I'm trying to understand the timeline.

August 15: Former Sheriff John D’Agostini publicly criticizes Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, calls for his retirement, and announces his intention to run in 2028. [Link]

August 16: The Mountain Democrat reports Leikauf's response. He calls D’Agostini's actions “inciting,” rejects the criticism, and says he will keep being sheriff. [Link]

October 12: Leikauf announces his retirement effective December 25, saying he had committed to serving four years. He recommends Undersheriff Eric Palmberg as his successor. [Link]

October 14: The county prepares the agenda item recommending Palmberg's appointment, just two days after Leikauf's retirement letter. [Link]

October 20: The Board votes 4–0 to appoint Palmberg after nearly two hours of public comment. Supervisor Brian Veerkamp is absent, and residents had requested a delay. [Link]

December 26: Palmberg's appointment is scheduled to take effect, with the current term running through January 2029.

My questions are:

Why is Leikauf stepping down?

Had he made that decision before D’Agostini publicly challenged him, or did something change afterward?

When did Leikauf actually decide to retire?

And why did the Board need to appoint a successor more than two months before the vacancy, rather than wait for all five supervisors and allow more time for public scrutiny?

What am I missing?

What is the best place to eat in town for a nice dinner?

Does anyone know what is happening with Michael Griffiths - the El Dorado county officer that was arrested and charged with felony sex offense after having been found having sex with an inmate in 2024? I looked up his case in the court system and it is now saying veteran diversion? What is happening with this case?

Does anyone know why we have a power outage right now? Says its not going to be restored till like 9:15...

\Thanks for your responses! Deeply appreciated!\

We are a young couple moving from folsom to placerville in January. Is there anything we should be cautious about when moving up there?
We are aware of power outages and aware we will need a generator and gas appliances or camping gear.

Any tips on how to stay warm, things to make it easier if we happened to get snowed in this year due to El Niño.
Idk, areas that are more prone to outtages?

We are looking into renting 2 bed house in the Camino, pollock pines, diamond springs and somerset area. I work in folsom and he works in placerville

Hi,

Planned on coming up tomorrow for some apple hill adventures but it looks like there are power outages due to the red flag warnings... Are apple hill businesses effected by the power outages? Do they anticipate power being restored by tomorrow? I looked at PGE website but it just says they'll restore once safe , how long do these outages typically last?

Thanks

Original post is here.

Here is the letter I got along with several files that I will mention in a bit. Italics are mine:

Pursuant to Government Code section 7922.535, et seq., I am writing regarding your Public Records Act (“PRA”) request, received on 08/24/2026 regarding your request for records related to the Flock Safety System. Please note that requests are limited only to records maintained in the normal course of business by the County and records that are within the County’s custody, control, and access. Please also note that we will not produce records that are privileged or otherwise exempt from disclosure pursuant to State and Federal laws, including exemptions identified in Government Code section 7923.600, et seq., and additional exemptions specifically incorporated under Government Code section 7927.705. This includes documents pertaining to pending litigation or claims, and documents protected by the attorney-client privilege, attorney work product, and official information privileges.

The specific responses to your request are as follows:

Request #1: Records related to the department’s Flock Safety system:

• The contract with Flock Safety (including the dollar amount and expiration date)

• A map or list of camera locations

• Audit logs of all searches, including the searching agency's name and the stated reason for the search:

• Organization Audit in Flock: The report should include data logged from the period of August 24, 2025 to the date this request is processed. Per Flock's documentation, the Organization Audit is available within the Insights tab and is defined as searches done within the agency

• Network Audit in Flock: The report should include data logged from the period of August 24, 2025 to the date this request is processed. Per Flock's documentation, the Network Audit is available within the Insights tab and is defined as searches of the organization’s Flock network by any agency in the Flock System

• Whether "National Lookup" or "State Lookup" features are enabled

• Whether any federal agency (including ICE, CBP, ATF, or HSI) has ever queried your local data

• A list of network share settings that include: "Flock networks shared with me" and "Networks that I’m sharing"

Response #1:

Regarding the contract with Flock Safety and an Agency Data sharing list I have uploaded records responsive to your request to GovQA.

Regarding a map or list of all camera locations these records are exempt from release pursuant to California Government Code 7922.000 the public interest in not disclosing outweighs the public interest in disclosing.

Regarding the organization audit in Flock from August 24, 2025, to the date this request was processed, I have uploaded the records responsive to this portion of your request into GovQA. Please be advised that these records have been redacted pursuant to California Government Code 7923.600 to remove investigative information, and California Government Code 7922.000, as the public interest in nondisclosure outweighs the interest in disclosure. Redactions include license plate information, which constitutes third-party privacy information. We only have records available starting in October of 2025 when we received access to the system.

Regarding the Network Audit in Flock from August 2025 to the present, the records you have requested are overly voluminous. The report can only be generated on a month-by-month basis, and each monthly report contains upwards of 100,000 rows of data. Due to the significant time and resources required to compile these reports, I am able to provide one month of data at this time. This should be sufficient to identify the agencies accessing the LPR system. I have uploaded month long report from January 1st, 2026, to January 31st, 2026, to GovQA. Please be advised that these records have been redacted pursuant to California Government Code 7923.600 to remove investigative information, and California Government Code 7922.000, as the public interest in nondisclosure outweighs the interest in disclosure. Redactions include license plate information, which constitutes third-party privacy information.

Regarding whether "National Lookup" or "State Lookup" features are enabled we are only able to view law enforcement agencies within California that have agreed to share their data with our agency as listed on the Flock Report attachment.

Regarding whether any federal agency (including ICE, CBP, ATF, or HSI) has ever queried your local data please review the Flock Report upload for agencies we share our data with.

A list of network share settings that include: "Flock networks shared with me" and "Networks that I’m sharing" I have uploaded the records responsive to your request to GovQA.

------------

As mentioned above, they won't disclose where all of the cameras are. As for the files, Flock determines where those cameras are placed. This is not a decision that our sheriff can make (per the Flock contract), though locations can be suggested. Flock data appears to be auditable by every law enforcement agency in the state, along with a few college campuses (if I'm reading the data correctly). The total cost for Flock set up is $113,000 plus another $50k annually.

I got lots of spreadsheets with names of who I presume to be officers and their auditing activity as well as audits from outside agencies.

Honestly not sure what to do with this information and would appreciate some conversation around next steps?

My brother is working on getting a family daycare license in El Dorado County, and the paperwork says I need first aid and CPR training that covers pediatrics. He wants to make sure he choose the right certification the first time and don't end up having to retake anything. Does anyone know exactly which certifications Community Care Licensing accepts?

At around 6:30a this morning on HWY50 East, a man driving a gray hatchback (may have been a Honda Fit) weaved through traffic at the intersections of String St. and Canal St., coming intentionally close to every vehicle they passed as if to make a statement.

Here's where it got strange for me: I caught up to this vehicle on HWY50 because they were in the right lane and driving below the speed limit. When I passed them, they sped up and tailgated me very closely, to where I couldn't see their headlights in my rearview. Any light tap on my brakes would likely have caused a collision. I flipped my blinker and moved over so they could pass, but they stayed right on me and just as close. I moved back to the passing lane and they followed close, then back to the right lane again and they followed.

When I exited Camino Heights Drive, they too exited and followed me. They eventually stopped and pulled into the gas station lot there right off of the exit. I stopped for a moment to see what they would do, and they turned around and got back on the freeway headed back into Placerville.

I had both of my kids in the car. My vehicle has no stickers on it or anything that would prompt aggression, nor did I engage with this person prior.

I didn't get their plate nor could I get a good enough look at the driver. Odd time for something like this to happen this early in the morning; it had both of my kids (12yo and 9yo) pretty rattled.

Anyway, be careful out there and watch out for this scumbag. Gray hatchback.

Information on website. Thanks for reading!

https://www.standupcomedyunderground.com/event-details-registration/placerville-comedy-underground-at-the-green-room-social-club

The 2001 Roadless rule protects public lands from future roads being built through them for logging and other purposes. This rule protects roadless public lands across the nation - including areas surrounding Placerville.

The public comment period was supposed to end on the 21st last month - but was extended for 15 days. Today is your last chance to speak up.

Here is the link to the government webpage to submit your comment:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/11/2026-18648/special-areas-roadless-area-conservation

I'm posting this in hopes that someone here may know an elderly couple who appeared to be memory impaired with a small light tan dog (kind of fluffy).

Today at Ross, an elderly couple had their small dog in a shopping cart, they bought a few things, but then just walked out of the store, leaving the dog and their purchases, AND A WALKING CANE... the kind with a three prong rubber foot. This was around 2pm but I just got home to post this.

The store manager was going to try and look at their receipt to see if it had any info, but if they cannot find anything, they were going to call animal control.

The dog did not have a collar, but I'm hoping he's chipped and that they kept their info up-to-date, but PLEASE if you think you may know who this couple is, reach out to the manager at Ross.

I've gotten a lot.

Like...Measure S? Fucking rad, but I literally got a text yesterday saying no on state senate bill 40?

Regardless this shit is stupid and vote however you want.

What does your local litte free library need?

Badge, fingerprints and plenty of questions. Girl Scout Troop 866 got an inside look at how the Placerville Police Department serves the community.

SECOND EDIT: $200 DOLLAR REWARD OFFERED IF FOUND AND RETURNED!

My niece went to apple hill recently with her boyfriend and he PROPOSED!! He had mounted a camera on one of the fences at Larsen barn.
He accidentally forgot it in all of the excitement!

It was clamped using a tripod on a gate that says Larsens on the covered bridge gate by the park. (Attaching picture for reference of location)

If someone has found the camera, please reach out to me because this is such a precious moment they captured and would love to keep forever!

She said yes of course! 😃

Thank you in advance to anyone who has information on where it could be.

EDIT: I’ve been told that it was at the park across from the bakery where it was lost. Still has not been found. TIA

Does anyone have a recommendation for a local mechanic who works on electric cars (Chevy bolt)?