Press Release
5/3/10
MODESTO, Ca.- The Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association (SSDA) has become increasingly frustrated with what we believe to be a lack of accountability with our sheriff. This became more evident with the release of a Modesto Bee video in which misleading statements were made by Adam Christianson.
There have been many issues that we have been handling behind the scenes and dealing with as they arise,” said SSDA Vice President Ryan Killian.
“We have tried to keep these issues within the department and not take our grievances to the public. It is not the goal of our organization to be adversarial with our administration, but recently it has become increasingly apparent that it is our only recourse.”“I feel that there were several statements that were made in this video that were very misleading to the public,” said Killian. “While I understand that the office of sheriff is somewhat of a political position,
I still feel that he should be held accountable to his employees and the public.”In the recent Modesto Bee video, Christianson made several statements that he believed that the department was healthy and strong. He stated that morale was low due to the economic environment and impending layoffs. “While I will agree that the economy does have some effect on the morale, I feel that the issues run much deeper than that,” said Killian.
Acording to SSDA board members, the lack of communication and a plan for the future is much more of a morale issue than economics. There have been many instances where Christianson has done things that are in direct conflict with the employee association.Late in 2009 both Christianson and challenger Rob Jackson approached the association asking for their endorsement.
A candidate forum was held and then a vote followed and Jackson won the endorsement from the patrol deputies. Shortly after this endorsement, Christianson began to approach some of the specialty units within the department asking for their individual endorsements.“This caused some animosity and was very divisive to our organization,” said SSDA President Vince Bizzini.
“Some of these specialty units felt obligated to the sheriff and decided to endorse him even though the association as a whole had voted to support Jackson. This was used as a way to trivialize the endorsement and divide the association.”
Another issue has been the misleading postings on Christianson’s election website. Christianson currently has endorsements from the Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Political Action Committee and the Stanislaus County Custodial Deputies Association posted on his website.
What appears to be two different associations is actually only one, the custodial deputies association and their political action committee.“What is the reason for this being listed as two separate endorsements if it is not to mislead people into thinking that it is the jail deputies and us,” asked Bizzini. “This is another attempt to undermine the endorsement of our association.”In addition to misleading endorsement is the fact that the DSA name is currently under litigation.
Christianson was sent a cease and desist letter from the SSDA in regards to the use of the name on his website several months back. After initially removing the endorsement, it was put back up on his page. “These actions are counterproductive to what our association is trying to accomplish,” said Killian. “It is as though he has no respect for the employee associations or the decisions we make.”
It is not as though the sheriff was unaware of many of the issues in the department. In the 2008 department survey, administration was on the receiving end of some scathing remarks from employees. The response? A State of the Department video in which Christianson told employees that if they were not happy then maybe they should look elsewhere for employment. “How is this supposed to foster a better working relationship and good morale?” asked Bizzini.
There has not been another survey or video since then.In the Modesto Bee video, Christianson says that he has been working with the labor groups and it is important to listen to the employees. “One of the most frequent complaints I get is from people wanting to know if they will have a job,” said Killian. “I don’t know what to tell them because until very recently we have not been informed as to where the cuts would come from.”
According to Killian the SSDA was not asked to be a part of the decision making process on where the cuts should come from. “It is very concerning when you consider that the bulk of the cuts are coming to line staff while administration is kept intact,” said Killian.
“If we are going to lose 25 deputies we can probably do away with a Captain’s position or two.”Decentralization was another very divisive issue in the department. Deputies were told that there would be a trial run in the Riverbank area for about year to see if and how the program would work.
This would be an opportunity to see the program in action and make adjustments as necessary. After just a few months it was launched department-wide with very little input from the association until after it had begun.“We expressed our concerns to the sheriff and the assistant sheriff on several occasions,” said Bizzini.
“Most of our concerns were dismissed and we were told that we just needed to make it work.” The overwhelming feeling amongst the deputies is that decentralization was a failure and also a drain on resources.
The SSDA recently held a vote regarding the county’s request for a 5% pay cut. Even though the association was locked into a contract and under no obligation to accept the pay cut, they agreed to the cuts by an overwhelming number of votes. “We could see that the county was in a financial bind and felt that we could help to save jobs by taking these cuts.”
“It is never easy to stand up to your boss,” said Bizzini. “We have to do what is in the best interest of the employees that we serve. If Adam is re-elected as sheriff our hope is that he will be more accountable to the employees that work for him.”
“I have some very real concerns about the misleading statements that he has been telling the public. Either he doesn’t recognize that there are issues or he just doesn’t care.”
