Jose Gaspar column: McFarland rebuilding police force
| Sunday, Nov 08 2009 08:39 PM
Last Updated Sunday, Nov 08 2009 09:03 PM
Wanted: men and women willing to work as officers and support staff for a newly established police department in one of Kern County's finest cities.
Candidates must be of sound moral character, have a sense of humor, and meet all the police background requirements. Oh, and it would sure help if the candidate is bilingual. Preferably in Spanish.
After a 17-year hiatus, the city of McFarland is re-establishing its own police department.
After crunching the numbers, city leaders figured they could no longer afford to contract with the Kern County Sheriff's Department for police services.
The $1.6 million dollar -- and rising -- annual tab is just too costly, said McFarland Mayor Ken Rosson. So, the City Council voted earlier this year to terminate its contract with the county and bring back its city-run police force.
The city has already hired a police chief, David Frazer.
He came on board in August and immediately began familiarizing himself with the good people of McFarland. He has a lot of familiarizing to do.
His last job was as police commander for the city of Rohnert Park in Sonoma County. Rohnert Park and McFarland are not exactly twin cities.
"The differences are like night and day," said Frazer.
Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show Rohnert Park has a population of just more than 40,000. More than 70 percent of its population is white, while Hispanics make up about 16 percent of the city. Its median household income is nearly $59,000.
McFarland's population stands at about 13,559. It is more than 85 percent Latino. Whites represent almost 9 percent of the city's makeup. McFarland's median household income is about $25,000. Agribusiness is the main employer.
And a large number of McFarland residents do not speak English or if they do, it's limited.
That's why some residents are concerned about the city's hiring process fearing not enough is being done to recruit and hire bilingual officers.
Bilingual officers are a must, they say. It's all about having good communication between the cops on the street and the community.
"I'm absolutely aware of that concern; we have to patrol," said Frazer.
All things being equal between two candidates, if one of the candidates is bilingual, he or she has an edge in getting hired, said Frazer. But it's not the end-all.
"I would be discriminating if I chose on what language a candidate spoke," said the chief. "I'm looking for someone who will give service to and connect with the community. (However, a candidate will not be disqualified) if one does not speak Spanish."
The goal is to have the new department take over patrolling the streets of McFarland on Jan. 1.
It will start with a staff of 12, including six officers, three sergeants, a records clerk, and a command service officer, said Chief Frazer.
Assuming all hires pass a background check, one-third of the department is bilingual, said Frazer.
Mayor Rosson said the goal is to continue building the department to have up to 15 officers.
Residents have mixed feelings on letting the Sheriff's Department go.
Some cite the resources available from the Sheriff's Department. They include its gang task force, experienced homicide investigators and technical support.
Meanwhile, sheriff's officials say they will respect whichever decision the city makes.
Mayor Ken Rosson said the annual operating budget for the new police department would be $1.3 million, plus startup costs. But McFarland will no longer have to pay into deputies' retirement fund, which can eat into city coffers.
Of course, others say bringing back the police department is a good thing.
Nothing personal against the Sheriff's Department, they say, but a closer working relationship between law enforcement and the community is needed in McFarland.
Other suggestions include having the new department do problem-oriented policing. This is where the department targets a particular problem in the community and focuses its resources on that issue.
Just for kicks, I decided to look up Vito Giuntoli, the last McFarland police chief.
Vito worked for more than 20 years with the department, and he was glad to hear the city is bringing back its police force.
I asked him what the new chief might expect on this new venture.
"You gotta have a hands-on approach, and you gotta understand people," said Vito who has never been the shy type. "Use the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law to get people to comply."
Giuntoli said half of his force was bilingual.
"You have to, especially in this town," he said.
And he was glad his officers lived in McFarland.
"They were homeboys," said Vito, who is now in retirement and despises it.
Chief Frazer has ideas of his own he wants to try. While he wishes officers would live in McFarland that would have a dramatic impact on recruiting and hiring the best candidates, he said.
But Frazer has bought a home and will bring his family to live in McFarland.
And on being bilingual?
Frazer is taking a stab at it. He listens to Spanish immersion lessons while driving to see his family still in Rohnert Park.
But Frazer said he is excited about his new job and can't wait to take over once everything is in place.
Buena suerte, jefe!
Jose Gaspar is a reporter for "29 Eyewitness News" and a regular contributing columnist for The Californian. These are the opinions of Gaspar, not necessarily The Californian. Write to him at jgaspar@bakersfield.com.
