New Police Chief settles in Salinas

Like any job, getting a new boss can be nerve-wracking.

“There’s some anxiety, but there’s a lot of excitement. We’re really excited to see what kind of strategy she’s going to bring to the agency,” said Salinas PD Deputy Chief Dave Shaw.

Once Chief Frese settles in, Deputy Chief Dave Shaw thinks there are several areas she could focus on.

“Hiring. We, you know, we’re still very short handed. We still have about 30 positions to fill,” said Shaw.

Local organizations currently working with the police department are hoping frese will focus on the city’s youth.

“Creating programs not at the back end but in the front end. meaning, getting kids at a younger age when you can create programs that are more preventive than intervention or way back when the thing’s already too late, you know, you want to get them early on,” said Executive Director of Community Homeless Solutions, Reyes Bonilla.

Salinas Community Safety Administrator Jose Arreola wants Frese to continue working to re-building a positive relationship with those they’re sworn to protect.

“Bring back community policing. really work towards building trust back within the community. And that’s really relationship based, and it takes time and effort and a lot of conversations,” said Arreola.

Some are looking for her to re-shape Salinas’ image associated with violent crime.

“I really think that she can change how Salinas is being viewed but also when it comes to the community dealing with her staff directly, making better choices for our community,” said Juan-Carlos Gonzalez with the Urban Arts Collaborative

Shaw is hoping she’ll find ways to bring back a full-sized gang unit, school resource officers and fully staffed community services unit.

“We’re really excited to see what changes she brings, and what we can learn from her and what she can learn from us. I think it’s going to be a really exciting time over the next 6 months to a year,” said Shaw.