Interview: Sacramento County Sheriff-elect Jim Cooper on his biggest challenges

Hear the full interview with Sacramento County Sheriff-elect Jim Cooper at 9 a.m. on CapRadio's Insight. Listen live on 90.9 FM or by streaming online.

There are a number of issues waiting for Sacramento County Sheriff-elect Jim Cooper when he takes over the office next January.

From the region's homelessness crisis to the rise in crime spurred by the pandemic, the California state Assembly member and former mayor of Elk Grove is preparing to take over an office that hasn't had a new sheriff in more than a decade. Cooper spent three decades in various positions at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office before running for elected office.

In June’s primary election, Cooper defeated Undersheriff Jim Barnes, who was endorsed by outgoing Sheriff Scott Jones. Cooper previously lost a bid for sheriff to Jones in 2010.

Cooper said he's been in touch with both Jones and Barnes to work on a transition.

"Elections are tough. They're not nice," he told CapRadio Insight Host Vicki Gonzalez. "And that's just the shape of things. But we're here. It's over now. We want to work together. We all want what's best for the men and women of the sheriff's department as well as the community. "

Cooper spoke with CapRadio Insight host Vicki Gonzalez about what he sees as the major issues facing the sheriff's office, how law enforcement has changed in the past decade, and his feelings about being the first Black sheriff in Sacramento County's history.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Interview Highlights

On what he thinks has changed since he first ran for sheriff in 2010

Just the whole climate has changed, with the reforms, the demonstrations we saw. So I'm coming back to a very different sheriff's department than I left eight years ago. So there is some adjustment on that. But being in the Legislature, you've seen some of the issues firsthand, interacting and working with my colleagues. So it was good to get away and step back and get a different perspective.

On if he's coordinating with outgoing Sheriff Scott Jones

We've talked and he talked about transition and hopefully that's going to come to fruition. I have every reason to believe it will happen versus not happening, so I'm excited to get back. A lot of good young men and women there that are working hard, but it's a different time.

On if he has communicated with Undersheriff Jim Barnes, his opponent in the election

I talked to him. He was very cordial. Me and Jim were friends before this, and I think we remain friends. And it's tough. Elections are tough. They're not nice. And that's just the shape of things. But we're here. It's over now. We want to work together. We all want what's best for the men and women of the sheriff's department as well as the community.

On if being the first Black sheriff in the county's 170 year history will that bring a different perspective

I've lived in Sacramento my entire life, but being a person of color, you bring a different perspective because you have different experiences, a different background. So I think that's what helps me and shapes me in being a more well-rounded person and understanding some of the issues out there in the community.

I think [the bar] is going to be higher. And that's one of the unfortunate things. We saw that with [former Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn], people expected a lot. And law enforcement's a tough job to do and you're really dealing with some at times horrific things. So a lot of folks don't understand that. So the bar is set very high and the honeymoon will be over very quickly.

On if the culture of law enforcement has changed since he was part of the sheriff's office 

It has changed dramatically — for some good portions and some not so good portions, and that's the thing folks don't realize right now. The No. 1 issue is homelessness and crime is right behind that as a big issue. A lot of folks don't feel safe. And it's really not fear mongering. We've seen the statistics, what's gone on with that and violent crime is up. So it's really balancing that. And the big thing is, we want to have better reforms, in that we've had some good reforms and some not so good reforms. Mental illness is a big issue that we're dealing with right now. A lot of folks don't want to address the issue and be the adult in the room. You know, the governor is starting that conversation. I do want to be the adult inthe room and make the hard decisions.

On his role in reducing gun violence

To go out there and deal with the problem people. And in this situation downtown on K Street, all those individuals are prohibited from carrying guns. They carry them anyways. So that enforcement arm, you need that out there to deal with these folks. And it's a problem, it's very pervasive. You know, how do you deal with it? You've got to work in the community. You've got to reach our kids early on, because some of these kids emulate these folks and see them around the neighborhood, and we've got to change that narrative.

And that's really getting involved in those neighborhoods and it comes back. Think about our most blighted neighborhoods — what do they have in common? Underperforming schools, no banks, no supermarkets, no sports programs or arts programs for kids. So we need to change that. And then also, the laws are very lax right now. You know, I've tried to pass legislation in the Legislature to address these individuals — the violent individuals — where if you're carrying a gun, you're going to be held accountable. They don't want to do that. And those folks that are on the other end know that there is not a lot of accountability right now. You're not going to get in trouble. It's a misdemeanor.