King City residents react to police department plans

Residents in King City are making their feelings known after city leaders announced future plans for the troubled King City Police Department. One option city leaders are not ruling out is possibly dissolving the police department altogether.

Despite the arrests of several police officers, the corruption allegations involving the former chief, many King City residents don’t want to see their police department taken over by an outside agency.

Born and raised in King City, Randy Olds said he stands behind the police department despite all the controversy.

“King City needs it’s own police force,” said Olds.

Longtime resident Heather Martin agrees. She said many of the officers raise their families in King City. She’s concerned if the Sheriff’s Office takes over they’ll lose that hometown connection.

“If we can keep and maintain the police officers here it will be a
better fit as long as there’s no corruption,” said Martin.
One option is to bring in Greenfield Police Chief Adele Frese to help the department during this interim process.

Sandy Bell Torres works at a small market on Broadway Street. While she doesn’t oppose the Greenfield chief helping out, she doesn’t want to see her city’s police department go away.

“I don’t think it should be the sheriffs taking over. We are a city
we need to have our own department,” said Torres.
For months the Sheriff’s Office has been providing part-time overnight patrols for the city. Sheriff Steve Bernal is expected to draft a proposal by next month that could expand that.