By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee

Anticipating an influx of visitors over the Labor Day weekend, the El Dorado County sheriff and U.S. Forest Service officials seek to assure the public that, despite recent tensions between their agencies, they are working together to ensure public safety and protect natural resources.

In June, Sheriff John D’Agostini announced that he was suspending the authority of Forest Service officers to enforce state laws in the county. A sheriff’s office spokesman said D’Agostini had received complaints from citizens about the officers.

The suspension took effect July 22, a week before Laurence Crabtree assumed the post of forest supervisor for the Eldorado National Forest.

D’Agostini announced last week that he had met with Crabtree and Capt. Frank Aguilar of Forest Service law enforcement to get acquainted and discuss issues.

Crabtree, in a telephone interview, said he has worked in many places where peace officer authority was not granted to Forest Service officers.

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