Riverside County Set to Continue Partnership with FBI

RIVERSIDE - Riverside County supervisors are expected tomorrow to approve a sheriff's request for the county to remain active in two federally managed fugitive apprehension teams that last year nabbed nearly 60 wanted men and women.

Sheriff Stan Sniff is seeking Board of Supervisors' approval to keep a deputy assigned full-time to the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF) and the agency's Inland Regional Apprehension Team (IRAT) during the 2013-14 fiscal year.

''This is a crucial crime-fighting team that has provided significant safety benefits to the county for over 14 years,'' according to a sheriff's statement.

In 2012, the SSTF and IRAT captured or assisted other agencies in capturing 59 fugitives, according to sheriff's documents.

''In September 2012, (IRAT) tracked a suspect wanted for attempted murder to Las Vegas ... and was able to take him into custody without incident,'' documents stated. ''In December 2012, the team arrested in Moreno Valley a fugitive wanted for attempted murder in Lane County, Oregon ... He was also a parolee-at-large in California.''

The cost of keeping a deputy on assignment will be $121,116 in the current fiscal year, according to sheriff's officials.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office and Riverside Police Department also have personnel assigned full-time to the units.

The funds for the deputy have already been budgeted, and there will be no additional costs to the county, documents indicated.