Placer County Sheriff Discusses Realignment

Placer County’s Sheriff Ed Bonner is no stranger to public safety. He has recently passed two historic milestones: serving 40 years with the same agency, and winning a sixth term as Placer County’s sheriff. 

After he graduated from UC Berkeley, Bonner started his tenure at the Placer County Sheriff’s Department as a sheriff’s deputy in 1974. 40 years later, he now serves as the top official in the department. He has never faced a challenger in the 6 Placer County elections he has been involved in.

Given his impressive résumé, Bonner was asked for his input on the issue of realignment. He answered simply, that realignment “reduces the incarceration options for offenders.” He added that managing the jail population has been challenging for his department. He said that because the county is now housing inmates who are “more sophisticated in their criminal behavior” and have gang ties, inmate-on-inmate assaults have become more prevalent.

Though despite his complaints, Bonner stated that he is not a supporter or a detractor of realignment. He told the interviewee that he will adjust to the new rules, and there will be problems and benefits with the changes being made.

Read more about the Sheriff’s take on realignment here.