We get paid just a little bit over minimum wage, to get in fights, spit on, have feces throw on us and deal with the effects passing of AB109, prop 47 and prop 57."

Correctional officer Lesa Christensen sent an email to Undersheriff Billy Honsal who is expected to take over when Sheriff Michael Downey retires this May.

She told him that she was very happy he will be Sheriff, that this is not personally directed at him and that the COs just want an improvement in working conditions and that she wanted to give him a heads up that this would be going public.

Ms. Christensen told me, "The sheriff has had us on Mandatory overtime for over 2 years. We are working 50-60 hours each pay period."




"We get paid just a little bit over minimum wage, to get in fights, spit on, have feces throw on us and deal with the effects passing of AB109, prop 47 and prop 57."

'The Sheriff keeps taking officers from the jail to put on the street. We can't get ahead. 80% of our staff is under 2 years. Many of the staff has some serious medical problems: high blood pressure, migraines, cancer, diabetes, sleep deprivation and back problems. It takes two years to properly train a CO."

"We lose an officer a month for the last 12 years. That's 50 grand out the door every month."

Another correctional officer, Todd Arnold, clarified "50-60 hours a week; sometimes, more often than that."

I have contacted AFSCME57, the Sheriff, the Undersheriff, County Human Resources and Board of Supervisors for comment. 

Specifically asked the Union if any effort had been made prior to inform the above parties, why are they going public now and what informal efforts have been made to resolve these issues.