For Immediate Release

Sergeant Anthony Prencipe

On May 10^th, 2020, The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office began enforcement on illegal marijuana grows in El Dorado County. This follows after the May 5^th, 2020, County Ordinance no. 5122- Personal Cultivation of Cannabis, was passed by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. The ordinance is consistent with the regulations set forth by the State of California on the cultivation of cannabis.

Since the start of the enforcement on illegal marijuana grows, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has served more than one hundred criminal search warrants which have resulted in the eradication of more than 126 thousand illegal marijuana plants.  The ordinance is clear regarding the number of marijuana plants per residence as 6, the search warrants that we have executed have been on illegal marijuana grows much larger than this, many consisting of thousands of marijuana plants.

We have recently seen complaints on social media regarding the Sheriff’s Office destroying property, including safes and green houses. If the contents inside of a safe are part of the search warrant, it will be searched. Safes have only been broken into when the owner refuses to provide the combination, flees the area and/or a locksmith is unavailable or unable to open the safe.  It is also common practice and for health and safety measures that “hoop houses” are dismantled due to health concerns and heat prior to the personnel beginning the eradication process. 

El Dorado County has clear laws regarding cultivation of cannabis which can be found at the below link. If you are planning to grow cannabis in El Dorado County, please follow these regulations.

For Immediate Release

Sergeant Anthony Prencipe

“Friends and Neighbors,

Your Sheriff’s Office and I are extremely disturbed with the facts surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.  We have watched the video and understand the amount of emotion and tension that it is causing throughout the country.  We, as you, pray that justice prevails throughout that process.  We also want to assure all of you that we hold your safety and our Constitutional Rights in the utmost regard.

“Total Care” and “Total Professionalism” are two of the tenets of our Vision Statement.  Your Sheriff’s Office is here for the benefit of our community and to ensure its safety.  We have, and will continue, to do this by going above and beyond, caring for each and every person that we encounter or is in our custody. 

We will continue to train our employees and hire the best possible candidates. We know the level of trust that you put into your local law enforcement and we take our oath seriously.

The 1^st Amendment guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peacefully and freedom of speech. We understand these rights.  We train about these rights and we will not infringe on those rights.  

Another tenet of our Vision Statement is “Total Enforcement on crime and criminals”. While we absolutely understand and agree with all of our rights to peacefully protest, we do not and will not condone rioting, looting, or other criminal acts which we have seen occurring in cities across the country.  We want our community to know that we will enforce the laws of our land and are prepared to protect your safety.  What I call “Protest Hackers”, those that infiltrate peaceful protests with nefarious and violent intentions, will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

Together, we will all get through this.  Please be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity you observe.  This will help us help you.”

Your Sheriff,

John D’Agostini

For Immediate Release

Sergeant Anthony Prencipe

El Dorado County Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) permit holders will now have until the end of October to renew their permits due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, April 30, El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini implemented emergency CCW extensions for permits expiring in 2020. Permits set to expire before October 31 will have their validity extended to October 31, 2020. These extensions are only valid in El Dorado County and may not be recognized by other law enforcement jurisdictions.

The emergency extensions come after the Governor’s Shelter in Place Order placed limitations on public gatherings. With the restrictions, permit holders have not been able to complete mandatory refresher courses and renewal interviews. Though the permits have been extended, CCW holders are encouraged to begin the renewal process online at EDSO’s website or mobile app.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office says that CCW Permit holders using facial coverings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while legally carrying their weapon, will not be in violation of Penal Code 25300(a).

New CCW permit applications can still be started by El Dorado County. However, they will be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information regarding the CCW permitting process, please visit eldoradoca.permitium.com/ccw/start or download our mobile app.