Montecito residents want a quicker response time from local law enforcement, so the Montecito Association is working to get a sheriff’s substation in that community.
Jacqueline Duran, a member of the association’s Board of Directors, said frustrations came to a head in October when a man was found sleeping in a Montecito Union School classroom and there was a significant delay in response from law enforcement.
“We are hoping that having a substation in Montecito will help with that,” Duran said. “We’re not getting additional sheriffs at the moment, but we’re hoping that this will facilitate at least the response time.”
Duran said that in February the Montecito Association heard from sheriff’s detectives that there has been a significant increase in crime and break-ins in the area.
“That is pretty scary, especially for a small town where we’re used to having a sleepy town and a very safe town,” Duran said. “Those factors have really motivated a lot of people in the community, and so far we have a lot of good traction and positive response; a lot of people want to come out and help.”
The initial cost is estimated to be around $30,000 to cover computers and IT security. Duran said they haven’t officially secured a spot yet, but an ongoing lease will be an additional expense.
As of now, the county is not part of funding this project; however the cost of an ongoing lease and maintenance could become part of the county budget in the future.
“Right now, the community is so motivated that we’re thinking we can foot the bill,” Duran said. “We can put our money together and get this going, and then we can show them and prove to them that this is working.”
The substation would also be a benefit to law enforcement as they would have a place between the stations in Goleta and Carpinteria to write reports.
Lt. Rich Brittingham said right now deputies have to drive from the Carpinteria sheriff’s station at 5775 Carpinteria Ave. to Montecito to respond to incidents, and then drive back to Carpinteria to write up their reports.
“Sometimes a deputy will be in Carpinteria and they got to fight traffic to get to Montecito,” Brittingham said. “It would be a benefit to the community to have a deputy that was able to do a lot of their work that they do in the Carpinteria station in Montecito without leaving the area.”
Brittingham said having a station in Montecito would save deputies time, save wear and tear on vehicles, and improve response times.
Wherever the space ends up, deputies need desks, a secured IT network, computers, bathrooms, a refrigerator, and a place to eat lunch.
They’d also like to have the space available for California Highway Patrol use, Brittingham said.
“They oftentimes would come here to Carpinteria to do a little paperwork or whatnot, but if they could have a place to come and get some of their work done, and that’ll make them more accessible to some of the county areas,” Brittingham said.
Brittingham said the Montecito Association is spearheading the project, but they’re excited about the possibility of a location in Montecito.
Duran said they’ve already received funding commitments from various community members and organizations, and they’re hoping to get the substation up and going in March or April.