Central Coast police chiefs weigh in on protests across the nation

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) Some familiar law enforcement faces visibly stood among peaceful demonstrations across the Central Coast, over the weekend.

Watsonville Police Chief David Honda was asked to take the microphone and speak during the justice for George Floyd protest in the city, Sunday. In Santa Cruz, Police Chief Andy Mills knelt alongside protesters who are calling for an end to decades of racial injustice.

“We have to admit that what we have been doing is not working, and we have to figure out how we can work together with the community, shoulder to shoulder with the community, moving forward together," Mills said. "That’s the only way it’s going to work.”

“When something that tragic happens, and it's centered around police conduct, excessive force and someone dies because of that, I think as a chief I’m supposed to be out there to listen to my city. The [city] I’m supposed to be serving,” Honda said.

Demonstrations across the nation weren't as peaceful as those in Santa Cruz County, and the cities top cop is tabbed with navigating a protest no matter the direction in takes.

"It’s a balance between being visible and ready, and being passionate and empathetic to peoples concerns,” Honda said.“They don’t have to be sitting there on the line with batons when it’s a peaceful protest, but they have to be close by in case something does go wrong.”

As part of the states mutual aid program, both Mills and Honda's department sent officers to assist in the Bay Area protests, which in some cases turned to looting and violence.

“Regardless if you’re a small or large sized department, if you have built that social capital you can do a lot to divert it from becoming violent," Honda said. "However, you’ll have outside forces and groups that actually come in, don’t really care about the protest and are there to cause violence.”

If you don't have trust with your community, Honda added, you're ultimately going to fail as a police department.