Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement # 547-S1410 with PolicePrivacy.com for Privacy Letter Packages to online data vendors to remove Sheriff's Office staffs' personal information from the Internet for the period when fully executed to one year from that date, at the cost of $30 per staff member, and a not-to-exceed total of $11,000 for the one-year period.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost
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$11,000 |
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Budget - Current FY
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$11,000 |
Budget - Future FY
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New Funding
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Savings
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Other
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Total Funding Available
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$11,000 |
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Change To Net County Cost
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0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
None. This cost is budgeted in the Sheriff's annual operating budget.
Background
Due to the nature of the work performed by Sheriff's Office personnel, the need for their protection from attempts by the public to harm or injure personnel and their families is very critical to the continued efficiency of the Sheriff's Office. An officer and his family can be a target due to actions taken by him/her during the course of the daily performance of his/her duties.
The Internet is one of the chief sources of personal information which is sold online by companies whose sole purpose it to benefit from the sale of this information. Home addresses and telephone numbers can easily be accessed due to the lack of any safeguards against the dissemination of personal information over the Internet.
This is an ongoing concern for Sheriff's Office management because it affects officer safety and the efficiency of operations. In researching steps that can be taken to protect staff, the Sheriff's Office became aware of PolicePrivacy.com, a company that is in the business of reducing and/or eliminating the risk associated with allowing private information to be circulated in the public domain.
PolicePrivacy.com provides Privacy Letter Packages which include personalized Demand Letters prepared in accordance with California Government Code 6254.21 and addressed to online data vendors, and information to the employee related to the protection of California government officials, California law, data vendors, officer safety, and other related material. Also, PolicePrivacy.com provides a website and support with legal updates, safety bulletins, new product information and links to new opt-out pages.
Since this service is a new employee benefit, and as advised by County Counsel, the Human Resources Department has met and conferred with the employee unions whose employees will be offered this one-time benefit. There have been no objections to this benefit being offered by the SO by these affected unions. Also, the Board approved providing this service to Sheriff's Office employees in a Closed Session on August 26, 2014
Reason for Recommendation
The approval of this recommendation will enhance officer safety for sworn employees in the Sheriff's Office, and provide a more secure environment for the Sheriff's Office personnel who have the responsibility for upholding the law and ensuring the safety of the citizens of El Dorado County.
Clerk of the Board Follow Up Actions
Clerk of the Board to return signed Agreement to the SO for distribution.
Contact
Undersheriff Rich Williams
Concurrences
County Counsel, Risk Management, Human Resources, affected unions and Board of Supervisors.