Our office continues to actively investigate matters involving the local Fire Safe Council. We know many in our community have been asking about the status of this case, and we appreciate your patience.
Following the execution of a search warrant last year, a large volume of documents—thousands of pages and terabytes of digital information—was collected. The review of these materials is ongoing and time intensive. These kinds of investigations, especially involving public funds, often take months to complete—even in larger jurisdictions with significantly more resources than ours. As with many investigations of this nature, when reviewing information gathered in the early stages, it often leads to the discovery of unknown items of evidence and/or importance that require the need for additional search warrants or court orders to obtain. Our office continues through this process as new potential leads are found.
Here in Nevada County, we remain committed to conducting a comprehensive, thorough, and fair investigation. This case continues to be a priority for our team of attorneys, investigators, and justice partners. Our mission is to make a filing decision as soon as possible, but we will not compromise due diligence or accountability for the sake of speed.
As with many community-based organizations, we recognize that most individuals involved are committed to a positive mission and public service. However, it only takes the actions of a few to undermine those efforts—potentially at the expense of both the mission and taxpayer funds. Our responsibility is to determine whether that has occurred, not to disparage the entire organization or the important work it does. Additionally, while this investigation begins to narrow its focus, the fear of the unknown tends to evoke feelings of apprehension which may lead to a lower level of cooperation and open transparency from those who might otherwise eagerly provide information. When this does occur, the information requested must be obtained through the traditional methods of search warrants and court orders, which can cause delays in reviewing their importance.
We also recognize the essential role that Fire Safe Councils play in communities like ours that are vulnerable to wildfire. But with that role comes a duty to ensure that public funds are used appropriately, and that public trust is upheld.
If members of the public have questions, they are welcome to contact our office directly. We remain committed to transparency and appreciate the community’s engagement and concern as we work toward a resolution.