President Tom Propst welcomed LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell as our guest speaker on July 1.
 
In his first meeting as President of Glendale Sunrise Rotary, President Tom Propst welcomed LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell to our meeting. Due to the impending Academy graduation later this morning, Sheriff McDonnell needed to speak prior to breakfast. Following the flag salute led by Richard, the inspiration inspired by Yvette, and the 4 way test by Cody, Sheriff McDonnell first congratulated our city on the selection of Rob Castro as our Police Chief.
Sheriff McDonnell then talked by the high levels of Accountability and Transparency in the current department. Additionally, sharing his first week on the job in how unique LA is, he had a body recovery off of Catalina and a snow rescue in the local mountains. Only in Los Angeles. Sheriff McDonnell discussed the prison population and the rise of mental health within the system. There are currently 17,000 inmates in custody and the people they are housing are more violent. AB 109 continues to be an issue with the early release of prisoners as well as Prop 47. There is a need to expand the department in an effort to meet the ongoing needs of the community. Sheriff McDonnell feels LA is one of the most transparent departments in the United States, and his main motto is holding people accountable. The mental health population is growing like crazy and Meth has become the number 1 drug that is creating much of the problems.
 
After thanking Sheriff McDonnell, breakfast was served followed by announcements. The club assembly will take place next week, Banners on Brand is in full gear, and Peggy Smith wowed us with her Sergeant of Arms tactics.
 
See all of you next week.