Salinas police invites DOJ to advise on community policing

On Friday, the Salinas Police Department said it is inviting the U.S. Department of Justice to advise on community policing March 12.

The department said Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin requested the visit from the DOJ’s COPS Office (Office of Community Oriented Policing Services) to discuss improvements in police-community relations.

Salinas city leaders along with representatives from the DOJ’s COPS Office and U.S. Attorney for the Northern California District of California will announce their approach at Sherwood Hall Thursday, March 12 from 1-2 p.m.

The city also said consultants from the Institute of Intergovernmental Research, a Tallahassee, Florida based nonprofit, will participate.

COPS Office representatives said they will also meet with a group of community members and leaders later that day.

Last May, the DOJ’s Community Relations Service was in Salinas to help with unrest within the community following several officer-involved shootings.