(Auburn, CA) — The Placer County Board of Supervisors met last Tuesday to discuss, amongst other things, the fate of approximately $940,487 in public funds.
At the scheduled meeting, Sheriff Wayne Woo and others presented an outline for a new Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certified academy in Auburn. The program, which aims to overcome police academy challenges and staff shortages was passed unanimously by the Board with minimal questioning.
According to Sheriff Woo, the plan is “historic,” establishing the “first ever” police academy in the county and the first academy in California “in over 20 years.”
Sheriff Wayne Woo presenting to the Placer County Board of Supervisors on March 10th. Cover Image: Sheriff Wayne Woo and Lt. Michael Quavvis, at the Board Meeting. Photo Credit: Placer County via YouTube / Image by Robert MacMahon
Agenda documents and the Sheriff's PowerPoint presentation to the Board outline the program's logistics and the cash flow between involved parties. The PCSO will lease 3050 Bell Road from Auburn Union School District at $7000 per month for 3 years with lease options for up to six years. The county will also pay utilities and an estimated $16,000 annually for general maintenance on the once beloved school.
Some may remember from the news that 3050 Bell Road was known as Rock Creek Elementary until it was closed in a 3-2 vote by Auburn Unified amidst parental protest in 2023. The cause: budget cuts. According to AUSD documents published during the 2022-2023 school year student demographics were 72% Hispanic/Latino, 15.3% disabled, and 71.6% “socioeconomically disadvantaged.” 9.2% of students were homeless.
Now the school will serve up to one hundred recruits per year with two classes capped at fifty each. Annually, the estimates show the academy will cost over $700,000. Startup costs are estimated at $236,892.
With such a price tag, the creators of the academy have devised financial offsets to mitigate costs. Notably, an estimated $584,000 from Sierra College. This includes up to $150,000 in Proposition 20 funds (state money from the sale of lotto tickets). Sierra College will also donate $9530 in equipment from their current law enforcement program.
Additionally, an estimated $210,000 will be generated by “non-tuition fees” of $3,500 per student. Sheriff Woo said that costs for the program are “right in line with the highest rate in the region” and that recruits from as far away as Monterrey and Siskiyou County may be in the student’s seat.
Budget in a memorandum from the PCSO to the Board. As found on meeting agenda documents. Photo Credit: from “Memorandum - Placer County Sheriff’s Office Establishment of a Regional POST-Certified Law Enforcement Training Academy” via Placer County Board of Supervisors / Image by Robert MacMahon
While agencies line up, there is a down trend of crime in California. Based on the most recent figures, the California Legislative Analysis Office says, “Placer had the lowest violent crime rate” of any county in the state.
In neighboring Sacramento County, OpGov.news reports that the Sheriff's Department faces a massive budget cut amidst a 50 year low rate of homicides. OpGov also reports that San Francisco saw a dramatic decrease in crime in 2025.
This aside, the Sheriff and the Board see expansion in Placer County.
Sheriff Woo called for hiring up to 40 sheriff deputies, a 25% increase from the 30 deputies proposed and a 16% increase from the current force. The Sheriff clearly indicates future growth, saying “we look forward to a new facility in the future.” He cites a lack of expansion opportunity at the remnants of Rock Creek. Later, Board Member Demattei laughed in concurrence that the project might “need more than 50 acres.” The current location is eleven.
But not everyone shares in this zeal. Cecil Greenhouse, an inquisitive citizen, called into the meeting. Cecil wanted to “make sure…what we’re trying to train others” involves teaching recruits to have “a level of respect no matter who the person is.” Greenhouse cited a negative experience with the PCSO in addition to other questions and comments. Sheriff Woo did not respond to that part of Cecil's call.
A segment of the phone call by Cecil Greenhouse at the Board Meeting on 3/10/2026. Video Credit: Placer County / YouTube
Even with lottery tickets, clever financing, and fees, the growing academy comes at a cost to the county. Current estimates are at $53,457 annually with startup costs of almost $87,000 for improvements and equipment. As such, PCSO requested and was granted a $236,892 appropriation increase through an amendment to the 2025-2026 county budget.
The program may begin in August, though no definitive date has been set.
If you have anything to add or to correct in this report, please contact me at robert.m@lead4earth.org and leave a comment below!
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