Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) received the Orange County Sheriff’s Award from Sheriff Don Barnes yesterday at a surprise informal ceremony during a Division Commanders’ briefing with high-level command staff in Santa Ana.
The Sheriff gives the award to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the community. The award is in recognition of Senator Bates’ legislative efforts to improve public safety, including her work over the years to reduce fentanyl-related deaths.
“I give my heartfelt appreciation to Sheriff Barnes for this prestigious award,” said Senator Bates. “Just as importantly, I thank him and all the members of the Sheriff’s Department for their ongoing efforts to keep Orange County as safe as possible. I look forward to continuing to work with these outstanding public safety professionals to advance their goal of keeping Orange County as one of the safest counties in our state.”
Sheriff Barnes said, “Senator Pat Bates has been a steadfast advocate for policies that keep our community safe. As one example, over the last five years the Senator has been my partner in sounding the alarm about fentanyl and the need to enact legislation to hold accountable those trafficking this deadly substance. The Senator’s efforts are worthy of recognition. I am pleased to honor her with the Sheriff’s Award for her continual defense of our public safety mission.”
Senator Bates has authored several measures in recent years to make every community safer. They include SB 722 (2015) to crack down on sex offenders who willfully remove or disable their tracking devices, SB 1283 (2016) to address the growing concern over the proliferation of sober living homes in residential neighborhoods, and SB 75 (2017) to expand the definition of “violent felonies” to include crimes deemed to be serious and violent in nature.
In partnership with San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, she authored SB 1109(2018) that then Governor Jerry Brown signed into law. SB 1109 informs Californians, especially young people, about the risks of prescription opioids.
Governor Gavin Newsom also signed two public safety bills from Senator Bates into law this year. They are SB 434 (“Brandon’s Law”) to protect people seeking addiction treatment from false advertising and marketing services, and SB 248 to strengthen the law regarding sexually violent predators.
