed back to about 650, he said. Because fewer officers are patrolling the streets, the two detectives have spent a considerable amount of their time covering patrol shifts and therefore have less time to spend on their primary duties, Weathers said.
“With fewer officers on the streets, patrol officers have less time to fully
investigate cases, so more cases come to investigations,” he said.
While he’s helped considerably, Weathers gave most of the credit for the reduction in the caseload to detectives Tony Lamonica and Rudy Rodriguez.
“They work a lot of hours, many of which aren’t logged as overtime,” Weathers said. “Even when they work patrol shifts they try to work their full detective shifts to keep on top of their active cases.”
A year ago, the backlog of cases had become so overwhelming for Rodriguez and Lamonica that, even with the overtime they were logging, they were taking cases home at night.
The detectives break the cases into two categories – people crimes, which take precedence and include sexual assaults, homicides and attempted homicides, and property crimes such as mail fraud and burglary.
There are now about 200 people crime cases and 450 property-crime cases left open, based on the total number of cases detectives are trying to solve. A year ago, there were 300 people-crime cases and 700 property-crime cases.
Before Weathers came in, the bureau only had a sergeant on light-duty handling the work, and cases had been stacking up since 2003, according to Chief Jeff Miller.
Weathers’ fresh pair of eyes and experience helped clear out cases that had little chance of being solved, Miller said. In some instances he sent cases back to patrol officers to conduct additional investigation instead of further bogging down the detectives, he said.
However, each detective still has a heavy load. And until some extra bodies are put on patrol, Miller said, that trend will continue.
“I don’t know if it’s turning around. It’s a matter of being so short-staffed,” Miller said. “I don’t think we’ve turned any corners. We’re just trying to keep our heads somewhat above water now.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
