RAN
MERCED COUNTY REMOTE ACCESS NETWORK BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – 10:00 A.M.
Merced County District Attorney’s Office – 3rd Floor Training Room 550 W. Main Street, Merced, California
Members:
Anna Hazel – Chairperson
Greg Sullivan – Vice Chairperson
Ruben Chavez
Pat Nagy
Ray Reyna
Nicole Silveira
Scott Silveira
Steve Stanfield
Vern Warnke
I. Call to Order: - The regular meeting of the RAN Board was called to order by Chairperson Anna Hazel, Chief Investigator of the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, at 10:06 A.M.
II. Roll Call/Introductions: Everyone present signed in prior to the start of the meeting.
Members present:
Chief Investigator Anna Hazel Merced County District Attorney’s Office Mayor Pat Nagy City of Gustine
Chief Ray Reyna Los Banos Police Department
District Attorney Nicole Silveira Merced County District Attorney’s Office Supervisor Scott Silveira Merced County Board of Supervisors Captain Greg Sullivan Merced County Sheriff’s Department
Members not present:
Chief Ruben Chavez Gustine Police Department, represented Chief Steve Stanfield Merced Police Department, represented Sheriff Vern Warnke Merced County Sheriff’s Office, represented
Other Attendees:
Lieutenant Steve Bassi Merced County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Dan Dabney Merced Police Department
Legal Assistant Marlene Glusing Merced County District Attorney’s Office Interim Chief Francisco Martinez Gustine Police Department
Public Comments: Chairperson Anna Hazel called for public comment. Having none, the Board moved on to the next agenda item.
III. Approval of Minutes: Chairperson Anna Hazel called for the review and motion to approve the Minutes of the May 28, 2024 Board Meeting. Lieutenant Dan Dabney moved to approve the Minutes, and District Attorney Nicole Silveira seconded the motion.
IV. Reports:
a. 2024/2025 Budget - Captain Sullivan reported that the trust balance has gone down after the NEC bill was paid in full. He said we will be able to get through this year and should bring in approximately $400,000 through vehicle registrations from DMV, but the Board will need to watch spending from this time on. If there are any requests for this year, please send them to Captain Sullivan. He also reported that they are trying to keep the air cards in place and not purchasing big items. Captain Sullivan said small office items are fine, but money is tight. Supervisor Scott Silveira asked how often the money is received and Captain Sullivan said they can’t tell when money is coming in because it is based on license renewals from DMV. Captain Sullivan also stated there is one ID Technician that will be transitioning from the Los Banos Police Department, and there will be some salary savings from that position.
b. NEC - Lieutenant Steve Bassi reported that the Atwater, Livingston, Los Banos, Gustine and Dos Palos Police Departments units are completed, but the Merced Police Department and the Merced County Sheriff’s Department are pending. He stated that Mike Harris and Crystal Ruiz have been in contact with the Merced Police Department, and some units have been deployed to their Sergeants.
Lieutenant Bassi reported that the Department of Justice requirement was to go to SFTP for the scanners and they are now in compliance. He said that NEC wanted them to pay $20,000 for it, but they told NEC that it was part of the contract and a requirement of the Department of Justice, so that is now done and the PR264 fix is next. Lieutenant Bassi also reported that Livescan sites now include the person’s hair and facial hair, and this addition has been deployed to all machines in the county. Supervisor Scott Silveira stated that the Sheriff’s Department is done and asked about the other jurisdictions. Lieutenant Bassi said that all units in the county have been updated. He also announced that
Kristopher Hew was formerly with the transportation unit at the Sheriff’s Department and has now taken the position of ID Technician. He stated that Jessican Santiago left the Sheriff’s Department and is now doing a good job for the Department of Justice.
Supervisor Scott Silveira asked how the units from NEC are working. Chief Reyna stated that the Los Banos Police Department has used them a couple of times but he has not received any feedback. Lieutenant Bassi said that the Gustine Police Department has been using them, and so has the Coroner’s Office, and said staff at the Coroner’s Office don’t touch the body until then. Lieutenant Bassi also stated that Sergeant Ruiz used the Livescan a couple of weeks ago, got a positive response, and said that there was no waiting time at the jail.
Lieutenant Dabney said the units save a lot of time. Chairperson Anna Hazel said she is looking forward to using it for ID cases. Captain Sullivan stated the Sheriff’s Department has used it on the west side on a missing person case and they were able to identify the person and get him back to where he needed to be.
Chairperson Hazel asked if protocol is being developed and Chief Reyna responded that it is fair policy. Lieutenant Dabney stated it is either consensual or you need to know in order to have probable cause.
V. Merced Police Department: Lieutenant Dan Dabney stated the quote they had received was increased, but they have now stated in their letter that further requests are to be no more than $1,000 per year . Captain Sullivan said the quote was from Dell Technologies and Supervisor Scott Silveira stated this is for the actual air card. Captain Sullivan stated they are taking money from that account and moving it to pay for their message switch server. Chief Reyna made a motion to approve the payment and Supervisor Silveira seconded the motion.
VI. Old Business: None.
VII. New Business: None.
VIII. Comments and Announcements:
a. 2025 RAN Board Elections – Chief Hazel passed around copies of the current Bylaws, which call for the election of a Chairperson each year, and stated there hasn’t been an election for a couple of years. She said an election needs to be done at the January meeting and there will be time for nominations to be done by e-mail.
Supervisor Silveira stated that Dos Palos is not included in the current Bylaws, and Captain Sullivan stated that Dos Palos is welcome and have been included in the past. Chief Hazel announced that a new Chief is being sworn in at Livingston Police Department tonight, a person who was formerly with the San Francisco Police Department.
IX. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 10:24 a.m.
Everyone will be notified of when the next meeting will be.