Drug-related arrests of San Diego deputies have again brought attention to the department’s problem with incarceration deaths

The drug-related arrests of two San Diego sheriff’s deputies last month brought renewed attention to their department and its history of incarcerated deaths.

Last February, the California State Auditor released a scathing report that said the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department was not doing enough to prevent prisoner deaths, many of which were due to drug overdoses. In the wake of the arrests, the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Board (CLERB), an independent volunteer group that reviews complaints, misconduct, inmate deaths and other incidents, is again calling on Sheriff Kelly Martinez to conduct security screenings for employees entering county jails.

Read the full text of the letter here.

“We affirm and continue to affirm that you must consider all options, everything must be on the table when you are trying to reduce incarceration deaths in San Diego County,” said Paul Parker, head of CLERB.

Sheriff Martinez declined to comment on Monday but told NBC 7 earlier that she doesn’t believe there is any evidence that employees are smuggling drugs into prisons and therefore sees no reason to scan employees.

Priya Sridhar of NBC 7 spoke to the families of inmates who died in custody in San Diego prisons.

Martinez has taken other steps to combat prison deaths, such as providing naloxone in the common areas of prisons.

A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department stated that they would not tolerate any misconduct by their employees.

Sheriff Kelly Martinez discusses how she will deal with death in custody.

Deputy Allen Vereski, 48, was jailed in the San Diego County Central Jail after officers searched his car and found what they thought was cocaine, according to a department report sent Feb. 3. It is unclear what led to the search of Vereska. vehicle.

He was removed from office without pay and is due to appear in court on Tuesday.

Last month, a 15-year-old veteran of the department was arrested on charges of stealing prescription drugs from public boxes designed to allow people to safely donate unwanted or expired drugs. He has also been suspended without pay and faces charges of drug possession and burglary. He is still out of custody, but with a few reservations, and his next court appearance is scheduled for July.

Following Ritchie’s arrest, the department released a statement saying the agency “does not tolerate any criminal activity by our employees and will investigate all misconduct.”

On Monday, the department reported the latest inmate death in San Diego County. According to a press release, the 33-year-old prisoner was found unconscious in his cell at the Vista Detention Facility. He died at the district hospital. His cause and manner of death are still under investigation. The department said he was given naloxone, an opioid overdose medication, and that Deputy K-9 searched his cell but found no illegal contraband.

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