King City police look to have better relationship with residents

The King City Police Department is set to start a new policy, called district policing, with the hope of changing the way residents view officers, Chief Robert Masterson said.

This spring, each of the city’s five districts will get two officers who will be dedicated to that role.

“My expectations are to get (officers) out of the patrol car to get to know the people in that neighborhood so they (residents) get to know those officers,” Masterson said.

The idea comes a short time after the city switched to district elections and is designed to be a team effort between the police and City Council members.

“They (council members) organize all of the activities, they are the communication to the police about meetings,” Masterson said. “We will attend any meeting that the council wants to set up for their district.”

King City had its fair share of controversy in 2014 when six police officers, including two former chiefs, were arrested for their involvement in a towing scheme targeting undocumented immigrants.

After that, the city moved to district elections and that’s when Masterson saw an opportunity for a different approach.

“It gives the City Council knowledge of what’s going on in their district and it also gives the officers the ability to contact a City Council member and say, ‘Hey look, this is what I need assistance on in your district.”

People we spoke with on Monday said they appreciate that the Police Department is making changes, but many still have concerns.

“Hopefully we see change because with the corrupt officers we had we now have more fear towards officers than gangsters and criminals,” King City resident Virginia Reyes said.

Masterson says he hears those worries but hopes the new district policing policy will create real change in King City.

With the policy, King City police will be getting some additional training that’s being paid for by a grant from the federal government.