PROBATION OFFICERS WALK OFF JOB PROTESTERS CITE UNDERSTAFFING, NO CONTRACT.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

Saying years of inadequate staffing has left them in grave physical danger, about two-thirds of Los Angeles County's probation officers and staffers called in sick or walked off their jobs Tuesday.

The job action left many probation field offices with skeleton crews as employees who remained at work were ordered to staff the county's three juvenile halls and 19 probation camps, Chief Probation Officer Paul Higa said.

Local law enforcement officials did not report any violent or unusual incidents involving people on probation, and probationers who had appointments were rescheduled.

But as part of the action, 1,000 Probation Department employees rallied outside the county Hall of Administration downtown, asking the Board of Supervisors to hire more probation officers and approve a new contract.

Chronic understaffing - combined with a federal monitor's order to reduce the use of pepper spray and restraints - has resulted in an ``explosive'' situation, with employees being assaulted as they work in juvenile halls and probation camps, employees said.

Board Chairwoman Gloria Molina said staffing is an issue the county needs to address.

``These are issues that must be addressed at the bargaining table and we'll see what we can do to make those arrangements,'' Molina said.

The walkout came after nearly three years of working without a contract. County negotiators declared an impasse June 20 and a state mediator has been called in.

The union is seeking 9 percent raises over three years and reclassification as safety officers, qualifying them for more lucrative pensions and other benefits.

Union members are also frustrated because they say the Board of Supervisors has ignored the recommendations of Higa to hire more probation officers.

On Monday, the union filed two lawsuits against the county, alleging that the lack of staffing has put probation officers - and the young people they supervise - in physical danger.

The actions are more than four years after the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into abuses at the juvenile halls, finding that staff workers used pepper spray excessively, hogtied a child and failed to meet the needs of mentally ill youths despite their threats to kill themselves.

Since then, the county has entered into a settlement agreement with the federal government and has been working to implement the federal monitor's 66 recommendations, including one stressing that the department needs to hire more deputy probation officers.

The settlement agreement comes on the heels of two federal consent decrees that address discrimination in hiring, promotion and service provision.

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com