POLICE SERVICE LACKING STUDY: A.V. RURAL AREAS LOSING OUT.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Antelope Valley's unincorporated communities are seeing fewer sheriff's deputies than there should be, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department report.

In the first report of data gathered because of residents' complaints about response times, the department said deputies in March fulfilled only about two-thirds of the service time expected for the southern valley's unincorporated areas, and about 78 percent in the northern valley.

``At this point, it's hard to say what needs to be done,'' said Jean Huston, an aide to Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who requested the monthly reports. ``We need at least five or six more months of statistics to determine anything. But we can see that the city got a lot closer to getting their baseline of service than the unincorporated areas did in the month reported.''

Littlerock, Pearblossom, Acton and other unincorporated areas served by the Palmdale sheriff's station had deputies at work in them 67.8 percent of the time expected during March - less than 3,200 hours, instead of the expected 4,700 hours - the report said.

Lake Los Angeles, Quartz Hill and other unincorporated areas patrolled by the Lancaster sheriff's station had deputies at work in them for about 77.9 percent of the time expected - more than 4,400 hours, instead of the expected 5,700 hours.

Both local cities got closer to the amount of service they paid for - with Palmdale actually getting more, the report said.

Deputies are commonly brought in on overtime to make sure the city contracts' staffing requirements are fulfilled, while that is not the case in the unincorporated areas, which are the responsibility of Los Angeles County, officials said.

Both Lancaster and Palmdale stations have a number of vacant positions, and deputies frequently work overtime to fill assignments, officials said.

Officials noted that deputies respond outside their patrol areas to back up other deputies in emergencies.

The city of Palmdale was contracted to receive nearly 11,200 hours of service but received nearly 11,300, or 100.9 percent. The city of Lancaster was contracted to receive more than 10,300 hours of service and got 9,700, or 94.5 percent, the report said.

The amount of service going to the cities is determined by the contracts they have signed with the sheriff's Department and for which the cities pay.

The service time expected for unincorporated areas was determined by the amount of staff at each station not assigned to fulfill the cities' contracts.

Lancaster and Palmdale sheriff's officials say the reports highlight the need for adequate staffing and the uniqueness of the Antelope Valley's sprawling unincorporated areas.

``We want to get to calls as quickly as possible,'' said Lancaster sheriff's station Capt. Tom Pigott. ``Given the vast expanse of the valley's unincorporated areas, some areas will take longer to get to. The reports, though, definitely exemplify the need for adequate staffing.''