City leaders discuss future of King City Police Department

City leaders in King City met Tuesday to discuss the future of the Police Department, after another King City officer was arrested on criminal charges. City Manager Michael Powers met with acting Police Chief Dennia Hegwood, and Powers said the priority is stillto increase police staffing and restore 24-hour law enforcement in King City so they can stop relying on Monterey County sheriff’s deputiesto handle nighttime patrols.

“The intent was to keep them no longer than December and so we’re going to transition back in January,” said Powers.

Currently at 6 p.m. the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department takes over and King City police officers go home. This arrangement started after six King City police officers, including the chief, were arrested in a corruption scandal in February. Powers said the search for anew chief is underway.

“The committee that’s working with me on the recruitment is working on the interview process and how that’s going to work,” said Powers.

On Saturday, another King City officer was arrested.Thirty-three-year-old David Hernandez allegedly forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s home, and then threatened her and another man at gunpoint.

“Obviously not all police are like this. Unfortunately bad things happen and people do bad things, and we’re paying the price for the actions of those people,” said Powers.

But Powers said the image of King City police and the department itself can still be saved.

“Because of the depletion of the number of people we had two hires that are coming out of the training period, and are out on their own and more hires in the pipeline,” said Powers.

Some have questioned whether they should just let the Sheriff’s Department take over policing in King City, but Powers saidno. He hopes to have a new chief on the job by January.