Fmr. Chief back at Salinas PD in new role

Former Chief of Police Daniel Ortega is back at the Salinas Police Department, but in a new role. On Tuesday, Ortega was sworn in as interim assistant police chief.

Ortega served as Salinas police chief from 1999 to 2009, and has over 43 years experience in sworn law enforcement.

“Coming back to the police department, it’s like coming back home, even though we’ve never really left,” said Ortega.

As Interim Assistant Police Chief, Ortega is tasked with finding a permanent replacement for himself and running the day-to-day operations of the police department. Ortega is taking up the job at a time when violence is still a large concern for Salinas residents.

Two shootings occurred on Monday night. 17 shots were fired during a shooting on Terrace Street. No one was hurt, but no one called 911. The other shooting occurred at the Salinas Pointe Apartments at John and Alisal Streets. A 25-year-old man was shot twice. There is no description of the suspects and authorities do not believe the shootings are connected.

Ortega says that violence is a complex problem that does not have an easy solution: “[Combating violence is] going to take a lot of people, a lot of organizations if you will. Not just the police department, not just the city, but it’s going to have to involve parents, churches, the faith community and any kind of social programs out there.”

Residents such as Karina Naranjo hope for, “more involvement with the Hispanic community because right now everyone’s scared of deportations and that’s keeping everyone from talking.”

“There’s issues that we need to address and i’m going to try to be, in the short time that i’m here, part of some solutions. And part of that might just be good ole communication with the community,” said Ortega.

Ortega plans to stay on as Interim Assistant Police Chief for six months.