Sheriff Kelly Martinez

MEDICAL EXAMINER RULES JAIL DEATH OF DIABETIC HOMICIDE, FAMILY PLANS LAWSUIT AGAINST COUNTY

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s Sheriff’s department has been under scrutiny for years over its high rate of jail deaths. Despite numerous reforms implemented by Sheriff Kelly Martinez that have reduced the overall number of prisoner deaths, yet another shocking death has sparked a lawsuit against the County—this time, a diabetic man who pleaded for insulin, as did fellow inmates on his behalf. His empty insulin pump beeped for nearly 24 hours before the man was found dead in his jail cell.

Keith Galen Bach, 62, of Chula Vista died in San Diego’s Central Jail a year ago, on Sept. 28. He was arrested Sept. 25 on charges of vandalism and making criminal threats. He was hospitalized briefly due to diabetic-related illness before being jailed; at the time of his arrest he had informed staff he would run out of insulin the next day, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.


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PROGRAMAS DEL ALGUACIL OBTIENEN RECONOCIMENTO NACIONAL


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SHERIFF'S PROGRAMS EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION

 
Awards honor excellence in effective public service.
 
July 16, 2024 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is celebrating three awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo).

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SHERIFF ANNOUNCES DRUG AND CONTRABAND SCREENINGS FOR JAIL EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS

By Miriam Raftery
 
July 13, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez this week announced that random screenings for drugs and contraband will be implemented for all personnel assigned to county jails, as well as for contractors and others with business in county detention facilities, though not public visitation areas. Belongings will also be screened.
 
To protect security, the details, locations and frequency of screenings is not being disclosed, however a Sheriff’s K-9 dog trained to detect drugs will be present. 
 
The action aims to further reduce San Diego’s high rate of in-custody deaths. In 2022, a state auditor report found that 185 people died in San Diego County jails from 2006 to 2020. Since then, Sheriff Kelly Martinez has rolled out many reforms which have reduced jail deaths, most of which occurred in people being held awaiting hearings. Her actions have reduced, but not eliminated jail deaths; six people have died in custody locally so far this year.

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HEAR OUR INTERVIEW WITH SHERIFF KELLY MARTINEZ

View video of full interview; Hear audio

March 24, 2023 (San Diego) – Earlier this month, East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery interviewed San Diego County’s new Sheriff, Kelly Martinez, for our radio show on KNSJ.  She’s been in law enforcement since 1985, working her way up the ranks from Deputy Sheriff to Undersheriff before winning election as Sheriff last November. She’s also the first woman to serve as San Diego’s top law enforcement officer. In our interview, she spoke about efforts to improve jails and reduce jail deaths, combat human trafficking and fentanyl overdoses, hold deputies accountable for wrongdoing, address homelessness issues, and expand staffing - including some jobs currently open, and more.

Audio: 


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.