Seaside residents rally for police support

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) As elections get closer, people on the Central Coast and across the nation say law enforcement is one of the most critical issues to look at this upcoming election.

With calls to defund the police nationwide, many residents on the Central Coast say doing so could increase crime locally.

At a rally in Seaside in support of officers, Sunday, an organizer said bringing change is done at the polls, starting with local leadership.

“We hope that people see the signs and say 'Save Seaside,' " says Pastor Ronald Britt.

"We need to get to the poll, vote, a lawless city is a city that’s inviting crime back into the city."

Demonstrators also appeared to have made their way to the home of Seaside Councilmember Jon Wizard, who recently came under fire after he proposed a motion to transfer a million dollars of the police budget and put it toward community support services.

The motion failed to pass in the city council. There is now a recall effort against Councilmember Wizard -- a move he believes is unfounded.

"I don't mean to minimize their concerns. By no means do I think that what their concerns are are invalid. Their concerns are valid just like people who say that they don't trust the police at all. Those concerns are valid too because we live in a community where everybody gets to share their opinions," said Wizard.

"The difference though, I think, is that it's a different thing to debate and discuss and to disagree than it is to say you said something I don't like so I'm going to take you out of a position that a majority, a plurality, of our community voted to put you in," said Wizard.