During my career as your Sheriff, I have been and continue to be a proponent of community policing, as a problem-solving philosophy.  I expect all members of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office to consider themselves as problem solvers.  It’s easy to point out a problem, but not so easy to find solutions.  I have consistently emphasized the phrase, “We can’t do it because…” is unacceptable and must be dismissed.  I have encouraged and empowered all members of the Sheriff’s Office to figure out how we can.

        To that end, our Mission statement involves working in partnership with our community to provide effective public safety services:

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is committed to work in partnership with our community to enhance the safety, security, and quality of life for the residents and visitors of Kern County through professional public safety services.  

The public we serve is an essential part of that equation, and we cannot solve the problems facing our community alone.  We have long believed the public should take an active part in solving problems facing our community.  Over the years we have tried various ways to solicit community feedback with varying degrees of success, such as holding Community Academies, hosting National Night Out events, and participating in many other community events throughout our great county. However, none have been as successful as our partnership with the Community Advisory Council (CAC).  

      In 2020, the CAC began as a series of informal discussions about law enforcement and slowly transformed into a structured CAC that it is today. Since that time, we have met on a monthly basis with a committed group of community stakeholders, where we have engaged in meaningful dialogue about various topics.  The CAC was founded to bring us closer to the people we serve and provide a credible voice the community can trust. While there is still work to be done, the Sheriff’s Office is moving in the right direction to build trust, accountability, and integrity with the public we serve. 

     I would like to thank all of the CAC members, and the communities they represent, for their interest and input. I am looking forward to continuing to work together with the CAC to increase transparency and providing a forum for our community members to have a voice in our processes.  Only by working together can we effectively identify problems and develop lasting solutions.  

Sincerely,

Sheriff Donny Youngblood

County of Kern