Greenfield swears in new officers at homicide crime scene

UPDATE 5/6/2015 10:59 a.m.: In a previous version of this story, a quote was attributed to Chief Adele Frese in error. We regret any misunderstanding this may have caused.

PREVIOUS STORY: Two new Greenfield officers were sworn Monday after their graduation from the academy last week, along with other departments along the Central Coast. The department hopes these new hires will help crack down on crime.

“They shot him, supposedly she said that they shot him,” said a man who didn’t want to be identified.

El Michuacano Restaurant closed Monday, even after being open a day after the shooting that killed Rufino Suarez, 21, and sent two others to the hospital.

“I don’t know what happened. I didn’t go inside, I didn’t even go past that line,” a man who didn’t want to be identified said.

The man said he’s lived in King City for 23 years and was close by when the shooting happened. Witnesses said a lot of people were in the restaurant when the shooting happened at around 4 p.m. Investigators believe the shootings may be gang related and are working with King City police and sheriff investigators after that city’s recent shootings.

Frese swore in two officers ceremoniously Monday because she actually swore them in Saturday at the scene of the homicide.

“I needed them and they absolutely benefited from the experience in responding to a murder,” Frese said.

Greenfield’s department has 15 officers and Frese said the new recruits couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Everyone wants a stronger staffing a stronger compliment of officers on their department so every time a police chief gets an additional officer that is a big win,” Frese said.