MAJOR CRIME EDGES UP; POT PULLING SOARS

The Tehama County Sheriff's Department 2001 annual report released this
week shows a minimal rise in major crimes and a phenomenal increase in
marijuana eradication.

The report, which covers statistics for the unincorporated areas of Tehama
County, showed major crimes were up 3 percent in 2001. Major crimes,
including robbery, burglary, theft, assault, rape and homicide, increased
to 1,034 in 2001 from 1,002 in 2000.

The county saw more rapes, burglaries and thefts in 2001, with murders
remaining the same at three. Robberies and assaults declined.

The report showed rapes increased from five in 2000 to eight in 2001.
Burglaries and thefts also increased from 202 burglaries in 2000 to 226 in
2001 and 323 thefts in 2000 to 339 in 2001.

Robberies and assaults dropped. In 2000, there were seven robberies and
only four in 2001. There were 462 assaults in 2000 with 454 in 2001.

TCSD Capt. Paul Hosler said the percentage increase in crime stands out
because the county's crime numbers are so low to begin with.

"Our crime statistics are so small anyway, one or two crimes makes the
percentage look like a lot. In actuality, we don't have that much crime.
Especially compared to other areas, like Oakland where there's already been
30 homicides this year," said Hosler.

Marijuana eradication numbers are up. In 2001, the TCSD Marijuana
Eradication Team removed 87,131 marijuana plants from public and private
lands in Tehama County. That number is up from 42,000 in 2000, an increase
of 50 percent, and up from 26,000 in 1999, an increase of 70 percent.

The county's eradication effort, headed by recently reelected Sheriff Clay
Parker, has gained recognition from the Department of Justice for removing
the most plants in the State of California.

Parker said in the report, "Tehama County's efforts alone prevented over 45
tons of marijuana from reaching our streets. Additionally, 22 armed
suspects were arrested in your national forests and public lands as they
attempted to grow and harvest this illicit drug."

Calls for service and hours logged on patrol also increased in 2001. The
report said 19,110 calls for service were taken in 2001, compared to 16,000
in 2000, a fact the department attributes to a better community
relationship and trust.

During 2001, deputies increased patrol time by more than 2,000 hours. They
spent 13,099 hours patroling streets, businesses and residential districts
in 2001, up from 11,000 hours in 2000.

The report also highlights some of the department's programs, such as the
Chaplain Corps led by Pastor Ron Fortenberry and the STARS program.

The Chaplain Corps, established in late 2000, consists of a four-man
volunteer unit that assists the department with death and emergency
notifications and counseling.

The STARS program, or Sheriff's Team of Active Retired Seniors, is a
staffed by senior volunteers who assist in the jail, perform house checks
and assist in search and rescue.