Fresno County officials say the Probation Department did nothing wrong when it attempted to sell surplus firearms to qualified employees.

The department canceled the proposed sale of 156 Gen 4 Glocks and 10 Remington shotguns after it said it reviewed a 2020 California law allowing such sales if the firearms were used as service weapons. Probation planned to sell the weapons for personal use.

The union representing county department supervisors, SEIU 521, filed a grievance claiming the department never consulted with them about the sale. The union considered the sale a benefit.

The county responded to GV Wire’s story last week.

“The gun buyback option is not a union benefit — it was for those who met eligibility qualifications,” county spokesman Sonja Dosti said in an email.

The 2020 law, AB 2699, limited the sale of surplus weapons to law enforcement employees who kept current with firearms training. The union questioned if everyone who received a March 7 email announcing the proposed sale met those standards.

Related Story: Planned Fresno Probation Gun Buyback Program Runs Afoul of State Law and SEIU

Who Should Have Been Eligible?

SEIU 521 union vice president John Jasper said that he and several others should have received the email offer.

Dosti disagreed.

“These employees did not meet the eligibility requirements for both the County Probation Department, and AB 2699, specifically as codified under Penal Code section 32000(b)(6),” Dosti said.

Dosti previously told GV Wire that probation department employees must undergo other standards to carry weapons, including psychological examinations.

“This is pursuant to Penal Code 830.5, which provides that certain sworn officers, including probation officers and deputy probation officers, may carry firearms only if authorized and under those terms and conditions specified by their employing agency),” Dosti added.

Jasper also questioned whether a conflict-of-interest was at play. The wives of Chief Probation Officer Kirk Haynes and Deputy Chief Cliff Downing — both of whom are sworn probation officers — were included in the email offer.

“Both Jamee Haynes and Melissa Madsen are probation officers employed with the County’s Probation Department who have met the eligibility requirements,” Dosti said.

County: Proposed Sale Correct

The listed sales price of the 166 weapons totaled $36,150. The union questioned whether a surplus sale amount needed approval from the Board of Supervisors.

Dosti said the sale did not require the board’s OK.

“This is not unclear. BOS approval was not required under these circumstances. Fresno County Ordinance Code 4.04.080 is clear that Board approval is not required for surplus of items of personal property that individually has less than $10,000 in scrap value,” Dosti said.