By CSLEA Supervising Counsel Dave De La Riva

Bargaining Unit 7 Investigators and Peace Officer Is are responsible for maintaining law and order at the Canyon Springs Community Facility in Cathedral City. On June 21, CSLEA Legal Counsel David De La Riva along with site representative Investigator Amo Virk met with Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Labor Relations staff to discuss scheduling changes at Canyon Springs due to a lack of staffing andthe on-going need for DDS to continue its attempts to not only retain its current staff but to recruit new Investigator and Peace Officer I staff.

Canyon Springs is designed to provide residential services, treatment, and training for up to 55 adults who have developmental and intellectual disabilities. This facility requires 24/7 peace officer staffing. The Peace Officer I job specification requires the Peace Officer I staff to assist nursing personnel in controlling severely combative clients; provide crisis intervention services to clients regarding such incidents as fights, assaults on staff members, involvement with drugs and alcohol, and sexual misconduct. Minimum requirements for the Peace Officer I position also include the successful completion of the Peace Officer Standards and Training certified basic academy course. Given these stringent requirements, Canyon Springs is competing with other local police agencies which are also facing peace officer staffing shortages. Because of these shortages, the sworn-Investigator staff at Canyon Springs are called upon to continue to perform investigations at the facility in addition to assisting or filling in for the Peace Officer I staff, as is often necessary.  

During its meeting with DDS, CSLEA reminded DDS Labor Relations staff that its changes in recruitment tactics are likely to not make a difference in acquiring new candidates at Canyon Springs or at its Porterville facility unless compensation which is competitive with local agencies is offered. As such, there were several monetary-based suggestions made to DDS Labor Relations staff which CSLEA believes will be taken into strong consideration by DDS. In the meantime, the dwindling peace officer staff at Canyon Springs and Porterville continueto successfully function on limited staffing.

CSLEA thanks all DDS peace officers for their dedication to their work and CSLEA will continue to push for both staffing and compensation which will make DDS facilities safer places to work.