By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Ramona mayor Bill Alcorn is tired of seeing a lack of law enforcement in his town.

The mayor, accompanied by ordinance officer Richard Giroux, Jr., talked to county commissioners Monday.

The town has very little law enforcement presence and faces lengthy delays when an officer is needed, Alcorn said. People who bond out of jail after being arrested on drug charges come to Ramona.

“I get all of them,” he said.

Sheriff Rob Craft, called to Monday’s meeting for the discussion, disagreed with nearly everything Alcorn said.

“If you have a concern, all you have to do is call me,” Craft said.

“I have called,” Alcorn said.

Alcorn said Craft “told a good story” after he was elected about his office being responsive to Ramona.

“You have not been back since,” Alcorn said.

Craft said he’s been there numerous times.

“I’ve seen you twice,” Alcorn said.

Alcorn said deputies once told a man for whom there was a warrant that they were not going to arrest him.

“I can assure you that’s not true,” Craft said.

Alcorn disagreed.

He said also he’s called the sheriff’s office at night and been told by dispatchers that it would take quite a while to get a deputy there because only one officer was on duty in the southern part of the county.

“Why can’t you have more than one?” Alcorn said.

“I apologize that you feel that way,” Craft said.

Craft said he can’t arrest someone if there is not enough proof a crime took place.

“I do know our city attorney is setting up a meeting with you,” Alcorn said.

“I’d be happy to meet with them,” Craft answered.