In Conversation with Lt. Richard Brittingham

Our Town news correspondent is happy to report on the recent interview I did with our new Chief of Police Services, City of Carpinteria, Lieutenant Rich Brittingham, South County Operations Division-Coastal. 

Brittingham and his team of officers provide law enforcement to the unincorporated county areas of Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria Valley, and to the City of Carpinteria. Since 1992, the City of Carpinteria has contracted with Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services including patrol functions, law enforcement support, traffic enforcement operations, and parking enforcement.

In their press release, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department states, “Lt. Brittingham is a 21-year veteran of the SBC Sheriff’s Office, with over 27 years of law enforcement experience, from criminal investigations to City of Goleta Chief of Police. His experience, exceptional leadership and managerial skill sets position him well for his new role in Carpinteria. He is highly regarded for his ability to thrive in team environments and has been commended for his leadership, community responsiveness, forward-thinking approach, and outstanding communication skills.”

Lt. Brittingham has been working with his team since July. He and I were on schedule for an in-person interview, however, due to scheduling conflicts and staffing, we opted for an email interview, which is detailed here:

Q.What areas of law enforcement are you first focusing on for the unincorporated Santa Barbara County areas of Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria Valley and to the City of Carpinteria? 

A. We will continue with our efforts to remain highly visible in the community with proactive patrols for potential crime reduction efforts. We will focus on community partnership policing by engaging with community members and businesses, establishing trust and a collaborative relationship on problem solving.

There is some local concern that the SBC Sheriff’s Dept. is understaffed, and the people being hired for these roles are not from the local county. Is this valid, and if so, how is it being handled by your team? 

Unfortunately, recently staffing has been an issue for all law enforcement agencies. We have a great Human Resources team that is actively recruiting potential deputies. Most deputies working in the South County area reside in Ventura County because of the high home/rent prices here in Santa Barbara. However, this is not a new occurrence. It would be a benefit if deputies were able to afford to live in the community in which they serve, but I have no worries that our deputies will – and do – handle themselves professionally. We have many deputies that have been assigned to this area for many years, and they feel a connection to the community and its members.

How many deputies are on your team for the area? What is the ratio of deputy to citizens?

We have units that are dedicated to both the City of Carpinteria and the unincorporated areas of Montecito and Summerland. They often work together as they handle their calls for service. So, there could be anywhere from two deputies to four or five deputies in a certain area, depending on the activity at hand. More resources are available by additional deputies working other parts of the County if necessary (i.e. Goleta, unincorporated Santa Barbara, detectives, etc.)

What are your recommendations for citizens/area residents and businesses to help prevent crime and support your efforts? 

I recommend that community members take a proactive approach to safety. Make sure your doors are locked when you are away, report crimes in a timely matter, report suspicious activity, and when they have questions, please reach out and ask a deputy or call the station. Businesses should have updated surveillance equipment and know how to operate it. Good communication between law enforcement and community members is important.

Are there programs with your team and local schools? If yes, please name a few coming up. 

At this point, we do not have any specific program with our local schools. We do provide deputies for the local high school football games and dances. Our Community Resource Deputy (CRD) had an active role in partnering with the schools in Carpinteria. However, this position was recently unfunded by the City. 

Are there statistics you can share about the crime rate, or specific crimes that increased in the area? And how are they being abated? 

I have included statistical information [see Burglary and Crime tables below]. We will continue to provide high visibility patrols, and provide extra patrols to those areas that are experiencing a higher number of incidents. We will also continue to prioritize calls for service, with in-progress calls taking priority. 

Anything else you want the readers/citizens to know? 

The SBSO/Carpinteria Police Department is dedicated to forming a community partnership with community members and local businesses. We value citizen input and look forward to a collaborative effort in ensuring public safety.  

The MJ staff thanks and welcomes Lt. Brittingham to our town.