Los Banos sheriff’s substation open to the public

City residents can once again file their civil paperwork at the Los Banos substation of the Merced County Sheriff’s Office starting Monday.

The substation, at 445 I St. in Los Banos, reopened to the general public Friday. And that means residents of Los Banos and other communities in the western part of Merced County won’t have to make the trek to Merced to file reports and paperwork related to evictions, vehicle releases and other issues.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Sheriff Vern Warnke said. “A third of the population of the county is on the (west side.) It was hard on the citizens.”

The substation closed to the public early in 2010 due to budget cuts. Patrol was still operational.

Warnke said opening the substation was a priority of his even before he was elected sheriff.

“We wanted to open by the first of the year, but we had to get our staffing levels first,” Warnke said, noting that the opening was delayed because many applicants for the substation positions didn’t pass background checks.

Warnke said up to six people could staff the substation, not including patrol operations.

Lt. Steve Sziraki, who is now the station commander for the west side of the county, said it was important to give residents in Los Banos, Dos Palos, Gustine, Santa Nella, Volta and Santa Rita Park a closer option.

“We’re basically full service now,” Sziraki said.

The Sheriff’s Office operates in three locations: Merced, Los Banos and Delhi. The Charles F. Bludworth substation in Delhi was reopened two years ago.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Los Banos sheriff’s substation open to the public."