Salinas police officers union voices frustration with city

UPDATE 7/19/2016 6:20 PM:

A battle is brewing between the Salinas City Council and the Salinas Police Officers Association. The union is demanding immediate action to address violent crime and staffing issues, while the city said it’s working hard to recruit new officers. All this is occurring as the two parties hash out a new contract. Salinas police officers have been working without a contract since January 1.

Two weeks ago, the union initially called on the council to make changes. Union leaders said the city has failed to respond since then, claiming they have been out “enjoying summer vacation.” Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter said this summer break was scheduled nearly a year ago, before they knew what would transpire in a year’s time.

The union said in the past two weeks, there have been a number of violent crimes, including a homicide, on top of the numerous car thefts and residential burglaries.

“Just about every day, violent crimes are happening in the city and we cannot adequately patrol the city,” said Jim Knowlton, vice president of the Salinas Police Officers Association. “It’s necessary that right now, the city comes up with a plan. We cannot keep doing what we’ve been doing for the last two years, five years, because we continue to lose officers. Our numbers are dwindling. We need to do it now.”

Knowlton said at any given time there are 11 officers patrolling the city. He said there have been times when just eight officers have patrolled the city.

“There is no time to do proactive policing,” Knowlton said. “There is no time to drive through the neighborhoods looking for suspicious people. Looking for crime that’s getting ready to happen. We are reactionary. We react when stuff happens.”

Knowlton claims the city isn’t doing its job because it has failed to come up with a new plan to keep residents safe. Gunter said it’s no secret the city has crime problems. The council has authorized the hiring of 40 new officers.

“We’ve started another recruitment,” Gunter said. “We’ve gone out. The chief’s out recruiting statewide. We’re sending applications to every police academy that’s going on. We’ve been in touch with the military, people getting out of the military. So we’re advancing it.”

The city is also offering bonuses to officers who want to transfer from another department. In any situation, the hiring process takes time. Recruits have to go through testing and background checks, and then pass an interview with Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin.

ORIGINAL POST:
The Salinas Police Officers Association continues to voice its concerns over increasing violent crime and claims of inadequate police staffing levels. Today, the union accused the city of failing to address its calls for an immediate action plan, criticizing the Salinas City Council for taking a monthlong summer break.

KION’s Mariana Hicks is covering the story and will have comments from the union and city leaders tonight at 5 and 6 p.m..