title
Present a plaque honoring Angelica Freeland, Public Defender Investigator, upon her retirement from the Solano County Public Defender’s Office with over 16 years of public service to Solano County (Supervisor Thomson)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Public Defender’s Office recommends that the Board of Supervisors present a plaque honoring Angelica Freeland, Public Defender Investigator, upon her retirement from the Solano County Public Defender’s Office with over 16 years of public service to Solano County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Ms. Angelica Freeland was raised in the Sunset district of San Francisco. In 1980, she received her associate degree in science and business from San Francisco City College, all while working full-time in the legal field. That same year, she began her public service in the San Francisco city attorney’s office as part of their litigation team. In 1987, she obtained her California Private Investigator’s license and in 1989, left public service to run her own private investigations firm based in Solano County. She and her husband Michael moved to Vacaville where they raised their two boys, Matthew and Timothy.
In 2001, Ms. Freeland began contracting with the Solano County Public Defender’s Office to provide investigative services. Two years later, in 2003, she was hired by the Public Defender’s office as the first ever bilingual Public Defender Investigator. As a Solano County Public Defender Investigator, Ms. Freeland has worked to defend the rights of over a thousand clients accused of crimes ranging from homicide to driving while under the influence. During her career with the Public Defender’s office, Ms. Freeland has been a dedicated member of the team. She protects our clients’ constitutional rights, conducts complete and unbiased investigations, and maintains the highest degree of ethics.
Ms. Freeland’s dedication to public service extends outside of the office. She has been volunteering for many years with Community Action North Bay, Mission Solano, Compassion International, and the Bayside Church in Granite Bay working with the homeless in Sacramento.
Ms. Freeland, with her decades of experience, never stopped wanting to educate herself on new investigative techniques and laws affecting investigators in the criminal defense field and she has been an active member of the California Defense Investigators Association dedicated to educating and training Public Defender Investigators throughout California and the nation.
Ms. Freeland will be retiring on September 4, 2019 after serving the Solano County community for over 16 years. During Ms. Freeland’s tenure with the Public Defender, her commitment to objective, complete and thorough investigations has exemplified the mission of the Solano County Public Defender to protect and defend the rights, liberty, and dignity of our clients, to enforce the constitutional rights to due process, and to ensure the integrity of the criminal justice system for all, regardless of economic status, by providing excellent, compassionate legal representation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget. The costs associated with preparation and purchase of the plaque is included in the Board’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to present a plaque of appreciation; however, this is not recommended because this is an opportunity to recognize Angelica Freeland’s dedication and outstanding contributions Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION