Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 07/27/04

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES A SECOND
ASSISTANT D.A. POSITION

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of an additional Assistant District Attorney position for his office. District Attorney Passalacqua said, " the new position will create a management model to help us respond to a sharp increase in serious crimes in the county, including homicide cases, gang crimes, and sexual assaults."

The new Assistant position will permit a minor reorganization of the office into a Criminal Trial Division and an Administrative/Training division, each under the supervision of an Assistant District Attorney. Passalacqua stated that the new Assistant is also needed to supervise the new District Attorney's Victim-Witness Program which was formerly in the County Probation Department.

Candidates for the new position will compete under County Civil Service procedures, and the tenure of the position will be tied to the term of the District Attorney. The new position will establish flexibility for Sonoma County District Attorneys to appoint one chief assistant of their choosing such as other District Attorneys already do throughout the state. District Attorney Passalacqua expects to fill the new position later this year.