Acosta Plaza residents hope for better relations before community-based policing

Community-based policing may be the answer to solving crime problems in a rough Salinas neighborhood. The police department is looking to dedicate an officer to the Acosta Plaza area. But those living there said they’re skeptical, as they work to build a better relationship with officers first.

On Thursday night, NewsChannel 5 found out why some residents said they’re not so sure about this new effort by police.

As a large group celebrated Posadas Navideas, a neighborhood holiday tradition, several residents said they’re looking for police to build more ties with people in the neighborhood, during positive events, to engage the community and create leaders among them.

“We want them to be engaged before that happens,” said Sabino Lopez, Deputy Director for Center for Community Advocacy or CCA.

CCA said it regularly works with residents in Acosta Plaza, who said trust with police is an issue that needs a lot of work.

“I know there’s good intentions, but we want them to first to start the conversations with the leadership of this community and telling them what they’re planning to do,” Lopez said.

After this year’s officer-involved shootings caused outrage and tension, Salinas police held several community meetings to discuss those plans. But Lopez said police need to continue spending time in the neighborhood, during positive activities like the one held tonight to celebrate Christmas.

“So people feel they’re a part of their change, they’re doing it too. Not just somebody’s giving the solutions,” Lopez said.

He said recently the neighborhood held community meetings to elect a group of six women, called committee Acosta Plaza. One of those leaders is 19-year-old Elizabeth Perez, who says crime seemed worse when she was younger, but knows it’s still a big problem.

“Acosta Plaza used to have a really bad image and that’s what we’re trying to do is turn it into something positive,” Perez said.

Thanks to a state grant, police plan to dedicate an officer to the neighborhood within the next few months. The goal is to intervene with kids who show signs of gang-involvement, before it’s too late.

Dedicating officers to a specific neighborhood is something Salinas police are already doing in the Hebbron Heights area. The department reports the two officers who work there, have been very effective at building relationships with the community.