By Jade Martinez-Pogue, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @MartinezPogue
February 21, 2021
| 7:15 p.m.
An operational performance review of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department suggested that the agency expand the use of civilianized roles, adopt a demand-driven workload base, and expand the use of data-driven decision making.
The Sheriff’s Department currently has a sheriff’s service technician (SST) position, a role created to shift administrative or analytical tasks from law enforcement deputies to civilian staff, according to a report by consulting group KPMG.
Expanding the use of SSTs across different departments is a lower-cost option that can help to free up deputies, said Alex Rothman, a KPMG manager of government performance and operations.
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By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor | @JaneneScully
February 11, 2021
| 9:09 p.m.
A Grover Beach man has pleaded guilty in Santa Barbara County Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter for his role in the killing of a Santa Maria man whose dismembered remains were found in a pond at a Nipomo golf course.
Benjamin Mersai
Benjamin Mersai, now 34, changed his plea last month in a Santa Maria courtroom, where he originally had been charged with murder.
In September, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff s Department dive team recovered the remains of Joseph Martin Govey, 53, of Santa Maria in a pond at Blacklake Golf Resort, 1490 Golf Course Lane in Nipomo.
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